Ecclesiastes 3:1-2 There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven: a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot.
In four hours a community of love will gather to celebrate the life of Rose Violet Schiavone Pepiora. I can only imagine that her church will be filled in her honor. Her body will be laid to rest beside her beloved Mike, in a cemetery just outside of town. As a tribute to my wonderful friend, I will deliver the following eulogy.
Sweet Little Rose, who can say that without a gigantic smile? Sweet Little Rose
All 4 foot 7 inches of her drenched and filled to over flowing with love and faith in GOD. Matthew 22 The greatest Commandment…. tells us……Jesus replied: “Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it; Love your neighbor as yourself……. For 89 years… Rose Violet Schiavone Pepiora…. did exactly as Jesus commanded. SHE LOVED….
From 1 Corinthians 13 we hear of Love----And now I will show you the most excellent way. If I speak in the tongues of men and of angel, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails…..ROSE WAS LOVE…..
People come into our lives for a REASON, a SEASON, or a LIFETIME. When someone is in our life for a reason it is usually to meet needs that you require. After that need is met and our desire is fulfilled… their work is done. Perhaps you met Rose for REASON!
Some people come into our life for a season, your time together is to share, grow and learn. They may bring you an experience of great peace or make you laugh. They may teach you something, they usually give you and unbelievable amount of joy. Receive it, it is real but only for a season. You may have known Rose for a SEASON!
Some people come into our lives for a lifetime. This relationship teaches you life lessons, things you must build upon in order to have a solid emotional foundation. You are to accept the lesson, love that person and put to use what you have received from them. Perhaps you have known Rose for a LIFETIME!
I have been blessed to have Rose as a life time friend…. for nearly 40 years. To me…. she was a mother,… a mentor…. and a best friend, someone who loved me unconditionally, just the way I am! I have learned a lifetime of lessons from her love. I will strive to live the rest of my life as a living testimony and walk in the light and the hope of her LOVE!
Whether you have known Rose for months, years or a lifetime, we were all truly blessed by her presence. Many of you know that Rose`s desire was to live in the comfort and security of her long time home on Crystal Beach Road. Within the last year Rose`s physical body began to fail…..but certainly not her mind. We had many talks about her living independently …… she didn`t want to burden anyone, she told me that she wanted to leave her home “feet first. I promised her that I would do everything in my power to help her.
I would personally like to thank each and every one of you, and there are many…. who helped me keep my promise to “SWEET LITTLE ROSE.” You visited, you called, ran errands, got her mail, fixed her bath tub, brought her food…. especially Christmas cookies that she love, gave her gifts, called her, delivered her holy communion, took her to get her hair done, brought her library books, took her to Dr visits and cleaned her house,….. together we respected her wishes and allowed her to live with dignity……but most importantly we showered her with LOVE.
On a February 29th on a stretcher she left her house….” feet first”…. for her final ride,….. after only eleven day away her precious abode she was called to her eternal home with JESUS …….
Ephesians 2:8-9 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is a gift from God---not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God`s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
FATHER GOD, ALL PRAISE AND GLORY TO YOU,….. I humbly thank this community of love that HELPED ME KEEP A PROMISE. Father, I thank you for our “SWEET LITTLE ROSE, MAY SHE REST IN ETERNAL PEACE! The end.
Father God, I thank you for the words of this eulogy, I found out last night that you woke both Rose`s niece Karen and myself at 4 am on Wednesday to write our eulogies! Probably no co-inky-dink, thank you! Father, thank you for the love, support and strength during these last couple of weeks. As difficult as it was to bid farewell to Rose, it brings me immense comfort to know that she is pain free from this earthly body and in your presence. Father, please send angels to hold me up as I deliver this eulogy and tribute for my lovely friend! Big strong angels!
Father God, I will keep my focus on you, day by day, to complete the task that lay in front of me. Thank you for leading me to this fast, you certainly knew that I would need to have my heart, soul and Spirit in alignment to receive your love and mercy. Father God, thank you for the life lessons that you have walked me through; I know that you will never leave or forsake me.
Father, thank you for the healing that has begun in my family. What a blessing to lead my niece Mandy in prayer yesterday, as she shared her heart`s desire for you. I know that angels in heaven rejoiced upon hearing her confessions of repentance, forgiveness and acceptance of your free gift, JESUS THE CHRIST. Thank you for this amazing gift in the midst of our sorrow as we mourn the passing of "Sweet Little Rose." Isaiah 26:12 LORD you establish peace for us; all we have accomplished you have done for us. AMEN........your faithful servant and precious daughter, Linda!
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