Biography

Laurice Annette Whiddon (née Kavanagh) 30th November 1927 - 29th January 2021:
Laurice was born in Albury NSW and the family then moved to Sydney.
She married William (Bill) Whiddon and they had 3 children, Julie, Robert, Paul. Robert died at only 18 months of age from kidney disease.
Laurice was raised in the Catholic faith but she gave her life to Christ at the Billy Graham crusade in Sydney in 1959 from which she never wavered.
The family moved to Tasmania in 1964 and settled in Riverside.
Laurice taught scripture at Riverside High School for many years.
She was actively involved in CWCI - Christian Women Communicating International, and led studies using their KYB (Know your Bible) bible studies for many years, also touring with CWCI around Australia taking the good news of Christ to many outlying areas, especially out back Queensland, and also Papua-New Guinea and New Zealand.
Laurice was an active participant at St. John’s during the 1970s and 1980s. Always keen to help other women to come to faith, She was particularly insistent that the church was active in reaching out to those who needed help and guidance. Among other things, she prepared a small illustrated booklet, Branching Out – Exploring Pathways to Vital Living, targeted at women, with stories of lives transformed by God’s love.

After actively participating at St. John’s during the 1970s and 1980s, Laurice returned to St David’s, Riverside, where she was a regular preacher at Sunday services.  She only gave up this when she was diagnosed with dementia and eventually needed to go into care. Although the disease took many of her memories, it never took her faith, and she loved attending a bible study at the home and never forgot the beautiful hymns that she sang with gusto. She was a very determined woman whose love of the Lord was always steadfast.

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