Hope’s mother, Wilma, became a catechumen prior to her repose and needs your help to pay for her funeral expenses.
Clergy Verification
This need has been verified by Orthodox clergy.
A Letter From Hope
My name is Hope and the pretty one in the picture is my mom, Wilma. May her memory be eternal.
Through a series of providential events which began with the total loss of her familial home by fire in 2022, my mother left her hometown and came to live with me in New York. Soon after, she was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer, but glory to God, she now lived in the vicinity of a renowned cancer center at which she received treatment and went into remission after a year. However, she continued to live with other diseases in her heart and lungs and stayed very sick. I was her caregiver through all of this. As one does when they are in distress, I began imploring God increasingly for His help and soon felt a pull to visit a local parish by the name of St George Antiochian Orthodox Church and shortly thereafter became a catechumen. I brought everything I learned home to share with my mother including holy water, antidoron, and stories of the Saints with their hopes in God. She witnessed the transformational power of Orthodoxy in me and soon became curious about the truth for herself. Father Raphael paid her a home visit and anointed her with oil and answered some of her questions, and most significantly, encouraged her to trust those who had been sent by God to her. With this, she became hopeful in the love of God and mustered her strength to attend her first and only Divine Liturgy to become a catechumen.
Over the next two months her health worsened and there seemed to be no one who could help her though she visited many doctors. During a visit to the emergency room, the Lord saw fit to grant her eternal rest from her many sufferings. I give thanks to God for the Holy Orthodox Church and for Father Raphael who supported me in both tangible and unseen ways; handling details silently and working out benevolence to provide a place of eternal rest for my mother. Most of all I give glory to God, who through the Orthodox Church, showed forth His care for my mother’s soul.
After mother passed, I lost my paid position as her aide and her contributions to the household expenses. Although very simple arrangements were made, the costs are a hardship to me, and family and friends are unable to help. I have made a significant payment by working overtime and coordinating social services, but a balance of approximately $5000 remains and she still does not have a marker for her grave. If you are willing, please prayerfully consider a contribution to this need and in return I offer my gratitude and my prayers for you that your kindness be returned and your blessings be multiplied.
God be with you,
Hope