Anna Ketoet Moertini Fedora

The Quickening May 29, 1931

The Stillness December 16, 2024

Many years of living dangerously,

93 years

I love you always, your family.

Anna's life was filled with highlights and low points, suffering, and healing, poverty, and wealth, goodness and grief until holiness and happiness won out. Anna was born into a family gifted and blessed on the island of Bali, part of the West Indies under Dutch control. She was from the village of Les on the north side, but was born in Denspar on the south side of the island in a hospital versus the countryside.

Anna's father was "captured" by the police and sent to Java, the next island to the west, to learn the Dutch language. He became an inspector of the education administration, which started a lifelong profession in education for Anna and the entire family. This was a period of love, goodness, and accomplishments. Matriculation in the Dutch school was another achievement.

Anna recalled the harmony and kindness in her parents’ marriage and in the 18 children they adopted. Anna herself was devout and pious with a natural affinity for God and spirituality. On Anna's mothers side her grandparents were goldsmiths and owned substantial land. Bali is a unique environment and culture different from the rest of Indonesia. In religion, Bali is labeled as Hindu, which is a veneer, a recent affectation. A case can be made that Bali has roots in Orthodoxy.

Into the world of peace and calm came many years of living dangerously. Chaos struck. Anna's father was smitten by a young girl and a divorce followed. Anna's mother returned to her village, walking over the volcanic mountain range that divided the island. Anna was left with the father to raise her. Anna recalls the routine practiced by her mother when she was small. When Anna wakes up, her mother would pick her up out of bed, then hug and hold Anna. Now that Anna's mother was gone, the vacuum caused Anna to cry and cry and cry...tough times. But Anna's mother left her with her father for good reason. He had a position and resources for the benefit of Anna. Otherwise Anna would remain illiterate in the village where no school existed. The love of education continued to grow, and out of tough times, goodness appeared.

Anna was introduced to Catholicism. Supported by her father, Anna had a degree of mobility, living in her village Les, the colonial town of Singaraja and Gianyar in the south. Anna would visit her father living in Gianyar. Next to the house was a barrack populated by soldiers from Flores, Timor Timor, islands to the east. These were Catholic enclaves. The Catholic Bishop Monsignor Hermens would park his car, a deluxe wine colored model, in front of Anna's house. Anna and her friends continued to play around it. Bishop Hermens inquired where she lived and was surprised that Anna's father could speak Dutch. Anna's spiritual allure caused the Bishop to want to help her. The Bishop wrote on a scrap of paper the now famous "kartebetachek" little note for anyone reading it to give assistance to Anna. The note was probably the back of a napkin/envelope. Such was the power of the Bishop that his little scribble could open so many doors. Anna passed from impoverishment to substantial accommodation. She went to east Malang where there were large Catholic communities, schools, and convents. She lived like a novice, an example of her poverty that she was to walk all night from Les to Singaraja to arrive at the market in the morning, burning dry palm branches as torches to see the way. The light of Christ illumines all.

Anna preferred music to monasticism. She earned multiple degrees in less time than normal, an under doctor and a Ph.D., Doctor of Philosophy from Gadjah Mada University, the most prestigious university in Indonesia. Later she would also earn a M.A., Masters of Arts Degree from Oregon State University in Corvallis, Oregon. As if that was not enough on her plate, she began working as a teacher and two wars ensued. World War II, invaded by Japan and the conflict for independence from the Dutch. Many years of living dangerously through the wars, which continued her whole life.

Anna's tutelage under Bishop Herman continued. He arranged a marriage between Anna and Francis, the Bishops driver. Anna received the sacraments as an outcome, but the marriage did not work. Francis was from a large prominent Catholic family in Jogja, east Java. Anna maintained a relationship with much of the family, who helped her in many ways. Anna's tutelage under the Bishop continued. He arranged her adoption of a baby girl, whose mother died in childbirth. This too failed as Francis had a girlfriend he maintained relations with.

During this time terrible events occurred. A communist coup failed. It released a spree of killing. Bands of killers could kill anyone with impunity and no restriction. About 250,000 people perished. About 1965, the Catholics were spared by posting a sign the death squads passed over. But the local church did not provide Anna with protection. She returned to Hinduism and made a priestess. One of the miracles was that when the death squad came to her house, she stood in the bush and became invisible. At the end of this period, Anna was able to come to America to study on a full scholarship through AID and the US State Department. Her enemies permitted her to apply, thinking she would fail. She did not, Lord have mercy.

Typically most return to their countries with money and positions, Anna did not. She returned to her village Les with no job, no salary, and no position. She worked to help the village. The Minister of Education for the entire country came to Les to meet her. It resulted in many projects for her village, such as road construction, water mains, and the construction of a high school more acceptable to the villages. Sponsored by the Ministry, she built the school from the ground up, which is still in operation.

However many worked to undercut her. The other schools sent their worst incorrigible people for her staff. A strategy they used was to flunk everyone, thinking a revolt would follow. Through love and kindness she won their hearts and minds. At a meeting a teacher attempted to kill Anna, but was defended by Pa Sadra who jumped up on a table swinging a chair over head to protect Anna. Many years of living dangerously.

The greatest vision Anna had was a series of visions. To find a certain small boy given to her from the village Bator. She went to the village, but the people will not give a boy. Anna identified the characteristics she was given. In the end the village lined up about 25 boys and told her to pick the right one with all the traits. She did and raised the boy as promised.

At the end of the Suharto reign there was much destruction and many riots. All the buildings surrounding her compound were destroyed. The compound housed the newly founded church of SS Peter and Paul. The inhabitants marched with the icon of Christ, not made by human hands, August 16 and were spared. Anna returned to orthodoxy via Father Daniel Byuntoro. Anna sponsored several priests. She was widely respected in society, allowing the church to be established and grow.

Anna passed away on December 16, 2024.

Many questions remain how she passed. May her memory be eternal.

I love you Anna. With your love and kindness you will be victorious again.

A funeral service for Anna will be held Monday, December 30, 2024 at 11:00 AM at Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Cathedral, 3131 NE Glisan St, PORTLAND, OR 97232. Following the funeral service will be a graveside service at 2:00 PM at Finley Sunset Hills Mortuary, 6801 SW SUNSET HWY, PORTLAND, OR 97225.