She was only 66, and she was the youngest of all her siblings, yet they paid her the compliment of recognizing her gift for holding them all together. Today, they (her family) joined her friends and former collegues to celebrate her achievements and to send her off to the fullness of life.
For more than 30 years she was a Religious Education Consultant (a post that vaporized in recent years) with the local Catholic School Board. In the words of the priest who presided at the liturgy today, she lived her life like she did her job: with grace and conviction. Members of the teaching profession were present yesterday to visit with her grieving family, and today they returned to join with members of the parish she called home in her childhood, as well as the choir from her brother's parish and the on-site choir, all to add their own notes to the chorus with which she was consigned to life eternal.
For all the years of her discipleship, today was a time of giving back. For those who are now mourning, this is a day for others to share in their grief, and to comfort with their prayer and presence. Physical trials like this do indeed come to an end, but the lessons we learn from the suffering change our lives, and the lives of those we leave behind. One can only hope that these lessons are focused on making us better, more compassionate individuals, better able and willing to share the good news of faith.
For more than 30 years she was a Religious Education Consultant (a post that vaporized in recent years) with the local Catholic School Board. In the words of the priest who presided at the liturgy today, she lived her life like she did her job: with grace and conviction. Members of the teaching profession were present yesterday to visit with her grieving family, and today they returned to join with members of the parish she called home in her childhood, as well as the choir from her brother's parish and the on-site choir, all to add their own notes to the chorus with which she was consigned to life eternal.
For all the years of her discipleship, today was a time of giving back. For those who are now mourning, this is a day for others to share in their grief, and to comfort with their prayer and presence. Physical trials like this do indeed come to an end, but the lessons we learn from the suffering change our lives, and the lives of those we leave behind. One can only hope that these lessons are focused on making us better, more compassionate individuals, better able and willing to share the good news of faith.
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