A part of the family

Today, we celebrated a Memorial Mass and remembered a woman who was a committed disciple of Jesus.  She left an example for many of us to follow.  May the Risen Lord welcome her into his heavenly kingdom and grant peace and consolation to all those who are pained by her absence.

Funeral homily for Patricia Fournier

We have come to this church today to remember our dear sister Patricia, and to give thanks for the many years that God granted her to live among us, to share the joy of her faith with us and to share a part of the journey that we call life.  Anne, Brian, David, Yvonne and Marc, I’m willing to bet that when you were younger, living in other parts of this country, you may have wondered how Pat managed to keep the household together at times.  Your dad may have been in the military, but it was really your mom who kept your lives in order, right?

She was present at the moment of your birth, she laughed with you when you were happy, she dried your tears when you were upset and she always knew the right words to speak when your hearts needed to be encouraged.  There is a time for every experience in life (cf Ecc 3:1-11), even a time when our hearts feel as though they are breaking, as though a part of us has died with her, but this is the great gift of our faith.  Especially in these days of the Easter Season, we celebrate the joy of Jesus’ resurrection and the promise that he has given to us: Do not let your hearts be troubled.  Believe in God and believe in me (Jn 14:1).

In preparation for today’s celebration, Anne left copies of the various reflections that were shared at the gathering that was held in the funeral home in Ottawa after Patricia’s death, including the memory shared by one of you who wrote: Mémère and Pépère set the tone long ago for all of us concerning the value of family life.  Today, we are here to celebrate this memorial Mass because we are all a part of God’s family.  Each of us is a beloved son or daughter of God, a brother or sister to Jesus, so it is right that we should gather with our faith family to find support here in our time of need.

On the day of her baptism, Patricia was clothed with the dignity of being a child of God.  She was entrusted with the light of faith, symbolized by the baptismal candle that was entrusted to her parents and godparents.  This light of faith is drawn from Christ himself who is the source of God’s light, God’s love and God’s joy.  These are the gifts he shares with us every time we gather around his table.  He lovingly instructs our minds and our hearts with his word and feeds us with his body and blood.  Then he sends us out into the world so that we in turn can do the same for others, even if it should mean that we pour out our lives like a libation (cf 2 Tim 4:6).

This is what every mother does for her children.  This is what Patricia has done for all of you and for us, her brothers and sisters in faith.  While she and Rudolph lived here in North Bay, she was also an active member of the CWL, pouring out her life for God and country, and later in life when she moved to the Ottawa area, she continued to do the same so that others too could benefit from the light of her faith.

Now her time here on earth has ended.  She has fought the good fight and finished the race … she has kept the faith (cf 2 Tim 4:7) and now there is reserved for her a crown of righteousness that the Lord will bestow upon her.  From her heavenly home, may she always intercede for you and guide your steps until the day that you are reunited with her in our heavenly homeland.