AMDG
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| Charles and Irene Surber |
The following are excerpts of the
letter Irene wrote to her family, friends, and fellow members of the Secular Franciscan Order a month before she died. As requested, parts specifically addressed to
her extended family are omitted.
“COME TO ME ALL YOU WHO
ARE WEARY AND ARE BURDENED…….AND I WILL GIVE YOU REST.” (Matthew 11:28)
My Dearest Charles and
Friends:
My
earthly pilgrimage has ended. As my life
drew closer to the 11th hour, I felt a need to share some final
thoughts with those who have touched my life in so many meaningful ways and
supported me along the journey HOME….I re-wrote this message several
times…..this is my final revision. I return
to the ONE who fashioned the stars, wove the tapestry of the skies, crafted the
universe with HIS word alone and created all of us in His Image and Likeness.
Countless
graces and blessings energized my life of Faith, sustaining me through joys,
questions, sorrows, doubts and challenges.
Believing that Jesus’ life, teachings and resurrection set us free, that
we are a redeemed people, made it comforting to listen expectantly for the
voice calling me HOME. Like all
faith-filled Christians, I realized life is a brief journey in which we walk
hand in hand with life’s companions, reaching for the PEARL of great Price,
trusting in God’s eternal promise.
As
the years wore on, the lessons our dear parents, Joseph and Helen instilled
were never forgotten. We were raised in
a home where prayer, Church attendance, Mass, the Holy Eucharist, religious
practices and expressions were of primary value. Ours was a faith-filled Catholic Christian
home. Mom and Dad set an example to the
best of their capability and understanding.
What a joy to be seeing them again, meeting our deceased relatives and
above all……meeting our Grandparents for the very first time.
Religious
life added a rich spiritual and social dimension on the Journey affording
innumerable opportunities for spiritual and professional growth and
guidance…..As we know, vocations are nurtured in a family setting. We were not short on encouragement. We grew up being challenged and reaching for
the IDEAL!
I
was accompanied on my journey by members of the Secular Franciscan Order. They provided the companionship, challenge
and Franciscan spirituality that filled my heart and enlivened my spirit. We walked the journey with freedom and
fraternity, inspired by the example of our dear St. Francis and St. Clare.
I
can never thank you enough for all your love and generous FORGIVENESS. I beg you to remember me in prayer and ask
you to rejoice with me.
And
like the repentant thief, I beg YOU, Lord Jesus, for mercy and
forgiveness. I pray that I am worthy to
hear Jesus’ reassuring words:
“TODAY,
YOU WILL BE WITH ME IN PARADISE.”
(Luke
23:43)
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| Jesus Christ, the Good Shepherd (John10:11) |
EULOGY
(Delivered at Irene Kobak Surber’s Funeral at St. Louis Church on July 17,
2017)
As an Extraordinary Eucharistic Minister since 2009, I had the
opportunity to know Irene well. In fact
it was Irene who encouraged me to volunteer for that ministry and my wife Jaga
joined me. It was an awesome privilege
to bring Christ Himself and His love to her in Holy Communion every Sunday, to
pray with her, and to help her in a little way for her encounter with the Lord
in eternity.
I
was supposed to minister to Irene, but she ministered to me more than I did to
her. She placed great value on the
Eucharist and she did a lot of spiritual reading. She was faithful to her Catholic Church to
the very end. She kept coming to Sunday
Mass until only a couple of months ago when it became practically impossible
since she was dependent upon oxygen.
Even then she would assist at Mass via EWTN television and we would
complement that by bringing her Holy Communion.
Irene
never bore any children of her own, but over a career of some 40 years she was
like a mother to hundreds if not thousands of children, most of whom were
developmentally challenged. She
recognized their great dignity, created according to the image and likeness of
God. She loved them dearly; she saw
their potential; and helped to make them productive members of society. In retirement she visited the aged as a
volunteer in nursing homes in the area.
She was a Third Order Franciscan and emulated St. Francis as well as St.
Clare.
Irene
was a Pollyanna type, always positive, encouraging, kind, and patient. I really appreciate her encouragement of my
writing. I never heard her make any
disparaging remark against anyone.
One priest commented that “Those who die of cancer die like
saints. That statement is certainly true
in regard to Irene. She was ready. She taught us how to live and she taught us
how to die. She confronted her cancer
with faith and courage. Irene did not
give up; she really wanted to take care of Charlie and did not want to leave
him, her extended family, and friends, but was completely resigned to the will
of God with great trust in His Providence……..that no matter what, it would all
turn out for the best in the long run.
Each time I saw Irene, there was a certain joy and peace about
her……..even a joyful expectation of eternity.
Irene planned out every aspect of her funeral. For the first time in my memory, has a
laywoman been laid out at the front of our church. We’re going to have a luncheon this
afternoon; the hostess is really Irene and she has invited all of you with
typically warm Polish hospitality, entrusting the Catholic Women’s Club and
others to put it on. At some of our
Communion services with her, we would say the “Our Father” (Ojcze Nasz) in
Polish. You see, I’m Polish by marriage
and proud of it.
Irene
had a devotion to Mary, who perhaps interceded that she die on July 13, the
100th anniversary of the third and most prophetic apparition of Our Lady of Fatima. The whole Fatima series will be on this blog.
In
that apparition Mary reiterated her plea: “Make of everything you can a sacrifice and
offer it to God as an act of reparation for the sins by which He is offended
and in supplication for the conversion of sinners.” Indeed, Irene offered up her aches and her
pains, the effects of chemo, and all of her suffering for that intention.
She
united her cross with the Lord’s cross and offered it all up as a dynamic
prayer for the Church, the missions, for our country, for a better world and
for her loved ones. God knows how much
our country and our world need prayer.
The prayers of the sick and the suffering are most valuable and very
effective. Thus Irene was very productive
until the moment she died.
Irene
loved the image of the Good Shepherd and liked to imagine herself being a
little lamb in His arms. Her prayers to
the Good Shepherd were surely answered as He gave her the strength to carry her
cross and led His little lamb to eternity.
The Good Shepherd never sleeps.
The Good Shepherd is real.
Thank
you Irene for all that you have done for us and the Church. We love you.
Good-by until we see you again. I
know that you will be waiting for us for one big joyful reunion in Heaven. Let’s make sure that we all get there by
being faithful practicing Christians with our lives……everyone of us! I’m sure Irene will be praying for us along
the way.
Appendix
Obituary
Sunday Times-Sentinel (Gallipolis,
Ohio) & Point Pleasant Register July 16, 2017
Irene Surber
BIDWELL — Irene M. Surber, 85, of
Bidwell, passed away on Thursday, July 13, 2017 at her residence.
She was born September 28, 1931 in
Cleveland, daughter of the late Joseph A. and Helen Dentkos Kobak. Irene
married Charles M. Surber and he survives her. She graduated from St. John's
College and received her Master's Degree at Case Western University.
Irene was a member of Third Order of
St. Francis as a sister of St. Joseph for 33 years, a member of St. Louis
Catholic Church in Gallipolis, worked for Catholic Charities, worked in
California at Director of Services for the Developmentally Disabled, worked for
Tap Center in California along with Sister Mary Grace, and worked as a special
education teacher for 30 years. A faithful longtime friend to Irene was Sister
Mary Lou Wojtusik of Garfield Heights., she visited nursing home patients along
with Ella Bokovitz for many years in the local assisted living facilities,
played organ in the Catholic churches, enjoyed camping, walking, and various
activities. She was a great conversationalist and had many friends.
Surviving are her husband, Charles
M. Surber of Bidwell, five sisters, Wanda DiVencenzo, of Grafton, Mary Ann
Bliss, of North Royalton,, Theresa (Kobak) Bird of El Sobrante, Calif.,
Christine Berger, of Avon, and Helen Smith of Horshoe Bay, Texas.
In addition to her parents, she was
preceded in death by a sister, Sister Clementia.
Mass of Christian Burial will be
11:30 a.m., Monday, July 17, 2017 at St. Louis Catholic Church with Father
Thomas Hamm officiating. Entombment will follow at Ohio Valley Memory Gardens.
Friends may call 10 – 11:30 a.m. at the church prior to the mass. In lieu of
flowers donations can be made to the St. Louis Catholic Church building Fund.
Please visit www.willisfuneralhome.com to send e-mail
condolences.
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