Memory Eternal- Kh. Lilija Vreeland and Soul Saturday Liturgy

[Fr. Ignatius Valentine]

Dear St. Raphael members and friends,

 

As you can see when you read the email found below, Kh. Lilija Vreeland, the wife of St. Raphael's first full-time pastor Fr. Philip, passed away on Sunday after a battle with cancer.  May her memory be eternal.  Please keep Fr. Philip in your prayers during this time of grieving.  If you would like to send a condolence card, his address is:

 

Fr. Philip Vreeland

1922 9th Ave.

Kearney, NE 68845-5110

 

Addresses for the two churches that Fr. Philip mentioned in his email to which memorial gifts can be sent in lieu of flowers are:

 

St. Geroge Church

1505 G. Ave.

Kearney, NE 68847-6969

 

Three Hierarchs Mission

2009 N. Main St.

Garden City, KS 67846

 

With Kh. Lilija's repose in the Lord in mind, we will have a Soul Saturday Liturgy for the Departed this Saturday at 10AM.  If you would like any other names of departed loved ones to be remembered at this service, please forward them to me before Friday evening. 

 

In Christ,

Fr Ignatius

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Rev. Philip T. Vreeland <frphilip...@hotmail.com>
Date: Sun, May 27, 2012 at 7:34 PM
Subject: Lilija Veronica (Pavars) Vreeland--April 2, 1937-May 27, 2012
To: "Rev. Philip T. Vreeland" <frphilip...@hotmail.com>

Beloved in the Lord,

With sorrow I write to let you know that our dear Lilija Veronica departed this life today, Sunday, May 27, at 1:50 PM.  Present at her death were her guardian angel, two nurses (one from Hospice, another from our parish of St. George), our son-in-law, Brian and two of our grandchildren; another grandchild and I walked in the door from church just as Lilija was breathing her final breath.  I immediately anointed her with the Oil of Holy Unction, Fr. Christopher of St. George Church came and prayed the service for the departed, we all wept with grief for our loss, and in the present moment I am numb but joyful that our dear Lilija had, as we pray in our Orthodox services, "a Christian ending to [our] life--painless, blameless, peaceful, and a good defense before the awesome judgment seat of Christ."

Many, many thanks for all your prayers and concerns during the past two and one-half years as Lilija bravely and honestly faced the illnesses that brought her to her deathbed.  No games, no sugar coating, an occasional wondering "how much time left," and a lifelong determination to survive as long as the Lord wanted her to survive--to do the work of loving which He called her to do.

The past week was rather difficult, as she slipped further and further away, day by day.  The cancer spread quickly to her bones, and the pain in her legs was severe.  Thank God for modern medical science that provided adequate pain control--the final few days morphine.  I can honestly report that her face had a beautifully calm appearance as I gave her a final kiss before the mortician took her body from the house.

Ramona and Rita are making arrangements to get here as soon as possible, and we have scheduled the visitation for Wednesday evening, the funeral for Thursday morning.  I think most of you know that Lilija had a problem with cut flowers, believing it to be cruel to cut them from their roots, which would hasten their death; therefore we ask that you not send any cut flowers for the funeral.  If you want to do something special for Lilija, the family recommends memorials to either St. George Orthodox Church, Kearney, NE or Three Hierarchs Orthodox Mission, Garden City, KS or the Hospice Unit of Good Samaritan Home Care Services, Kearney, NE.  

Again,  thank you for all you have done for us these past two and one-half years.  You're all in my prayers for as long as I live.

As Lilija would say,

"Love and prayers always,"

Father Philip Vreeland, along with Rita, Ramona & Brian, the Grandchildren, and  Dolly