Young Wesleyan Remembered as Well-Loved

According to the world’s standards, Nicole Kidney was too young to die.

The 26-year-old congregant of First Wesleyan Church in Battle Creek, Michigan, died on February 5 when her heart stopped beating as a result of complications from Type 1 diabetes. “Coley,” her nickname to many who knew her, died while enjoying dinner out with a friend.

Well-loved by many, especially children such as her younger cousins, Nicole shared a close relationship with both her mom Victoria and brother Jeffrey. Victoria also attends First Wesleyan Church and enjoyed the Sundays when Nicole could sit next to her. Due to persistent health struggles, attending church regularly was a challenge for Nicole.

Pastor Bob Zuhl knew Nicole at birth, dedicating her to the Lord soon after. He has served as a pastor at First Wesleyan for 35 years–20 as the senior pastor and 15 in pastoral care. It was through his pastoral care role that Pastor Zuhl spent many hours visiting Nicole while she lay in a hospital bed.

“Nicole never complained about her illness to me,” says Pastor Zuhl. “She was using it to grow in her faith and trust in the Lord.”

Pastor Zuhl remembers Nicole as a “beautiful girl who cared for people.”

“Early in life she felt that God had a special plan for her,” he says. “Little did she know it was through the channel of suffering. She touched more lives in her illness than one can imagine.”

Victoria described her daughter as “very compassionate with a beautiful smile. She loved her dog Toby, loved board games or cards. She loved to write cards to people and was always helpful to her elderly neighbors.” A proud mom, Victoria best summed up her daughter’s life by saying, “She loved and loved to be loved.”

The well-known social networking site Facebook has served as a form of support these last few weeks for those grieving Nicole’s death. The BattleCreekEnquirer.com recently featured a story about the online support offered by family, friends, and even strangers from around the world.