21/05/2026
Today, Dr. Loren Bliese posted the message below, about the passing of his wife Edith. They were long time members of our congregation here in Addis Ababa, and as a community here, we would like to share our deepest condolences to the Bliese family. May God’s grace be upon you and may He comfort you.
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My wife Edith went to be with Jesus at 3 p.m. today May 20th. She has been on hospice for over two months, and began deteriorating rapidly three days ago. Last night she was having severe difficulty getting to bed with my daughter Laurie and me holding her up. She woke up agitated and I gave her medication at 11 and 5 a.m. and she could take it successfully. However, when I got up at 6:45 she was not able to communicate, and was unresponsive to Laurie and my efforts. A nurse from hospice came and helped us make her comfortable with a hospital bed. Edith died sooner than we expected.
Edith served as a missionary in Ethiopia with me from 1960 to 2004, and continued as a volunteer for several years after that. We lived in Waldia, Wuchale, and Addis Ababa. While in Wallo, she worked to save lives by opening feeding programs during the 1973-75 famine. While in Addis she served in an area north of there during the 1985-86 famine. She also organized several private schools, of which she was a beloved director. We raised four children, Laurie, Paul, Lynnae, and Sam (who was orphaned in the Wallo famine). I thank God for the 68+ years God gave us together. She has been a wonderful companion, and I miss her, and will love her until I join her to be with Jesus forever.
