Here is the text of the homily I prepared for the celebration of the funeral that took place today in the presence of family and friends.
The passage from the Book of Ecclesiastes began with the words: There is an appointed time for everything, and a time for every affair under the heavens (Ecc 3:1). Today, we have gathered in this place, for at this time, we want to give thanks and praise to God for having shared with us the gift of his beloved daughter Yvonne, and we want to entrust her eternal soul into the loving care of our heavenly Father.
There is an appointed time for everything. On 23 April 1948, Clement and Hermina Gonsalves were rejoicing. Their daughter Yvonne Jeanne was born. At the time, they lived in Aruba, so Yvonne learned English and Dutch, which is the language of that country. She lived in Aruba with her parents until the age of 11 years, and then they returned to Guyana. Eventually, at the age of 20 years, Yvonne came to Canada and shortly afterwards, she met Derek. Within a year, they were married and began their own family life.
Ryan has shared with us, other details about her life, but what we may not be aware of is the life of faith that has unfolded at the same time. In his letter addressed to the Christian community at Rome, Saint Paul explained that at the time of our baptism, we are buried with Christ ... so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead ... we too might live in newness of life (Rom 6:4). This image may seem strange to us, for we usually think of Baptism as a Sacrament that marks the beginning of life. The Church has always taught that we do indeed begin our life in Christ at the time of our Baptism, and that the ultimate aim of our life in Christ is eternal life with him in heaven. In the case of our sister Yvonne, her life in faith was begun at her Baptism, and it was fed and strengthened each time she came to this church to listen to the Word of God and to be nourished with the Eucharist.
Her greatest joy was found in spending time with her beloved boys and with her grandchildren. Each year, she would take time to visit with them, especially for the celebration of birthdays. In fact, it was during her visit to Connecticut just a few months ago that she first fell ill. With unbelievable speed, a cold became pneumonia, and when this too persisted, further testing revealed the presence of Non Hodgkins Lymphoma. She was supposed to begin chemotherapy last week, but God called her home before that was possible.
Today, we have gathered in this place to surround Yvonne's family with our presence, our prayer and our love. The Lord is present with us too. In the gospel passage we heard today, he says to us: Do not let your hearts be troubled (Jn 14:1), and he goes on, reminding us of his presence, that he is always close to us and that in our Father's house, there are many dwelling places (Jn 14:2). There is a place for Yvonne there, there is a place for all of us. Jesus has prepared Yvonne's place, and now we entrust her into his care.
Like the apostles, we too live in this physical and tangible world. Therefore, there might be a part of us that wants to cry out like Thomas did: Master, we do not know where you are going, so how can we know the way? (Jn 14:5) In this place, we witness holiness, in this place we bend our knees and dare to offer our prayers for the repose of Yvonne's soul, in this place we hear words of encouragement and consolation. In this place, Jesus says to us today: I am the way and the truth and the life (Jn 14:6). As she takes her place in our Father's house, Yvonne now receives the reward of her faith, and as we leave this place today, we too must take courage in the promise that this reward will also be ours when our time comes. In the meanwhile, let us ask the Lord to bless our way and to guide us in His truth until the appointed time comes for us to enter our Father's house.
Funeral homily for Yvonne Jeanne Sadler
The passage from the Book of Ecclesiastes began with the words: There is an appointed time for everything, and a time for every affair under the heavens (Ecc 3:1). Today, we have gathered in this place, for at this time, we want to give thanks and praise to God for having shared with us the gift of his beloved daughter Yvonne, and we want to entrust her eternal soul into the loving care of our heavenly Father.
There is an appointed time for everything. On 23 April 1948, Clement and Hermina Gonsalves were rejoicing. Their daughter Yvonne Jeanne was born. At the time, they lived in Aruba, so Yvonne learned English and Dutch, which is the language of that country. She lived in Aruba with her parents until the age of 11 years, and then they returned to Guyana. Eventually, at the age of 20 years, Yvonne came to Canada and shortly afterwards, she met Derek. Within a year, they were married and began their own family life.
Ryan has shared with us, other details about her life, but what we may not be aware of is the life of faith that has unfolded at the same time. In his letter addressed to the Christian community at Rome, Saint Paul explained that at the time of our baptism, we are buried with Christ ... so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead ... we too might live in newness of life (Rom 6:4). This image may seem strange to us, for we usually think of Baptism as a Sacrament that marks the beginning of life. The Church has always taught that we do indeed begin our life in Christ at the time of our Baptism, and that the ultimate aim of our life in Christ is eternal life with him in heaven. In the case of our sister Yvonne, her life in faith was begun at her Baptism, and it was fed and strengthened each time she came to this church to listen to the Word of God and to be nourished with the Eucharist.
Her greatest joy was found in spending time with her beloved boys and with her grandchildren. Each year, she would take time to visit with them, especially for the celebration of birthdays. In fact, it was during her visit to Connecticut just a few months ago that she first fell ill. With unbelievable speed, a cold became pneumonia, and when this too persisted, further testing revealed the presence of Non Hodgkins Lymphoma. She was supposed to begin chemotherapy last week, but God called her home before that was possible.
Today, we have gathered in this place to surround Yvonne's family with our presence, our prayer and our love. The Lord is present with us too. In the gospel passage we heard today, he says to us: Do not let your hearts be troubled (Jn 14:1), and he goes on, reminding us of his presence, that he is always close to us and that in our Father's house, there are many dwelling places (Jn 14:2). There is a place for Yvonne there, there is a place for all of us. Jesus has prepared Yvonne's place, and now we entrust her into his care.
Like the apostles, we too live in this physical and tangible world. Therefore, there might be a part of us that wants to cry out like Thomas did: Master, we do not know where you are going, so how can we know the way? (Jn 14:5) In this place, we witness holiness, in this place we bend our knees and dare to offer our prayers for the repose of Yvonne's soul, in this place we hear words of encouragement and consolation. In this place, Jesus says to us today: I am the way and the truth and the life (Jn 14:6). As she takes her place in our Father's house, Yvonne now receives the reward of her faith, and as we leave this place today, we too must take courage in the promise that this reward will also be ours when our time comes. In the meanwhile, let us ask the Lord to bless our way and to guide us in His truth until the appointed time comes for us to enter our Father's house.
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