June 19, 2026

In the days since Mom's passing, I've found myself reflecting on a conversation with my dad and my husband Josh about how unfair it seemed that Mom had to endure so much during the last few years of her life. A stroke three years ago. Kidney problems. Chronic, debilitating pain in her legs and feet. It seemed that one challenge would come, and before she could fully recover, another would take its place.

During some of those especially difficult times, Mom would ask Dad, "Why am I the one who has to deal with all these problems? Most of my siblings don't have all these issues."

As I reflected on those words, I found myself thinking about who Mom was at her core.

Mom was caring, compassionate, generous, and selfless. She spent her life thinking about other people's needs before her own.

In fact, Mom was so generous in supporting charities and faith-based organizations that our family has inherited what can only be described as a lifetime supply of free greeting cards and enough personalized foil mailing labels to last several generations. If any of you find yourselves in need of greeting cards, please see us after the service.

But behind the humor was something beautiful. Mom gave because she genuinely cared. She believed in helping others, supporting causes she believed in, and living her faith through service.

She was deeply devoted to her faith, mentally strong, disciplined, genuine, funny, sassy, and, yes, more than a little stubborn.

And maybe that's what made her so remarkable.

While none of us would have chosen the burdens she carried, Mom faced them with the same strength and perseverance that she brought to every other part of her life. Even when she was hurting, she was still concerned about the people around her. Even when things were difficult, she continued to love, to care, and to give of herself.

I believe God knew the depth of her faith and the strength of her spirit. He knew she would keep going when many others could not. He knew she would meet hardship with courage and grace.

And God also knew something else: that Mom would not carry those burdens alone.

For 59 years, my dad stood beside her. Through joy and through hardship, through health and through illness, he loved her faithfully and devotedly. When the weight became too much, Dad helped carry it. He cared for her with extraordinary patience, tenderness, and love.

Fifty-nine years of marriage. Fifty-nine years of partnership. Fifty-nine years of devotion.

When we think of Mom today, we don't want to remember her for the challenges she faced. We want to remember the way she lived. A life defined by faith. A life defined by love. A life spent caring for others before herself.

And perhaps that's the gift she leaves each of us.

As we leave here today, we invite you to reflect on how we might live a little more like Mom. To be a little more patient. A little more generous. A little more willing to put someone else's needs ahead of our own. To show up for the people we love, especially when it's difficult. To carry one another's burdens when we can.

Because that is what Mom did every day of her life.

If we can do that. If we can love a little more deeply, serve a little more selflessly, and extend a little more grace to those around us; then a part of Mom's legacy will continue to live on through each and every one of us.

And I can think of no better way to honor her.

One of the things Mom valued most was her family. She taught us not only through her words, but through the example she set every day… an example of love, faith, service, and devotion to others. The poem you are about to hear was one she chose herself, and it reflects many of the values she lived by and hoped to pass on to those she loved. I can think of no better people to share it with you than 2 of her 10 grandchildren, Miranda and Jack.

“To Those I Love”
Author Unknown

When I am gone, release me, let me go.
I have so many things to see and do.
You mustn’t tie yourself to me with tears.
Be happy that we have had so many years.

I gave you my love, but you can only guess
how much you gave me in happiness.
I thank you for the love you each have shown,
but now it’s time I traveled on alone.

So grieve awhile for me, if grieve you must.
Then let your grief be comforted by trust.
It’s only for a while that we must part,
so bless those memories within your heart.
I won't be far away, for life goes on. So if you need me, call and I will come.

Though you can’t see or touch me, I’ll be near.
And if you listen with your heart,
you will hear all my love around you soft and clear.
And then, when you must come this way alone,
I’ll greet you with a smile, and a “Welcome home”.

FIRST READING

A reading from the Book of the Prophet Isaiah 25:6a, 7-9

On this mountain the Lord of hosts 
will provide for all peoples
On this mountain he will destroy the veil that veils all peoples, 
The web that is woven over all nations. He will destroy death forever.
 The Lord God will wipe away the tears from all faces;
The reproach of his people he will remove from the whole earth; for the Lord has spoken.

On that day it will be said:
“Indeed, this is our God; we looked to him, and he saved us! 
This is the Lord to whom we looked; 
let us rejoice and be glad that he has saved us!”

The word of the Lord.

SECOND READING

A reading from the first Letter of Saint John 4:7-10

Beloved, let us love one another,
because love is of God;
everyone who loves is begotten by God and knows God. 
Whoever is without love does not know God, for God is love.
In this way the love of God was revealed to us: 
God sent his only Son into the world so that we might have life through him.

In this is love: not that we have loved God, but that he loved us
and sent his Son as expiation for our sins.

The word of the Lord.

GOSPEL

✠ A reading from the holy Gospel according to John 3:14-16

Jesus said:
“Just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the desert,
 so must the Son of Man be lifted up, so that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.”
For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, 
so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life.

The Gospel of the Lord.

We are here today because we loved Nora.

Why did we love her? We loved Nora because she loved us first. Our love for her is a response to the love she gave us. No child teaches a mother how to love. No grandchild teaches a grandmother how to love. Love begins as a gift before it becomes a response.

That is why this church is filled today. Throughout her life, Nora poured herself out for others. She loved as a wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, aunt, and friend. The affection that surrounds her today is the fruit of a lifetime spent loving others.

The Scriptures invite us to reflect on the source of every love. Saint John tells us: “In this is love: not that we have loved God, but that he loved us.” In those few words, he reveals one of the deepest truths of the Christian life: God always loves first. Before we ever sought Him, He sought us. Before we ever loved Him, He loved us. Every genuine love story begins there.

And what does that love look like? Jesus tells us in today’s Gospel: “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son.” God’s love is not merely spoken. God’s love is given. It pours itself out for the life of another. That is what we see in Jesus Christ. The Son is given so that we might not perish but might have eternal life.

Nora understood this. She knew that the Christian life begins not with what we do for God but with what God has done for us. She knew that those who have been loved by…

God are called to love in return. The love that fills this church today did not appear by accident. It was formed through years of kindness, sacrifice, generosity, patience, and fidelity. We loved Nora because Nora loved us first.

But today’s readings lead us one step further. The God who loves us does not abandon us to death. The Gospel tells us that God gave His Son so that we might have eternal life. And so Isaiah can make the astonishing promise: “He will destroy death forever.” The Lord will wipe away the tears from every face.

That is the Christian hope. Death is real. Grief is real. The tears we shed today are real. But death does not have the final word. The final word belongs to the God who loves us. The final word belongs to the God who gives life. The final word belongs to Christ.

And perhaps the greatest tribute we can give Nora today is not merely to remember her love but to imitate it. God loved first. Nora learned that lesson well, and she loved first. Now it is our turn.

Do not wait for others to make the first move. Do not wait for others to deserve your kindness. Do not wait for others to earn your forgiveness.

Love first.
As God has loved us.
As Nora loved you.

"Babe"
By Dennis DeYoung & Tommy Shaw of Styx

Babe, I'm leaving, I must be on my way
The time is drawing near
My train is going, I see it in your eyes
The love, beneath, your tears
But I'll be lonely without you
And I'll need your love to see me through
So please believe me, my heart is in your hand
And I'll be missing you

Cause you know it's you, Babe
Whenever I get weary and I've had enough
Feel like giving up
You know it's you, Babe

Giving me the courage and the strength I need
Please believe that it's true
Babe, I love you

You know it's you, Babe
Whenever I get weary and I've had enough
Feel like giving up
You know it's you, Babe

Giving me the courage and the strength I need
Please believe that it's true
Babe, I love you

Babe, I’m leaving, I’ll say it once again
And somehow try to smile
I know the feeling, we’re trying to forget
If only for awhile

Cause I’ll be lonely without you
And I’ll need your love to see me through

Please believe me, my heart is in your hands
Cause I’ll be missing you
Babe, I love you
Babe, I love you
Ooh-ooh-ooh- babe