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I hope to put in words the honor, the respect, the love all of us have for Joan LeSage. She meant so much to each one of us for different reasons. Her life - one life - but well lived.We are all better because she lived an amazing life.
Her strength of character, Her love, her joy, her patience over the years are so worth remembering today.
Her love for God and family have not only made her life a sheer JOY to remember, they have made her life so significant.
The silver lining in this cloud of death that has cast its shadow on us today is one simple theme - Her life was one life well lived. So much of her life was lived for others.
As a sister, she was close to her family even with the distance of miles. As an aunt, she loved her neices and nephews and always had a kind word or deed for them.
She was a wonderful mother, raising five extrodinary babies to adulthood and standing with them in love through all the seasons of their lives.
She was a beautiful grandmother, looking out for her grandchildren - loving them and praying for them.
She had the joy of being a great grandmother - her great grandchildren live in Kansas, Michigan, Georgia, Wisconsin, California and Nevada.
She stood by her husband for 49 years of marriage. She was always grandpa's greatest support. She called him "her pal."
She was an example to us - for her daughters, granddaughters and great granddaughters her life represented so much of the internal beauty that we can emulate as women for her sons, grandsons and great grandsons, she modeled strength of character, and love for life, and family.
These things will live on through each of us as we choose to take her with us today.
Last month on a visit home, my mom, Ellen, Grandma and I took a weekend to Uncle Genes and Aunt Lindas. We looked at old videos with grandma and grandpa in their 60’s- And there were crisp memories of Grandma so happy, laughing with her classic, jovial laugh, lighting up the room with her eyes. In those videos she’s right in the middle of her family. This was her life. She took great joy in her family, loving us all to the fullest in her own unique way.We will always remember how she found joy in being with God. I think of the hours she spent at the church in Silver Springs to pray for her family,she used to say" I pray everyday for all my family,friends and benefactors, and the most forgotten soul, I think that covers everybody"
This love extended beyond her immediate family. She found joy in serving others. Every Sunday after mass she would open her home to the church, serving so many people.
While she was alive, she kept her faith simple by following the greatest commands. She loved God fully and she loved her neighbors as herself. It spilled out into everything she did. We can also choose to love God and pass this legacy of faith on to the next generation.
Psalm 23 was grandma’s favorite psalm. It was her life scripture. When she was able, she would quote it word for word. Her eyes would light up at the truth of it.
During my last visit in July, I lay with grandma on her bed and held her hand. We didn't say much. But at one point after telling her how loved she was and what an amazing grandmother she had always been, I decided I would speak Psalm 23 over us. Grandma's eyes lit up as I read this. Grandma,The Lord is our shepherd, isn't he? ...We shall not want for anything He makes us lie down in green pastures, he leads us beside still waters, doesn't he grandma?
He restores our soul, grandma! ... He leads us into His paths of righteousness for His name sake, doesn't he?
Even when we walk through the valley of the shadow of death, we won't fear evil, will we grandma? For God is with us!
His rod and staff comfort us. He prepares a table before us in the presence of our enemies. He annointest our head with oil; our cup runneth over.
Surely, goodness and mercy will follow us all the days of our life grandma! And We will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
That’s exactly where grandma is today - She is home with her creator - dwelling in God’s house - completely full of joy at living a life that honored her creator and honored her family.As much as we are letting go of her physically today, we know that spiritually we will embrace her again.
Grand daughter Jenny Pellant