Words of Remembrance
from Maureen's Mass of Christian Burial
Written and spoken by Christine Free (Lisiewski), Maureen's cousin, sister, and best friend.
I wrote this prayer asking Pope John Paul II to help us with a miracle back in March, during one of the more pressing moments of the past 2 years when we thought we were losing Maureen. So you will see it is worded as if she is still with us. Though the ultimate miracle of curing her was not to be had, we were blessed with more time – 77 days to be exact including one more Easter, Mother's Day, and Birthday.
Dear Pope John Paul II,
This is my prayer to you to intercede on behalf of my family for our beloved Maureen to our Most Holy Father. You see, I'm sure, as you know from watching us from heaven; she is in a dire situation. After 2 years of courageously battling leukemia, the leukemia has decided to be unrelenting in its war against her body. We pray that she can get a moment's reprieve from her pain in order to get the wind back in her sails to continue this fight. Ultimately we pray that you and God can take this awful disease from her body.
Yes, to be honest; some of this is for selfish reasons. I'm not ready to live without her. We have plans: We are going to trade babysitting nights of our children. We are going share the experience of caring for our parents in their elder years as they have cared for us in our younger years. We have a marvelous wedding to plan for her. And from a purely materialistic perspective (or perhaps just trying to keep sane with humor) -- who will counsel me on the do's and don'ts of fashion –that black stockings are something 'she wouldn't do' with red high heel shoes :)? Let her stay to make whole again our holiday gatherings of Thanksgiving, Christmas, Easter, Mother's and Father's Day, Birthdays, Weddings, Showers, Graduations, Christenings, and Vacations.
Aside from me and more importantly, her Mother and Father; they have had so much joy in raising their only child. Don't take that away from them. Through parenting her, they have spread so much love on our world. Let her stay with them so they can continue to feel a parent's joy and in return continue God's work by spreading that joy amongst your people. At times I've heard my Aunt question: why God was so stingy in only giving them 1 child and now that child has had to endure so much. I don't think our human minds will ever be able to answer why one person or others like her who endure dreadful diseases suffer. But I have a guess as to why God may have only given them an only child. That guess would be - perfection. You can't top the qualities Maureen possesses; her inspiration, her faith, kindness, honesty, endurance, courage, strength, beauty and this list could not begin to do her justice. So while it does not help in the pain of watching their only child go through this agonization, may it comfort and remind them of what they already know. When they brought Maureen into the world, they gave us a piece of heaven so perfect that God reserved it for their only child.
And most important of all, her beloved Michael: For 25 years they have been faithful companions and in more recent years have come to realize that they are the 2 people meant to spend their lives with each other. For Michael's unyielding devotion to support her in fighting leukemia, please reward him with more years of her companionship. They are a model of true love to us all and a reminder that love is not about where you are but who you are with. Please grant Maureen & Michael time to enjoy the finding of such love in a time without pain, medicines, and hospital stays.
For her friends - In a person as giving as Maureen, the number of friends she possesses is as countless as the stars so I won't be able to mention all here. For Megan & Lori, her 'party in a bag' along with Chrissy and Cindy-- may they be able to continue the journey of life to grow and support each other through the next decades of their lives together in a manner that the circle of friendship so often does. For the countless other stories like such, may Maureen be allowed to grow and strengthen her circle of friends through the bonds of time.
For her students -- She has so many children to teach in her calling as an Educator. After a few years of struggling with her career calling in life, it is so refreshing to see the spark in her eyes when she discusses her Master's work; recounts memories of her time at Rose Tree Media or discusses the library of children's books she has been collecting for a classroom of her own someday. Then there are the decorations she has been squirreling away to spruce that classroom up for holidays and oh how only a teacher can liven up a drab cinder block room with their holiday decorations.
For her family - As Maureen is a younger sister to me, I think she looks to Laura and Alexa as her little sisters and you know how happy she is on your shopping trips to expand those UGG shoe collections. For Stevie, Billy, Ray, PJ, Steve, and John -- you probably don't know me too well, but I feel as though I've known you for years through the wonder and regard with which Maureen speaks and has spoken of you through our growing years. A regard in which she looks to you, along with our Greg as big brothers. As your lives and families have grown, how much happiness she has expressed in the additional cousins to share future family memories with.
For Aunt Kathy Grazel I'm sure you know the utter respect she holds for you and how endearing you are to her as the glue that holds the Muzikar's together. For Aunt Lenny, it has been so important to her to have you back in her life. For Patty Anne, Lisa, and Jackie – You are our examples of what grown-up life is like and have been a guide to her in finding herself as older sisters do.For Aunt Kathy Lisiewski - You make her being complete as a trusted spiritual adviser and of course special chef - who knew a bite of Jell-O cake can calm the pains of cancer? - if only but for a moment.
For her medical team -- Allow her case to teach the talented medical team who has so compassionately and valiantly fought by her side. May they discover new ways to treat and cure this dreadful disease through lessons that were learned in such a sacrificial way through Maureen.
So, as you look down upon us I beg you to consider this desperate request. How noisy it must be in heaven. How many people are going through the torture we are enduring right now. I pray for them too. Please ask God to spare us some time. Spare her this continuing agony. Allow her to continue her work here on Earth. Please grant us this miracle. May we become better Christians and people to act on what she has taught us all: No matter how heavy the cross, willingly take it on as a sign of devotion and faith in God. Please grant us the grace to become better humans and followers of God through this experience. To not look at what was lost in 2 years, but to hold a renewed appreciation for how fragile and precious our time on earth is.
You may ask how I can sometimes pray this without shedding a tear. Honestly, I don't have an answer. My only guess is that it is God's amazing grace alone working through Maureen to give me strength. If you could see the moments behind closed doors, in the silence of night, or the stillness of the morning – I know you would be all too familiar with the emotions you have yourselves. The tears, the sadness, the devastation -- but in this moment through Maureen's example I can stand bigger than those -- and for one purpose alone: It is what she wants me to do. So as we go through our days living with the fact that we get normal days and she doesn't, let the grief and sadness run it's course because it must, that is part of this process so they tell us BUT never, ever let it stop us forever from enjoying life and the precious moment's of joy and happiness that God grants us. I truly believe it is one of the many things that Maureen wants us to do in the times that we can't be by her side to support her.
While she is off her feet we are now charged with taking all the goodness she has to give the world and spread that good work. As we learn everyday from knowing Maureen, it is through the simple things - a kind phone call or text message, that b-day gift that was selected with so much thought, making a day out of every day, or that kind, soft smile-- that God works his grace and goodness through us.
In humble gratitude-----your daughter and sheep of your flock on Earth,
Christine
