“Bach gave us God’s word, Mozart gave us God’s laughter, Beethoven gave us God’s Fire, God gave us music that we might pray without words” -from a German opera house Aloysius Adrianus (Al) Wouts Passed away Monday, January 28, 2008 at Moog and Friends Hospice House in Penticton. Al was predeceased by his wife, Marcy, in 2002 and is survived by his only son, Rudy and family including four grandchildren, three greatgrandchildren and a fourth expected in the fall. He was born in Stabroek, Belgium in 1911. He immigrated to Canada with his family in 1951 and settled in Burnaby where he worked as a furniture maker for thirty fi ve years. Al and Marcy moved to Summerland sixteen years ago where they built a home fi lled with the music of Beethoven he so loved and where the sounds and smells of wood being turned into furniture fi lled his workshop. It was also here that he cultivated his garden enjoying all it had to offer. Were it not for the sweetness of friendship, Al’s life, especially since Marcy’s death, would have lacked the laughter and sharing of pleasures like the Thursday cake and coffee group, Bart’s daily visits with Betty’s baked treats, tending to the eternal matters of the garden with Nancy, Bobby and Gurtie and the mysteries of woodworking with apprentice, Ritchie. We are grateful to Al’s steadfast friends who walked by his side through thick and thin, especially to Nancy for accompanying him in his last dance through this life and into the next. We extend heartfelt thanks also to the nursing staff whose dedicated care in hospice and at home these last months was wonderful. A Memorial Service was held on Saturday, February 2, 2008 at the chapel of Everden Rust Funeral Services, Penticton, 493-4112.