Sunday, October 27, 2024
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What happens when a good friend dies and you are asked to share memories. When you have been friends for over 50 years, you have laughed and cried together; celebrated special occasions or ordinary moments that are too many to list. It is not the words Dolores spoke, or what she did, it was always about the way she made you feel. That special friend made you feel celebrated, that you were important in this world.. That was Dolores special gift to all her friends. It was the phone calls that started with hello my dear friend and end with you are in my prayers. It was not only your prayers but so many people would ask her to pray for their needs.
Dolores had so many wonderful traits that she not only shared with her Ursuline Sisters but with her relatives, her staffs and her friends. For Guido and I, it was her sense of humour. My husband’s favorite story was when both of them trespassed in a 5th century Benedictine Monastery in Italy and she was caught dancing by the curator under the portico. They threatened to arrest both of them. Dolores thought he was kidding so she kept on dancing. Guido managed to smooth it over.
I recall just after Covid, we took her to lunch and she had been in lock down so long she didn’t want to go back. We drove up the St. Clair Parkway and stopped for ice cream. It didn’t take long before she had ice cream on her eye glasses, her nose , and her chin. She just laughed about it and laughed when she shared the story with others. It was the gift she had to laugh at herself and the funny things she get herself into that was rare.
Over the last few years, our get-to-gethers have been fewer. So many times her health issues caused her to cancel planned outings. The phone calls each week substituted for the visits missed. She had prayed for Guido for eight long years and he was grateful for the hope and faith they shared. Dolores was there with Guido during his last hours. She made him smile and gave him courage to accept God’s will. She brought comfort to me and our family during then and through this long year.
How fitting Dolores was called Home on Mission Sunday.
Corinthians 7:17
Nevertheless, each person should live as a believer in whatever situation the Lord has assigned to them, just as God has called them.
For all these years Dolores answered His call. She believed she was called to do his work and accept his will.
Matthew 25:21 His lord said to her, 'Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.
Although her passing bring me much sadness I know there is much joy in heaven today.
