Robed Macedonian priest
Swinging smoking censer, heavy incensed air
Harmonic and familiar, two part
Macedonian Orthodox funeral song.
We are gathered to lie to rest Cousin Sophie
Who lived well and lived long.
Born in Oshchima, Macedonia
Land of her Fathers
Rich in history and Christian culture
Leaving the Balkans to which turmoil relates.
To Canada and a new life with promise
This young girl and family did immigrate.
A new language, city, not village life
The making of new friends she faced
Like others from different lands
A Canadian culture was to be instilled.
Eager student in school, and intrinsic to her race
Excelled in dress design, teachers praised how skilled.
Lovely of feature and manner
From a girl to a young woman
Able in things of life and home
All was set for God's great plan.
Brother would introduce sister
To the one she would call her man.
Begun in love, man and wife
Immigrants these two
Worked together in all they did
Making a good life and marriage.
Then she was blessed four times
In the need for a baby carriage.
Hard times good times
For each there was a season
In each other these six
Make their home a happy one.
Mother, Mother-in-law, then Grandmother
For a woman can more happiness come.
In time to her, as to all
Sadness and loss come to pass
First her beloved husband, the half of her
By death is taken away.
Then grief of all grief's for a mother
Pre-deceased by her child, sorrow now holds sway.
Around her loving and guard like
Her three sons rally
First bound to her by umbilical cord
Now by cords of family more closely tied
The balm of love for their Mother is applied.
Am I here because Cousin Sophie died?
No; rather that she had lived
Her character and goodness
Are still with us to see.
These live on in her children, and the children
Of her beloved sons three.
Can a eulogy do justice?
To personality and manner of life
Half listening to the Priests words
Memories of her come into my minds view.
From childhood to adulthood each meeting
Confirmed our relationship true.
Cousin you have left behind your body of flesh
As one day we all must do
You follow Parents, Brother
Dearly loved Husband and Son.
Life's race is over; this journeys been run
And as promised by Christ, a new journey has begun.
Buried in the Christians sure hope of the Resurrection
Rest in peace Cousin...(buried 1999)