Eulogy

I have had a request to make available the remarks I made at Cindy's funeral, and I thought that this blog site might be as appropriate a vehicle as any so I have posted them as follows:


Proverbs 31 says, “Who can find a virtuous wife? For her worth is far above rubies. The heart of her husband safely trusts her; so he will have no lack of gain. She does him good and not evil all the days of her life….She girds herself with strength and strengthens her arms…..She extends her hand to the poor, Yes, she reaches out her hand to the needy…..Strength and honor are her clothing; she shall rejoice in time to come. She opens her mouth with wisdom, and on her tongue is the law of kindness. She watches over the ways of her household, and does not eat the bread of idleness. Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her: many daughters have done well, but you excel them all. Charm is deceitful and beauty is passing, but a woman who fears the Lord, she shall be praised.”

In my humble opinion these excerpts from Proverbs could certainly have been written about Cindy as they do so aptly apply to the life she lived.
I don’t have to tell any of you much about the life that she lived for most of you have been with us on that journey. Her strength and perseverance through her illness are widely known, as is the faith in Jesus that she clung to and demonstrated as she walked the path set before her.

Cindy was a care-giver in the truest sense of the word. She had such a heart for her family, her friends, her students, her fellow nursing instructors, her Sunday-school class, and her Bible study mates.

(At this point I quoted from one of the many cards we have received from her former nursing students). "Mrs. Gurley was the first person I ever spoke to from Sampson Community College. She returned a phone call to me at home in Fayetteville and took such patient time explaining the whole nursing program to me. I was amazed that the Director of Nursing would be so sweet and hands-on with students. During my years here, I loved seeing her on campus and visiting at your home. She and I shared a love for many of the same authors and enjoyed swapping books together. She will be greatly misste, but I'm so glad she's not in any more pain. My prayers remain with you! You are so blessed to have had Mrs. Gurley as a wife and mother. May Jesus comfort you as you mourn her passing, and give you peace as you know she is with her Savior. Thanks for sharing her beautiful life with us!" ALR

She loved to laugh, she loved to read, study, and research, she loved nurturing growing things, and she loved to sing the Lord’s praises.

She was my sweetheart, my confidant, my best friend, and she was the daughter my parents never had. She loved them just like a second set of mom and dad, and they loved her. Cindy and my mom loved to shop, and they made quite a team. When we would go to see them on the weekends and Dad and I would have some work to do on the farm, Cindy and Mom would disappear in the morning heading to the shopping center, and we might not see them until nearly nightfall. She was our family medical practitioner, and since we were married she has guided my mom and dad through doctor’s appointments, health-care decisions, and has been there for them in every time of need. I remember my Dad was severely depressed after the passing of his brother in 1983, and I was afraid we were going to lose him. But then one day in late 1983 Cindy let Pop know that he was going to be a grandfather, and he decided he would have to stick around and be witness to that.

And oh, Adam. How Cindy did love that boy, and he truly is the apple of his Momma’s eye. She threw herself into the role of motherhood, and was as fierce as a grizzly in the protection of her young cub. She is so proud of the young man that he has become, and the faith that he possesses, and she was pleased to know that Adam has found that special someone in Ashley.

One of Cindy’s favorite places to spend time was at Sunset Beach, and we have so many fond memories of family gatherings at Oyster Bay. For many years, it was an annual ritual for the Parnell clan to gather for some sun, fun, family time, and good food.

But in January, 2000 we were shocked to learn of her diagnosis of Stage IV leiomyosarcoma. Since then she has waged a fierce battle against a relentless foe. For the 9+ years since her initial diagnosis until her home-going last Friday, Cindy, Adam, and I, and the rest of our family have been lifted up by your thoughts, prayers, visits, cards, phone calls, and kindnesses of all descriptions. And we are grateful to you all.

I want to particularly thank those who persevered through the long, difficult, and care-giving hours just preceding her passing: our son, Adam, her mother, Grace, her sister, Anne, our dear friends Shirley and Jannet, and our hospice nurse, Kelly.

But while we grieve and will continue to be sad at her passing from our presence, Cindy would not want me to linger long today in the expression of sorrowful feelings, for she was all about living life, and sharing it with those she loved. What Cindy wants us to remember is what sustained her through the good days and the hard days, and that was and is her faith in our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. I believe that her life stands as a testament to that faith. Her primary desire and focus in life was as Paul said to Timothy in Colossians, chapter 1 “that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light. For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins”.

As we remember Cindy today and in the days ahead, let’s remember the love and faith that sustained her, and may we find peace and solace from that very same source, so that we may continue to run the race set before us, and know that redemption that comes through the gift of faith in Jesus.

Home-going

Katherine Lucinda (Cindy) Parnell Gurley was freed from her earthly bonds at 7:25 a.m. on Friday, March 27, 2009.