A Tribute To My Mother by Elizabeth Colucci

We have come together today to say goodbye to Veronica also known as Mother, Grandma, GG, Sister Vern, Aunt Vernie and Friend. The circle of flowers that you see before you represents the circle of life here on this earth.

King Solomon wrote in the book of Ecclesiastes the following:

There is an appointed time for everything. And there is a time for every event under heaven—
A time to give birth and a time to die;
A time to plant and a time to uproot what is planted.
A time to kill and a time to heal;
A time to tear down and a time to build up.
A time to weep and a time to laugh;
A time to mourn and a time to dance.
A time to throw stones and a time to gather stones;
A time to embrace and a time to shun embracing.
A time to search and a time to give up as lost;
A time to keep and a time to throw away.
A time to tear apart and a time to sew together;
A time to be silent and a time to speak.
A time to love and a time to hate;
A time for war and a time for peace.

These are the events that happen on earth. The way that man lives here on earth and what he expects of life and death. Yet King Solomon goes on to say that it is God who has made everything appropriate in its time. It is God who has set eternity in the hearts of mankind.

Jesus Christ said, “I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in me shall live even if he dies, and everyone who believes in me shall never die.” (John 11)

Veronica embraced the truth of these words and that truth has set her free. Upon receiving Christ as her Savior, she displayed the fruit of the Spirit. She had a gentle and quiet spirit. Mom had a servant’s heart. Matt and I could never have had the ministry the we had if she hadn’t been willing to step in and the handle the affairs of the house and our personal needs.

Mom taught Steven and me by example many of life’s principles, to work with diligence, not to be gossips, to be kind to others and accept them as they are and not find fault with anyone. She was compliant and accepted her life events without complaint. Though Mom suffered in many different ways on this earth, her spirit has now been released into Heaven where there are no more tears and no more pain. (Rev 7, Rev. 21 and Isaiah 25)

So, though I weep for myself, because I have lost my mother, my friend, my confidant, and because I will not see her or be able to embrace her or care for her now, there is no doubt in my mind that I will see her again in the very presence of God.

Veronica requested that she be buried besie her parents, Elizabeth and Joseph Trojanowski so we were are now honoring her request.

Veronica loved the song “In The Garden”. The words of the song are:

I come to the garden alone
While the dew is still on the roses
And the voice I hear, falling on my ear
The Son of God discloses
And he walks with me
And he talks with me
[Chorus]
And he tells me I am His own
And the joy we share as we tarry there
None other has ever known
He speaks and the sound of His voice
Is so sweet the birds hush their singing
And the melody that He gave to me
Within my heart is ringing
And he walks with me
And he talks with me
[Chorus]
I’d stay in the garden with Him
‘Tho the night around me be falling
But He bids me go, through the voice of woe
His voice to me is calling
And He walks with me
And He talks with me

Veronica has now come full circle and words in this song are what I see in my mind’s eye of the joy she is now experiencing with our Lord. Happiness beyond compare!

Farewell our beloved Mother, Grandmother, GG, Sister Vern, Aunt Vernie and Friend! ’til we meet again!

A Tribute To My Grandma by Kimberly Cohen

As I was growing up, my mom loved to tell the story about how, as she approached the last weeks of her pregnancy, my grandma would travel every weekend from LA to Edwards, CA, to be on hand for my arrival. After several weekends of this, in the heat of summer, and no air conditioning, my mom finally said to my grandma, “Mom, you need to stay home. I promise you the baby will be born on your birthday as my gift to you.” Considering my mom wasn’t scheduled for a caesarian, you can only imagine my grandma’s amazement, as well as everyone else’s, when true to her word my mom gave birth to me naturally on the promised day.

From that day forward, my grandma and I shared a special bond, and she would often take great joy in making our day a special occasion reminding me all the while of what a special gift I was to her.

But the truth of the matter is…she was my special gift. One that I was greeted by the very first moments of my life and continued to be able to enjoy, value and treasure for over 55 years. She was an intelligent, complex woman with a gentle quietness who could often be heard whistling or humming softly to herself as she puttered around the house carrying out simple mundane tasks that did so much to make a house a home – full of peace and solitude.

Through her, I learned to enjoy so many of the simple things in life – the greeting of a new day as windows were opened to invite the flow of gentle breezes throughout the house, the scent of freshly washed sheets dried in the open air and just picked off the clothes line, the yummy aromas of special foods of which only she had the recipes, the beauty of the garden – pansies, gladiolus and birdsongs – most importantly, the healing nature of her gentle touch.

She was kind and loving, strong and persevering – a beautiful woman inside and out with a regal bearing. One I often kidded her about as I’d compare her picture with that of the current Queen of England and slyly ask, “Are you sure you’re not related?”

She had an uncanny ability to accept the things she could not or would not change, and she often shared two things with me she felt were very important which I think epitomized her life – first, all things can be enjoyed, it’s only a matter of “moderation”, and second, “whatever will be, will be” so it’s important to enjoy and make the best of what you’re given.

Maya Angelou once said, “I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”

To that I say, perhaps my memory will fade and specific things my grandma said and did I will forget. But…I will never forget how special she made me feel and how lucky I was to be able to be given such a birthday gift as she – I will miss you grandma, that special twinkle in your eyes, your gentle smile and the words always heard without needing to be spoken…I love you.