My heartfelt condolences to Marilou's family. My name is Sister June Suafoa. Because of our age difference, Marylou refused to call me June. She always greets me each time we meet as Sister Suafoa. She is very respective of her elders. I am nearly 30 years older than Marylou. The first time I met Marilou, it was during our Gospel Doctrine Class over 25 years ago. She came into the room and looked around for a seat and there was one empty chair next to me. I waved at her, pointing to the empty chair, she excepted my invitation, came and sit by me. That was our first meeting. After the class, we introduced ourselves, and from that moment on, I was Sister Suafoa to Marilou. When she called me Sister Suafoa after we introduced ourselves to each other, I asked her to call me June. In response to my request, she asked me a question. She said, by way of apologizing, but how old are you? I laughed and I told her how old I was, and she gave me the warmest complement. She said, you don't even look half your age. Then she said, I will call you Sister Suafoa because it is disrespectful to call older people by their first name. I have been Sister Suafoa to Marilou since then. I have known Marylou for a very long time., over 2 decades. We both were members of the Waipahu Second Ward. I remember her as a loving and caring sister, full of life, giving of herself completely to whatever she does and to the people she met, especially her family and friends. She always has a smile for anyone and everyone. She greets each person with enthusiasm and cheerfulness. She genuinely loved everyone she meets and she greets them enthusiastically. She was friendly and has an outgoing personality. She truly was a daughter of Heavenly Father, for she possessed all of the attributes of Christ-like attitude. She was also a faithful daughter of God by serving her brothers and sisters in the Ward through her Callings, whether a RS Counselor, Teaching a RS lesson or Gospel Doctrine Lesson, helping out with the Primary or Nursery, or singing in the Ward Choir. She never turned down any request for her help and her service. She was a giving person through sharing her time and her talent, serving others with love, compassion, inviting members, especially missionaries into her home, and giving of her time, and her best effort in her service. She loved missionaries and she feeds all the Missionaries. I know because I am a recipient of her generosity. When I returned to Hawaii as a Missionary in 2011, serving in the Marshallese and the Waipahu Second Ward, Marilou would have all of us Missionaries to her home every First Sunday of the every Month to have a delicious, hearty meal with her and Brother Dalisay, and sometimes, her grown son would joined us, and also some of the members of the Ward. Before I moved away from Hawaii, I was called to be the Choir Director for the Ward and I formed a Ward Choir. Brother and Sister Dalisay joined the choir. Marilou has such a beautiful voice. I am sure that some of you enjoyed listening to her beautiful voice when she sings, sitting next to her. She and Brother Dalisay were faithful members of the Waipahu 2nd Ward Choir, and never missed a choir practice unless they had an important family event or commitment they cannot forgo; they would either call or let other members relayed the message of their absence. She gave of herself unselfishly. She was always full of life, full of energy, and her happy and exciting character is sometimes contagious to those of us who knew and loved her and appreciate her. I wish I had a chance to see her smiling face, one more time. But it is her time to leave all of us. I do understand the heart wrenching experience that her loved ones had witnessed as she struggled with the terrible side effects of the treatment. I know it was not a pleasant sight and I also know that almost all of you wished you could take some of her suffering, yourselsves, but it was what it was. Elder Holland said that God does not give us anything that we cannot endure. So, I am sure she endured it for your sake, so you wouldn't suffer. But most of all, remember what the Savior said, He will succored all of our infirmities so that we would not suffer, even as He did. From here, let me share with you my story and my testimony.
Three months into the beginning of my Mission in Hawaii, I received words that my daughter's cancer was back. She previously had cancer and fought it for 5 years, and we watched her suffered the same thing Marilou suffered, the side effects of chemo and radiation. However, after 5 years, we were blessed that she went into remission and we finally were able to relaxed and enjoy our family, once again. In 2011, I arrived in Hawaii to served my Mission. My Companion and I were assigned to serve in the Marshallese Branch and the Waipahu Second Ward. Three months into my mission, I received a called from my Granddaughter informing me that her mom's cancer was back. She told me to finish serving my mission, then come straight to Alaska. My daughter was transferred to Alaska by her Employer to provide their clients with the service they need, and her whole family had been living in Anchorage, Alaska for almost 10 years at that time. So, I served my Mission until it was completed, then I flew straight from Hawaii to Alaska. Sad to say, but when I arrived and met my daughter, it was like de jevu. To make the story short, my daughter suffered as much as she did before her remission, even more so, this time. She was finally taken away from us on January 17, 2019. We prayed for her to have some extra time with us so she could enjoy her newborn, first grandchild. Merciful and kind Heavenly Father answered our prayers. She was given 4 extra years of life. She fought a good fight, because she wanted to enjoy her time with her grandson. We all tried to make things as comfortable for her as we possibly can. Even the doctors and nurses were super helpful. Her final hour with us was a confirmation of what I had always knew, but it eased the fear of my daughter about her family, especially the eternal perspective of Families are Forever. Her final minute here on earth, my daughter was holding my hand with a big smile on her face, and her children, her brothers and sisters, family members and friends surrounded her death bed. She was without pain since the two nurses who provided Hospice care for the past week, gave her a shot to numb the pain. Just before she took her final bread, she looked straight at the end of her bed. I thought she was looking at her daughters because she wanted to say something to them. I called my granddaughters to come closer by their mom's side. She turned back and looked at me with a smile, all excited. She spoke to me and said, No mom! I am not looking at them. I am looking at dad. He is standing right there at the end of the bed, waiting for me. She then said, I am so happy to see dad, coming to escort me so I wouldn't be afraid. Everyone that was in the room looked around, broke out in tears with smiles and laughter, because they understood what she said. The look of relief and awe in their faces, the confirmation of the love of God, manifesting through their dying mother's words, a sister, and a friend. What more proof do you need than to accept the reality of the teaching of the gospel, that Families are Forever? It truly was a confirmation that Families Are Forever. You see, my husband, her father, had passed away in 2004, right after we returned from our Mission in the Carribean Island of Tortola. If there was any doubt in the mind of my daughter and her husband, my living children, and all of my nieces and nephews, and friends who were there that day about the reality and the truth about the Plan of Salvation, those doubts were erased forever at that moment she spoke of her father, who came to escort her to heaven. She turned to me, squeezed my hand and she said she loved me and thank me for being the best mom any child could ask for. I squeezed her hand back, smiled at her, and told her to close her eyes and don't let her father waiting, because her brother is probably anxious to see her, too. We said our good-byes, I bent over placed a kiss on her forhead. She closed her eyes, still having that smile on her face and she was gone.
My dear Brother Dalisay and Marilou's beloved son and daughter. Believe and doubt not. Families are Forever and as long as we are faithful in keeping God's commandments and keep our covenants, you will see your mother's beautiful face and her contagious smile. You will see my eternal comapnion and all your loved ones who preceded you to heaven. The gosple of Jeus Christ of Latter-day Saints is God's kingdom here on earth. President Nelson is God's living prophet, seer and revelator at this time, to help guide us and remind us to be faithful in all things.
I love Marilou, very much. She is a dear and beloved friend and sister. I will miss her physical presence. However, I look forward to seeing her again when I leave this world. I love you, too, Brother Dalisay, and I love Marilou's son and daughter and grandchildren, if any, and all of her family members. May the comforting spirit of God Almighty, comfort you, and bring peace into your suffering soul because of your separation at this time with your eternal companion, and your mother.
This is my testimony, in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
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