These are the words I will attempt to read today at Mom’s Funeral Mass:
Selfless.
Right?
Many of you shared so many beautiful words this past week about Mom. You used the word Selfless the most.
Was there another person you’ve met more selfless than my Mom?
She taught me that love, true love, could not have strings attached. It could not have conditions that need to be met. True love meant to be in service, unconditionally, no matter what.
Maria Hoppel was a nurse for close to 40 years, a Mother for 52 years, a wife for 54 years this month, a sister for 72 years, and the very best friend of my Godmother since the 2nd grade.
Mom gave of herself selflessly; she loved unconditionally because that was what the deepest part of her soul believed. That was what her Faith formed in her.
Over the last few years, Mom and I have loved this parish at St. Johns, especially Monsignor Lawrence. He and Mom had an extraordinary bond.
We’d talk about our Faith often, and there are two Gospel stories that Mom really loved.
The first involved her special relationship with Mary, the Mother of God. Mom loved the story of the Annunciation because of how when the Angel Gabriel asked Mary to be the Mother of God, Mary could have said no. Mary had a choice, and Mary quickly and willingly said yes. Mom said this was one of the most powerful examples in History of a woman using the power of choice. Mary chose, and that choice was essential to Mom. Mom told me every day we get to choose what kind of person we will be — one who is selfish and worries about oneself or one who is selfless and cares for everyone else.
Mom chose a life of service and love every day.
The other Gospel story that Mom loved, one we tried to witness every year on Holy Thursday, was the washing of the feet. Mom taught me that moment when God himself is willing to show his love by being in service represents our entire Faith. By kneeling in front of his people and washing their feet, Jesus showed us that love means being in service. And that is what Mom believed, and that is how she lived her life.
There was not a day in my life that I was angry with my Mom. Not one day. My sisters and I were truly blessed; we’d sometimes cry when Mom would leave to pull the night shift in ICU at the hospital, even though we were supposed to be sleeping, just because we knew she left, and it just felt better when Mom was still in the house.
There are eleven grandchildren here who each believe they were Mom’s favorite because that is how my Mom made them feel every day.
There is a man here who loved her unconditionally for 54 years. There is a friend here that knew and loved her since their pigtail days. There are five sisters brokenhearted, and there is an entire community that lost a champion.
There are so many of you here who turned to Mom in your darkest moments when you needed her strength or her compassion; many of you have shared stories about how when no one else believed in you, it was Mom who stood up for you.
Mom chose to live her life in service to all of us. She loved us all with every breath she had.
Maria Carmine Hoppel was, I believe, the best of all of us.
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