The Shadow of an Angel
SUZETTE PETROVSKI died today, April 4th, of no apparent reason other than the end of her life. She was 104, and she peacefully slipped away in the home of her daughter, Matreena Slavok, 76, who had cared for her mother the better part of 24 years.
A devout Catholic, Suzette still attended mass on a regular basis and was actively involved in her church, thanks mostly to Matreena and a devout group of friends at St Gregory’s in downtown Bangor, Maine. She, in fact, had been one of the hundreds in attendance at Saturday night’s service, marked by a special vigil for the loss of John Paul II. It would be one of her last memories.
“She was very broken up over the loss of the Pope,” said Matreena. “Her Pope, she called him. In her own heart, I think she always felt that they were kindred spirits in a way. She had the opportunity to visit Vatican City in 1978, shortly after he was appointed, and it was something she always talked about. It’s kind of apropos that they…expired so close to each other. Maybe they passed on their way up.”
When asked about the particular calm way Matreena seemed to be handling her mother’s death, she remarked, “mom’s lived a very full life. Very satisfied every step of the way. And she slipped away so quietly and peacefully. I know that I have been taking care of her for a while, but to be honest with you, she still took care of me most of the time. She was very giving. And in perfect health. Really. Up until the time she stopped breathing today. I really believe the only reason she’s gone now is because God said ‘Alright, it’s time you come to me Suz’. She was just that kind of person.”
After St Gregory’s gears down from their ‘death of the Pope’ activities, (hopefully in the next couple of days), a memorial service will be held for Suzette. I wasn’t able to get any comment from clergy there, but we’re sure they have their hands full right now. Evidently, Suzette has provided quite a service to the parish, remaining faithful to the very end, heading everything from a full-blown soup kitchen to an urban outreach ministry. I’m sure the church will miss her soon enough. As will all that knew her. As soon as they find out. For this writer, it seems a shame that as a world mourns God’s appointed to the Catholic church, one of his ‘lesser angels’ should slip into eternity without the shedding of tears. Maybe on Tuesday when the homeless show up for their soup.
A devout Catholic, Suzette still attended mass on a regular basis and was actively involved in her church, thanks mostly to Matreena and a devout group of friends at St Gregory’s in downtown Bangor, Maine. She, in fact, had been one of the hundreds in attendance at Saturday night’s service, marked by a special vigil for the loss of John Paul II. It would be one of her last memories.
“She was very broken up over the loss of the Pope,” said Matreena. “Her Pope, she called him. In her own heart, I think she always felt that they were kindred spirits in a way. She had the opportunity to visit Vatican City in 1978, shortly after he was appointed, and it was something she always talked about. It’s kind of apropos that they…expired so close to each other. Maybe they passed on their way up.”
When asked about the particular calm way Matreena seemed to be handling her mother’s death, she remarked, “mom’s lived a very full life. Very satisfied every step of the way. And she slipped away so quietly and peacefully. I know that I have been taking care of her for a while, but to be honest with you, she still took care of me most of the time. She was very giving. And in perfect health. Really. Up until the time she stopped breathing today. I really believe the only reason she’s gone now is because God said ‘Alright, it’s time you come to me Suz’. She was just that kind of person.”
After St Gregory’s gears down from their ‘death of the Pope’ activities, (hopefully in the next couple of days), a memorial service will be held for Suzette. I wasn’t able to get any comment from clergy there, but we’re sure they have their hands full right now. Evidently, Suzette has provided quite a service to the parish, remaining faithful to the very end, heading everything from a full-blown soup kitchen to an urban outreach ministry. I’m sure the church will miss her soon enough. As will all that knew her. As soon as they find out. For this writer, it seems a shame that as a world mourns God’s appointed to the Catholic church, one of his ‘lesser angels’ should slip into eternity without the shedding of tears. Maybe on Tuesday when the homeless show up for their soup.
posted by The Passenger at 7:23 AM
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