Rev. Fr. David Wey
I thought I would share the remembrance given at the funeral:
In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, one God. Amen.
"Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his holy ones." - Psalm 115:15
This is a verse from Psalm 115 (LXX), one of three Psalms that begin the prayers of preparation for receiving Holy Communion in the Orthodox Church. It seems appropriate to recall, as we come together to remember our beloved sister in Christ, Elizabeth Godan, called by all who knew and loved her simply "Connie." This word, "precious," can mean several things: it can mean "of great value"; it can mean "highly esteemed for some spiritual, nonmaterial quality"; it also means "dear, beloved."
So this verse, "precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his holy ones," when applied to Connie, is meaningful - first of all, because this thought contains the sense of God's enormous and overflowing love, particularly for those who respond in faith to that love. It is not at all difficult to think of Connie as being precious in the sight of God, when we realize how dear she has been to those knew her.
She is preceded in death by her husband Virgil, with whom she shared her life for 57 years in care, devotion and fidelity, before he reposed in 2004. She leaves in this world her two sons, Michael and Richard; their wives, Linda and Carmie; and her two grandsons Daniel and Todd, as well as her youngest sister Ann; and many close friends, both of long-time and newer acquaintance, especially in the parish of Ss. Constantine and Elena Orthodox Church. These have known her love, affection and care, and have held her "precious" in their experience, and will now hold her even more so in their memory of her.
Connie is a unique personage in our parish, and represents an important continuity in its history. She and Virgil were the last couple to be crowned in marriage in the old church building on Blackford Street downtown; and they were the first family to baptize a child in the present temple when it was but newly built. And from that time to this, Connie and Virgil were a stable fixture and faithful support, present most every Sunday through thin times and times of renewal: Virgil beaming in his bright green dress jacket, and Connie beside him, always so elegant but never pretentious.
Connie was a true example of the Christian virtues of cheerfulness, hopefulness, and kindness. Always sunny, happy, and glad to greet those around her, even in her last years when her body became more frail and wounded, and her memory faded, she still maintained an upbeat attitude and that charming little chuckle in her voice.
There is one other experience of Connie that I hold especially dear: a simple and childlike gesture each time she received Holy Communion. An ancient and well-known name for this central Mystery of the Church is "Eucharist," which means, "thanksgiving"; and whenever Connie came to the chalice and received, she would look up with a beaming smile and simply say, "thank you." What a blessing that she was able to be in church once more, the day before her repose, and receive the most precious Body and Blood of Christ - which makes holy those who receive - and say once more that most perfect response to God's love, "thank you."
"Precious" indeed was this life of God's holy one, Elizabeth Godan, and now, precious in his sight is her falling asleep. Her race is done, her struggles and hardships are over; and she enters into the joy and the vibrant peace of her Lord, "where there is no pain, nor grief, nor sighing, but life which does not end." Thank you, Connie, for sharing your life with us. Thanks be to God, for the reflection of his image uniquely known through this, his "precious holy one." Truly, in our hearts, and in the heart of God, may her memory be eternal. Amen.
- Fr. David Wey
