 This page is in remembrance of our beautiful Mother |
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 Whom we will always hold close in our hearts. |
A Poem For You, Mama
Including Her "Last Days"
The Days That Followed
From Your Friends, Mama...
Your "Sisters Of Faith" Remember You, Mama
as delivered by her oldest daughter, Judi.
We are all here today to remember a very special lady. Her name is Joyce Dusang. She was a wife, a mother, a sister and a daughter. But more than anything else she was always a friend to all...and to me-she was my very best friend. There are so many words that could be used to describe her but the one word that would sum up the rest would be love.
She knew the true meaning of love because she knew her God so very well. As she lived her life for Him she always managed to leave a little piece of herself embedded in everyone's heart.
She lived a very full life-sometimes it wasn't always an easy life. Being the mother of 6 children there were times of trial and heartbreak along with joys and triumphs.
When we began to leave home and find spouses of our own she accepted all of them into her heart. The daughter-in-laws became daughters and the son-in-laws became her sons. She never seemed to run out of love to share with anyone.
But most of all when the grandchildren began to arrive, never on God's green earth was there ever a better grandmother to be found. There were many grandkids and more coming...but Grandma was always there for all of them, not just when they were small but as they grew through the years . She always seemed to know what they needed and always shared her wisdom with us, the mothers and fathers, who had not yet learned what all the years had taught her. Sometimes it was welcomed and sometimes not, at least not at the moment. But the test of time always proved that Grandma had known best all along. For all the grandchildren who have not had the opportunity to experience her loving kindness it will be up to the rest of us to make sure her memory continues to live through all of us and they should know that she loved them even before they ever arrived.
After having and raising all of her own children and being a wonderful grandmother she still had even more to give to her second family, the Gallaghers whom she worked for. They were very much loved and cherished by her.
Whatever burdens that came her way she always seemed to be able to rise above them. It wasn't always an easy task and I'm sure she faltered many times in her spirit. But her relentless faith would always help her to bear the load.
When our Dad had his accident and in the end died as a result she not only managed to cope with his passing but was there for all of us in our time of sorrow.
And then came the time when we watched her deal with her biggest struggle of all, when they discovered that she had cancer for the second time in her life. Being told it was in the advanced stages we were all pretty numb when we heard the news and of course automatically assumed the worst. Needless to say none of us were ready or willing to let her go. Not that we had any choice in the matter. Yet once again in the face of it all her faith in God arose to sustain her through the entire ordeal and with enough left over to comfort us in her time of what should have been despair. For almost five years she rejoiced in having been spared from the disease.
Then of course, came her final test of courage when she was once again diagnosed with cancer for the last time. She was such a trooper. Scared, of course, but her determination was absolutely amazing. Her faith that God would heal her never ever faltered even to the end when indeed He did in the most glorious possible way
After He used the doctors to do all that they could God did the rest-He gave her a brand new body, cancer-free and this one even came with an extra added feature-wings! Now, this wonderful lady whom we loved and adored is walking the streets of gold with her Lord and Master whom she served with all of her heart.
This, family and friends, is Joyce Dusang and we now celebrate her departure today. Yes, she is and will forever be sadly missed. But she fought the fight and won and is now receiving her well deserved rewards.
Which brings me to something I would like to read to you now. It's something we children found this past weekend as she prepared to make her exit from this world to her new home in Heaven. She wrote this 3 years ago and we all thought it would be so appropriate to share with you now...
Tonight, Lord, I saw the most beautiful ceremony. I saw three young ladies receive medals, one gold, one silver, and one bronze. I watched them last week. They worked so hard and yet no matter how hard they tried, they still stumbled and made mistakes. They kept on trying until they got the prize they were striving for. They all deserved every bit of honor that they received.
This made me stop and think. We go through our life striving to live for You. Stumbling, falling, making mistakes. To get up and try again, to strive for the prize of the High Calling. It excites me. I shed tears of joy, just to think of what's to come. One day, You will be giving me a crown of jewels. Thank you, Lord, for saving my soul and giving me eternal life.
There's only one difference between the two ceremonies. After receiving the medals for the Olympics, the next day will be just another day. All the excitement is gone. The ceremony in Heaven is only the beginning of everlasting joy and happiness and peace forevermore. Thank you, Jesus!
