Linda S. Kaffel
Linda S. Kaffel died peacefully in her home in Ajijic with her daughter and good friends by her side on February 4 at the age of 73.
Linda was born in Bearden, Arkansas, the middle child of Dale and Virginia Sumrall. She spent her adolescent years in Shreveport, Louisiana. A graduate of Bird High School, she attended Northwest Louisiana Technical College to receive her secretarial certificate. Moving to Dallas, Texas in the late 1960s, she become a personal assistant to an advertising executive.
Linda married in 1975 and her two children soon followed. In 1986, her family moved to Westport, Connecticut, where she quickly became involved with the non-governmental organization Save the Children.
Linda also volunteered for Interfaith Housing, which helped the local homeless get back on their feet. She was instrumental in setting up a bi-weekly donation of prepared leftovers from a local grocer. Her biggest contribution to the community was soliciting the local residents to donate their gently used unwanted furniture to fill the newly completed halfway homes for abused and battered women and their children. She took personal charge in decorating each and every unit.
Linda eventually moved back to Texas with her daughter to start a new life. There, she designed her new home, personally overseeing the construction. This was going to be the home she would grow old in, she thought.
But in 2002, she and Mike Kaffel found each other in The Woodlands, Texas. The two instantly fell in love and were married in December of the same year. A year later, Linda and Mike vacationed in Guadalajara and visited Ajijic on the suggestion of a close friend. They immediately succumbed to the magical spell of the beautiful village. No other place could they imagine living.
Within months the two had returned to Ajijic to begin a new chapter in their lives. Linda and Mike never looked back. They loved the little village, making it their permanent residence. They loved and embraced the local Mexican community and in turn, were embraced by both Mexicans and the expat community. Together they lived their lives as one, volunteering with multiple charities, including Casa de Ancianos. They loved the music in the village and visited the local restaurants and danced the night away every chance they could.
Linda lost Mike in the fall of 2018. Linda’s health continued to fail after a long battle with cancer. She chose to live out her life in the home she loved in Ajijic.
When you walk along the edge of Lake Chapala at night, keep an ear out for the faint sound of music just beyond the waves coming ashore. There Linda and Mike’s spirits will continue to dance away with the soft glow of Ajijic behind them.
Linda is survived by her children, Thomas Fancher and Haley Fancher, and her granddaughter, Skylar Eames. Linda was proceeded in death by her late husband Michael Kaffel.
A service for Linda will be held on Monday, February 18, 7 p.m. at San Andres Church in Ajijic, followed by a gathering of friends at Manix Restaurant to share memories and celebrate her life.
Amara Brouwers
Amara Brouwers, 73, passed away peacefully February 5, at her home in Ajijic.
Born Brenda Margriet Bordewijk in Rijkswijk, the Netherlands, she lived in Indonesia before emigrating to Canada and then to the United States.
Amara’s love of travel marked her life. In the past 25 years she spent time traveling or living in Alaska, Colombia, Greece, Guatemala, Hawaii, Italy, Nicaragua, Panama, Thailand and Zimbabwe (where she was a Peace Corps volunteer), among other countries. At the time of her death, she had just returned from a cruise to Antarctica and was planning a European river cruise in the near future.
Amara is survived by her sons, Marcel (Laura Hoffer) and Sorin Brouwers (Allison Holton), and her grandchildren, Shreve, Leo, and Otis Brouwers, in the United States. In the Netherlands, she is survived by her brother, Reinier Bordewijk, and in Canada by her sister, Josine Kruiswyk. She is predeceased by her sister, Marja Irene ten Bosch, and her nephew, Micheal Bordewijk.
Brouwers requested that after her passing a party for the living be held with “good wishes for my soul.” The celebration of life is planned for Sunday, February 17, at her home, San Marcos 7, in Riberas del Pilar. The celebration will begin with a reception at 2 p.m., followed by a short ceremony of remembrance at 3 p.m. Attendees are invited to wear clothing that lets their spirits shine in a way that honors Amara’s love of color, personal fashion, and adventure.
Amara was involved in many charitable organizations. Donations made in her name to the charity of the donor’s choice will be collected at Sunday’s celebration. Each donor is invited to choose an article of Amara’s clothing, a piece of jewelry, or a book, as a remembrance.
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