William Penn Life, 1976 (11. évfolyam, 1-4. szám)
1976-01-01 / 1. szám
Mrs. Mary Charles IN MEMÓRIÁM Throughout our American-Hungarian groups it was with deep sorrow that we learned of the death of MRS. MARY CHARLES, beloved wife of National President Elmer Charles. She died Sunday, December 21, 1975 in Citizens General Hospital after three months of serious illness. Her funeral was Tuesday, December 23, 1975 from Jarvies Funeral Home, Springdale, Pa. and from United Church of Christ, Springdale, Pa. Burial was in Deer Creek Cemetery. The funeral services were conducted by Rev. Imre Kovács, Pastor, Bishop Louis Nagy, Director Bethlen Home, Rev. Zoltán Kovács, Homestead, Pa. On behalf of the Association Louis L. Varga, Vice President gave the Eulogy and on behalf of Branch 296, Springdale, Pa. member Gus G. Nagy, Treasurer of Branch 296 spoke. Pallbearers were: Samuel Toth, James Beganyi, Julius Telegdy, Robert Grundy, James Mozga, Steve Üveges. Honorary Pallbearers were: John P. Balia, and Louis L. Varga, Vice Presidents, Directors Frank Bero, Stephen Danko, Zoltán B. Emri, Michael Hegedűs, Albert G. Kertesz, William C. Kohut, Stephen Lesco, Frank J. Radvany, John Sabo, Auditing Committee members Emma Beganyi, Louis Fodor, Michael Kara, Michael Hrabar and Julius Macker former National President. The entire Home Office staff attended the funeral services. The William Penn membership shares in the great loss of our National President. For all of us to share in the final tribute to MARY CHARLES we publish the Farewell of Rev. Imre Kovács and Eulogy of Vice President Louis L. Varga. FAREWELL TO MARY CHARLES OUR SWEETEST LITTLE FIRST LADY She was the greatest among us in humility, services and loyalty. This made MARY CHARLES our First Lady. In stature she was petite, mobile, feminine. This made her our sweet little MARY. The Good Lord has taken MARY CHARLES away from us as His own special Christmas present and now suddenly we realize what an immense void she has left behind her. However as our startled shock and self-pity are gradually receding, the void is irradiated with the recognition that an angel has been in our midst, we were sharing our lives with a First Lady. Her Husband is Elmer Charles, the National President of the William Penn Association. They have lived together 46 years in happy marriage. She was a loyal wife. She faithfully accompanied and served her husband on every level of his great career. For forty-six years she entertained every guest, friend, relative, minister and business visitor with heartfelt Hungarian hospitality. Her hospitality was legendary. The meals she served were worthy of a princely palace. As the wife of the National President of the greatest Hungarian Fraternal Association, she has received the highest respect which she splendidly merited, however, she accepted it very seldom. She could have been sitting at the head table covered with mink and orchids at every banquet and national affair, yet her choice on many occasions was the kitchen of the little United Church of Christ in Springdale, Pa. She was also happy to serve at Church gatherings and at the meetings of the Cheswick-Springdale Lions Club. Her devotion was so exemplary, that there was always a faithful small group of ladies helping out. They were, together with MARY, the helping hands and the throbbing heart of the Church. MARY CHARLES was born in Springdale, Pa. 63 years ago. Her father was Michael Kiss, a Hungarian Reformed man, her Mother was born Mary Vaskó, a Hungarian and Roman Catholic. Therefore, MARY first attended the Roman Catholic Church and then served faithfully in the United Church of Christ, formerly Hungarian Reformed Church. She was the president of the Ladies Aid Society. Her favorite hymn was: “What a Friend we have in Jesus, All our sins and griefs to bear; What a privilege to carry everything to God in prayer; Oh what peace we often forfeit, Oh, what needless pain we bear, All because we do not carry, Everything to God in prayer. ” On the last day of her earthly life she sang this hymn with us and upon the invitation of this faithful Friend she closed her eyes to this earthly existence to open them again unto the heavenly realms. She accepted her sudden and physically fatal illness with the complacency of a saint. Eventually without any knowledge of the medical diagnosis, she said, “I am ready to go home. ” The proof of her endless goodness and thoughtfulness was proven by the fact that she served all she could her Bachelor-brother, the nieces, nephews and neighbors. When her pastor came to Springdale ten years ago, MARY volunteered: ' Reverend, Sunday morning at seven o’clock I’ll call you and wake you up! ” For ten years every Sunday MARY was a faithful volunteer and blessed alarmclock. On Sunday, December 21st at 7 o’clock in the morning the telephone rang again at the parsonage. But this time, instead of MARY it was Elmer’s voice: “Our MARY has gone home at 2:20 A.M. this morning. ” Her funeral was attended by a large family of mourners worthy of her noble life and great soul. The members of our Church and other Churches, her many friends from Springdale, Cheswick, New Kensington and other communities,the National Officers of the William Penn Association, almost all of the Directors, the Employees, the Members of Branch 296. The farewell of the William Penn Association was expressed by Mr. Louis L. Varga, National Vice President and General Gus G. Nagy, Vice President Membership Services. The Right Reverend Bishop Louis Nagy, Director of our Bethlen Home in Ligonier, Pa. gave an inspired eulogy worthy of MARY and his own reputation as author and preacher. He compared MARY’S life to the broken alabaster box and that the fragrance of her sweet life is now our heritage to preserve and share. Her pastor enumerated the crowns promised in the Bible for her faithfulness, service and sacrificial living. Among the crowns, he said, there was a crown of thorns also, representing thirteen years of longing for their departed son Bob. The Church was filled with those who loved her and honored her in life and now in transition. Their presence was the best proof that her humble, fragrant life was worthwhile and that her Lord of Lord and King of Kings is the giver of this visible life, but more than this of an eternal life of peace and glory! Rev. Imre Kovács EULOGY We gather together today — this sad day to pay our final respect to our Fraternal Sister Mary Charles, for Mary after a short illness has been called by her God, to her eternal reward. This is the season of joy and happiness because our Saviour Jesus Christ was born. But we are sad because Mary has departed from us, yet we take strength 2
