A LIFE CELEBRATED. Eulogy of Martha Shoutis-Apicella

Transcription

1 A LIFE CELEBRATED Eulogy of Martha Shoutis-Apicella We have come together from both near and far, a family has reunited, along with friends, with one special purpose: to commemorate the life of one who was dear to us all. We have come to remember Martha Shoutis-Apicella. Let me tell you her about her life. Early Life On July 30, 1924, a baby girl was born to Arthur and Margaret Roscrans in Flushing, New York. They named her Martha. She was to be the youngest and only girl with two brothers, Eddie and Bill; as such, she was the delight of her daddy s heart. Martha, later in life, would fondly remember sitting on her father s lap as he would read the Sunday comics to her. The Great Depression came and because of that Martha s family moved to Galway, New York. Her father was going to try his hand at farming. This move would prove to be an important element in Martha s life, for she went to school in Galway and, when she got into her teen years, a fellow student by the name of Harold Shoutis took a liking to her. They dated, and when WW II broke out, Harold enlisted. Martha and Harold were married on December 28, 1943, just before he deployed. After the wedding, they had a one-day honeymoon, and the next day he was off to war. Harold

2 would be gone for two and a half years. He was in the thick of the fighting. Being in the 101 st Airborne, Harold parachuted behind enemy lines on D-Day. Marriage and Family with Harold During the war, in Harold s absence, Martha was involved with V-mail. She was one of the censors who would read and black out any information that might threaten national security. If a GI, or sailor, or airman, got a letter from home that said, Dear Bill, I was really concerned about [blank] [blank] [blank], that might have been Martha s doing. She just wanted to be doing something at home for the country while the one she loved was risking life and limb on the front lines. Patriotism would always be a distinguishing characteristic of Martha. Once the war was over and Harold came home, they settled in a house just south of the village on Sacandaga Road. Heading south from the village it was on the rise to the second hill on the right hand side. There, they raised a family. First came Margaret (Peggy), then Alexander (Skip), Arthur (Art), and lastly Kathleen (Kathee). There were many happy childhood years the Shoutis family. I asked Skip if he had any special memory of his Mom and he said there were too many to count, but there was one memory his Mom would often bring up. It concerned camping. Martha did not like staying in the tent if there was lightning. It might be in the middle of the night. It might be a down- pour;

3 but if a thunderstorm came, everyone had to get up and go to the car. One time, when Skip was just a little boy, he remembered getting roused from his sleep and marching off to the car in the midst of a thunderstorm. He went back to sleep in the car. When the storm was over and everyone was herded back to the tent, Skip wasn t quite awake. Instead of walking into the tent, he walked off into the darkness. Martha, noticing he wasn t in the tent and discovering that he also wasn t in the car, began to cry out to Skip. Skip began to cry out to his Mom. It was like a Marco Polo match until both were reunited, and Martha never forgot it. It was a, do you remember the time that, moment. New Found Faith It was after all the kids had grown up and the youngest, Kathee, was about to get married that I met the Shoutis family for the first time. Kathee had gone away to college and not only did she find her future husband there, God worked in a marvelous way in her life because, while there she trusted in Christ as her Savior. Actually, her husband Richard Rogers, led her to a saving knowledge of Christ two and a half years before they were married. I came into the picture since I was the minister who officiated at Rich and Kathee s wedding on June 14, 1980 right here in Galway. Kathee s new-found faith was perplexing to Martha, because Kathee shared with her mother how we are all sinners in need of a Savior and that is why Christ came into the world. Such a message is often very confusing to very decent and morally upright people. Martha, then, as well as throughout her life, had always been kind, thoughtful, caring, and

4 sincere. Wasn t she good enough? She was even a faithful churchgoer as well. All the talk about sin was troubling. Maybe you have had similar thoughts. We tend to look around us, compare and naturally think that good people will make out okay. After all, if there is a God, you may think, He is supposed to be kind and loving. Our problem is that we tend to use the wrong measuring stick when we try to determine if we are good or not. Most think about how they treat others and that is good, but not good enough. What we also need to think about is how we treat God, because this is where all of us fall short. Let me ask you this. Let s say that there were parents who truly loved their son or daughter. The parents poured their lives into this child, desiring nothing but the best for him. What would you think if the child walked out of their lives, was ungrateful, and didn t want anything to do with them? You would instinctively say that that was wrong. Can you see an analogy here to God? He is the One who has brought us into being and has given us all we have. Is it right to push Him out of our lives? This is why the first four of the Ten Commandments have to do with God. Can you see how it would be wrong to spurn the God who made you, loves you and wants a relationship with you? Even churchgoing can be merely be a token-gesture to God. He doesn t want a ritual, He wants a relationship. True Christianity, no matter what denomination, realizes that this is at the heart of faith. It is a life with God. The problem is that we do not naturally seek God. By nature we keep God at arm s-length and that is the greatest sin of all.

5 In Martha s life, understanding what God s Word said took a while. It did not happen overnight. However, over time, Martha became aware that we are all sinful and need a Savior. She had to put away the common notion that it is by our own efforts that we are made right with God, that we might somehow induce God to bless us and gain His favor. She came to the conclusion that it was God who saves us through Christ, that when Jesus died on the Cross, He was paying the penalty for her sins. She would be forgiven not by what good she did, but by the good Christ did for her. When a person sees this, it changes his whole life, and it changed Martha s whole outlook. I know, as I was her pastor. She was attending my wife s Bible study for women, when one day she got the courage to go to the Baptist church. This was a major obstacle. What would people think? After the first week, she attended every week until she moved to West Virginia a few years ago. I had the privilege of seeing her robust faith. She truly loved the Lord and it was evident! She grew in her knowledge of Christ and was a great blessing to everyone. My wife and I have three daughters; our parents live far away, so our girls had surrogate grandparents in the community. Our oldest, named Joy, formed a special bond with Martha as she was growing up. Joy absolutely loved Martha! Joy now lives in South Carolina with her husband Steve. Hearing of Martha s death she posted the following on Facebook, She will be missed! I'll always remember the times I had with her baking cookies hanging out at both houses! The time she had Steve and I over while we were dating and swimming in the pool. She was like a

6 grandma to me! But I know that I'll see her in heaven some day! Widowhood Years went by, and then a time of trial came. Harold developed cancer and died. I got to know him better during his illness. I really liked him. What was Harold like? All you have to do is look at his family. Many of you share his same characteristics. I see so much of Harold in your lives; The twinkle in his eye The smile The sense of humor The touch of rugged independence tempered with kindness He was a good provider, a good protector. He was not afraid of hard work. He was a good husband. I officiated at Harold s funeral. It was January 17, 1990 What in the world was Martha going to do? This is a natural fear of most women who find safety and security in their husbands. She had you. She was loved by her family. She was loved by her church. She was loved by those she worked with at Sunnyview Rehabilitation Center. She was loved by her long-time friends in the community. She kept active and she did fine.

7 She also had the Lord in her life, whom she found she could trust. Life with Joe Then came Joseph Apicella into her life. On the very same year, in July of 1990, Joe lost his greatly loved wife, Beatrice to cancer as well. It would be seven years after Joe and Martha lost their spouses that they would get married. When that day arrived, they were united in wedlock by none other than their long-time friend, Dusty Rhodes who was the town justice at the time. The Shoutis family and the Apicella family had known each other for years through their children s involvement in school, and in Boy Scouts. Church also played a role here as well. Joe and Martha had both been members of St Mary s Catholic Church here in Galway. I got a first-hand seat on the budding romance between the two of them. In the years before they got married, Joe started attending special Bible studies and picnics at our church. I got to know him very well. What was Joe like? He was optimistic and cheery (he loved to tease). He was kind, and like Harold, private (he seldom talked about himself or what he accomplished in his life). He was politically conservative and devout (faithful in attendance at St. Mary s), but most of all, I have seldom seen one so hungry to know God. I don t know how many of you know this, but every Sunday for years Joe worshipped in two churches. He would come to the adult Sunday school class at the Bible Baptist Church in Galway and eagerly enter into the discussions, then head off

8 for morning worship at St. Mary s. Every week without fail, he was at a men s breakfast sponsored by the Baptist church. If there was a home Bible study or video series, Christmas program, or any other outreach of the Bible Baptist Church, he was there. Martha and Joe were very happy together. After both having a very good first marriage, the second was good as well. God had blessed them both. Then a second time of sorrow came for Martha. Joe, like Harold, died of cancer on January 2, This time, staying alone in a big house was too much. She went down to live with Rich and Kathee. I will leave this for Rich who will speak after me to fill you on this last chapter of her life. With this, I bring to a close my retelling of the life of Martha Shoutis-Apicella. She carried herself with kindness and dignity, a fervent faith, and a heart of love toward others. She will be greatly missed as she was greatly loved by all who knew her. ADDRESS TO THE LIVING Not really a sermon, but more like a few pastoral words Never forget that everyone s life is like an unfolding story. Each day a line is added, line upon line, page upon page. Over time a chapter is completed, and a story draws nearer to its close as far as earthly existence is concerned. I especially like telling the story of people like Martha because I know that her story has not come to an end. It is

9 continuing on with a very good ending. This past Tuesday evening, December 4 th at 5:20 PM Martha s story did not come to a close. At that moment, the page was turned from her earthly existence and a new chapter is already underway in her everlasting story. Like the women who came to Jesus tomb on that first Easter morning, who met an angel, and who were astounded at the news they heard - the announcement, Jesus is alive!. I am here to tell you on the basis of God s Word that Martha has, at this point in time, already passed from death unto life! She is no longer here, but she is very much alive. She is not really gone. She has just gone ahead. How can I say that? Listen to the words of Jesus. These are well known words: "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life (John 3:16 NKJ) What kind of life did Jesus promise to those who trusted in Him? EVERLASTING LIFE! How long is everlasting life? Forever! Jesus also said, "Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me has everlasting life. (John 6:47 NKJ) What kind of life did Jesus promise to those who trusted in Him?

10 EVERLASTING LIFE! How long is everlasting life? Forever! In another place, Jesus came to the graveside of his friend Lazarus. Lazarus sister, named Martha, told Jesus that if he had been there her brother would not have died. Here is a situation similar to that which we are experiencing right at this very moment. What would Jesus say to Martha whose brother is now dead? As a minister, I need to pay attention, because whatever Jesus said to her is the very same thing I need to tell you. This is because as a minister, it is my job to share what Jesus would have shared. First there is something this passage shows us as a backdrop to the story. It shows us that Jesus loves people. He loved Lazarus, and He loved Lazarus s sister. So let me say this to you. Jesus loves Martha Shoutis- Apicella, and He also loves each and every one you very much. What Jesus said to Martha, Lazarus sister, I want to tell you now. He told Martha that her brother would rise again. However, that is not all. He said this. 25 Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. 26 "And whoever lives and believes in Me

11 shall never die. Do you believe this?" (Joh 11:25-26, NKJ) When Jesus asked her if she believed Him, do you know what she said? She said Yes. That was Martha, the sister of Lazarus. However, we are here today, mourning the loss of another Martha. I want you to know, beyond any shadow of a doubt, as her pastor, I know that she believed the promises of Jesus. She believed that He died for her. She believed in Jesus as her Savior. The promise of God says to those who believe in Him, that though they may die, yet shall they live. Now that is good news!

12 Obituary The Daily Gazette (Schenectady) December 7, 2012: B,6. Martha Shoutis-Apicella Galway Martha Shoutis Apicella, 86, died on December 4, She was a resident of Spring Arbor home in Virginia. Martha retired from Sunnyview Rehabilitation Center in Schenectady, N.Y. Martha is survived by her daughter, Margaret (Karl) Brinkman of Indian Lake, New York; her son Alexander (Diane) Shoutis of Lander Wyoming; her son, Arthur (Cady) Shoutis of Lander Wyoming; her daughter, Kathleen (Richard) Rogers of Romney, West Virginia; her step-son, Joseph (Paula) Apicella of Brunswick, Maine; and her step-daughter, Christa (Richard) Hamilton od Assadero, California. Martha had 12 grandchildren, and five greatgrandchildren. Martha was predeceased by her first husband, Harold S. Shoutis and her second husband, Joseph Apicella. A funeral will be held at the Richard J. Ryan Funeral Home, 2034 west Street, Galway, NY on Saturday, December 8, 2012 at 12 noon. Those who wish may call at the funeral home prior to the service Saturday from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. Interment will be held at the West Charlton Cemetery, following Saturday s service. The family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations in Martha s name may be made to the Galway Public Library. Richard J. Ryan Funeral Home, Inc. Galway Village (518)