I join and bind my sorrowful heart with the Gasta clan in grieving for the passing of our dearest Aunt Policronia Mangle Gasta. Weeping and mourning are natural responses for losing a loved one. Yet when death is best understood, feelings can easily shift from mournful grief to joyful gratitude.
Most people feared death. They think of death as horrible and therefore just turn their backs whenever the subject of death is on discussion. Yet, according to President Russel M. Nelson, “...death, though difficult for surviving loved ones, is a necessary part of our immortal existence. Death allows us to progress to the next world.” (The Book of Mormon: What Would Your Life Be Like without It?, lds.org). This truth adds credence to the words of the legendary Socrates when he wrote: “Death maybe the greatest of all human blessings” (Brainyquotes).
Parting and final sad farewell to a dearly beloved as he or she is brought to the ultimate resting place maybe thought of as permanent separation. But, “Death is not the end. It is putting out the candle because the dawn has come.” (Hugh B. Brown, quoted by President Thomas S. Monson, Ruth Faust is 'welcomed home' Deseret News).
However, more reassuring than the above straightforward and faithful declarations are the words of the prophet Alma in the Book of Mormon who said:
“Behold, it has been made known unto me by an angel, that the spirits of all men, as soon as they are departed from this mortal body, yea, the spirits of all men, whether they be good or evil, are taken home to that God who gave them life. And then shall it come to pass, that the spirits of those who are righteous are received into a state of happiness, which is called paradise, a state of rest, a state of peace, where they shall rest from all their troubles and from all care, and sorrow.” (Alma 40:11-12)
I will always remember Tiya Conyang as a very good and generous aunt. My relationship to her was one of great respect and love. When I was a boy and until I was in early high school I always went to the house of my grandparents to do errands for them. Tiya Conyang had always been very accommodating of her nieces and nephews.
She was the last to come to earth of the seven siblings and the last to leave this vale of tears. Of the seven children of our grandparents Porferio and Tecla Gasta, she alone plotted a route and traversed the deep swamp of poverty and therefore surfaced as the only one in the family who made it through college. With real courage and struggle; patience and perseverance, and faith to endure which she daily carried on her bag of destitution, she eventually became a professional teacher. Public school teachers during her time were among the highest paid government employees. Hence, he was able to build for her and her parents a two-storey house. She also studied English as a second language in Manila making her one of the best English subject teacher in our town.
She was a very religious woman. At retirement she volunteered to teach catechism in the Catholic Church. She even went to the hinterland barangays not only in our town but in other places in the country to teach children the principles of Christianity and love of God. Many of the people in our town remember her as the teacher and catechist. All of us who paid her a visit will always be reminded of the need to live righteous lives, warning us of the consequences of sinful acts.
During the strongest earthquake that hit our town of San Francisco, Surigao del Norte on February 10, 2017, her house was irreparably destroyed and she sustained a serious injury on her head. Yet she survived. She was then 91 years old. With the help of a friend of mine, we bought materials for a temporary shelter for her and with the help of nephews and younger family members the dwelling was immediately built.
She was given birth on February 17, 1926. A week ago I received a message that she suddenly became so weak. After sending some of the things that she might immediately need, I prayed to Heavenly Father that if her appointed time and call to return to where she came from draw more closer that she be allowed no longer to have a prolonged suffering and just have a peaceful rest. At the earliest dawn of July 22, 2018, when the immediate surroundings of her temporary dwelling was in total stillness and most quiet tranquility, she rested in perfect peace. Her spirit imperceptibly sneaked to the other side of the veil leaving behind the physical body soon to lie dormant in the "cold and silent grave" (2 Nephi 1:14) until the resurrection day. I was told that not even a single prior complaint was raised nor a slightest faint was heard as she breathed her last to finally meet her Maker.
Now she is in grand reunion with all of her loved ones who had long passed beyond the veil. We have already done the sealing of her parents, my grandparents, for time and eternity, with her sisters Mercedes and Francisca, my mother, being sealed to them. This August we will be doing the necessary saving ordinances for her other siblings to be sealed to their parents. For Tiya Conyang, we will make it sure that she will be sealed to the family in due time, with hopes that all of them will accept the ordinances in the next life for them to live forever as a family. Tiya Conyang was never married in this life, but Heavenly Father will not deprive her faithful daughter of that privilege of having her own family in the afterlife.
Perhaps for Tiya Conyang, she wanted more for us to rejoice than mourn for her passing and to better understand the realities of her journey to the next life as a blessing of progression back to a more blessed sphere of existence.
I personally express my deepest gratitude and heartfelt appreciation to my cousin Julian Lopez, Jr. and his family for taking care of her, especially at the time of her seniority and until her eventual final rest.
Most people feared death. They think of death as horrible and therefore just turn their backs whenever the subject of death is on discussion. Yet, according to President Russel M. Nelson, “...death, though difficult for surviving loved ones, is a necessary part of our immortal existence. Death allows us to progress to the next world.” (The Book of Mormon: What Would Your Life Be Like without It?, lds.org). This truth adds credence to the words of the legendary Socrates when he wrote: “Death maybe the greatest of all human blessings” (Brainyquotes).
Parting and final sad farewell to a dearly beloved as he or she is brought to the ultimate resting place maybe thought of as permanent separation. But, “Death is not the end. It is putting out the candle because the dawn has come.” (Hugh B. Brown, quoted by President Thomas S. Monson, Ruth Faust is 'welcomed home' Deseret News).
However, more reassuring than the above straightforward and faithful declarations are the words of the prophet Alma in the Book of Mormon who said:
“Behold, it has been made known unto me by an angel, that the spirits of all men, as soon as they are departed from this mortal body, yea, the spirits of all men, whether they be good or evil, are taken home to that God who gave them life. And then shall it come to pass, that the spirits of those who are righteous are received into a state of happiness, which is called paradise, a state of rest, a state of peace, where they shall rest from all their troubles and from all care, and sorrow.” (Alma 40:11-12)
I will always remember Tiya Conyang as a very good and generous aunt. My relationship to her was one of great respect and love. When I was a boy and until I was in early high school I always went to the house of my grandparents to do errands for them. Tiya Conyang had always been very accommodating of her nieces and nephews.
She was the last to come to earth of the seven siblings and the last to leave this vale of tears. Of the seven children of our grandparents Porferio and Tecla Gasta, she alone plotted a route and traversed the deep swamp of poverty and therefore surfaced as the only one in the family who made it through college. With real courage and struggle; patience and perseverance, and faith to endure which she daily carried on her bag of destitution, she eventually became a professional teacher. Public school teachers during her time were among the highest paid government employees. Hence, he was able to build for her and her parents a two-storey house. She also studied English as a second language in Manila making her one of the best English subject teacher in our town.
She was a very religious woman. At retirement she volunteered to teach catechism in the Catholic Church. She even went to the hinterland barangays not only in our town but in other places in the country to teach children the principles of Christianity and love of God. Many of the people in our town remember her as the teacher and catechist. All of us who paid her a visit will always be reminded of the need to live righteous lives, warning us of the consequences of sinful acts.
During the strongest earthquake that hit our town of San Francisco, Surigao del Norte on February 10, 2017, her house was irreparably destroyed and she sustained a serious injury on her head. Yet she survived. She was then 91 years old. With the help of a friend of mine, we bought materials for a temporary shelter for her and with the help of nephews and younger family members the dwelling was immediately built.
She was given birth on February 17, 1926. A week ago I received a message that she suddenly became so weak. After sending some of the things that she might immediately need, I prayed to Heavenly Father that if her appointed time and call to return to where she came from draw more closer that she be allowed no longer to have a prolonged suffering and just have a peaceful rest. At the earliest dawn of July 22, 2018, when the immediate surroundings of her temporary dwelling was in total stillness and most quiet tranquility, she rested in perfect peace. Her spirit imperceptibly sneaked to the other side of the veil leaving behind the physical body soon to lie dormant in the "cold and silent grave" (2 Nephi 1:14) until the resurrection day. I was told that not even a single prior complaint was raised nor a slightest faint was heard as she breathed her last to finally meet her Maker.
Now she is in grand reunion with all of her loved ones who had long passed beyond the veil. We have already done the sealing of her parents, my grandparents, for time and eternity, with her sisters Mercedes and Francisca, my mother, being sealed to them. This August we will be doing the necessary saving ordinances for her other siblings to be sealed to their parents. For Tiya Conyang, we will make it sure that she will be sealed to the family in due time, with hopes that all of them will accept the ordinances in the next life for them to live forever as a family. Tiya Conyang was never married in this life, but Heavenly Father will not deprive her faithful daughter of that privilege of having her own family in the afterlife.
Perhaps for Tiya Conyang, she wanted more for us to rejoice than mourn for her passing and to better understand the realities of her journey to the next life as a blessing of progression back to a more blessed sphere of existence.
I personally express my deepest gratitude and heartfelt appreciation to my cousin Julian Lopez, Jr. and his family for taking care of her, especially at the time of her seniority and until her eventual final rest.
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