Mom's Memorial Service of Celebration

On Saturday, November 21st, 2009, at 1:00 P.M. we met at Valley Church in Cupertino for a time of celebration and worship, in remembrance of God's goodness in the life of Gene Moose, our mom.

Here is the program that our daughter Anna prepared for the service:

front and back cover

Inside the program: (click on the program to see it larger)

In this post I will put the text of as much of the service as possible.

Thankfully, Mom had planned a good bit of her own service. She told me that she wanted Dave and Dian Ruder, old friends from Valley Church, to play the piano and organ. We were thankful that they could come and do that.

She also wanted Amy Abels to sing, and Amy was "able" to practice some lovely songs with only a week's notice. Amy asked James Papasin to sing the duet parts and they turned out so nice. Jonathan Holowaty accompanied them, and as always was such a blessing to hear.

Many years ago, Mom had asked her former pastor, Jerry Elwell, if he would preach a particular message at her memorial service one day. We were so thankful that he was able to come for the service. He will be sending the text of what he said, and I'll include it in a post soon.

Here is the song which Amy and James sang at the beginning of the service. It was a favorite of Mom's, and was sung so beautifully by Bud and Alice Schaeffer at Dad's service in 1988.

Finally Home by L. E. Singer

When engulfed by the terror of the tempestuous sea,
Unknown waves before you roll;
At the end of doubt and peril is eternity.
Though fear and conflict seize your soul.

But just think of stepping on shore--and finding it Heaven!
Of touching a hand--and finding it God's!
Of breathing new air--and finding it celestial!
Of waking up in glory--and finding it Home!

When surrounded by the blackness of the darkest night,
O how lonely death can be;
At the end of this long tunnel is a shining light,
For death is swallowed up in victory!

But just think of stepping on shore--and finding it Heaven!
Of touching a hand--and finding it God's!
Of breathing new air--and finding it celestial!
Of waking up in Glory and finding it HOME!

Brian read the always-comforting Psalm 23, and also commented that Mom had told him one time that she wanted to gain a new friend each and every year of her life. He said that from the number of friends that Mom had when she died, that would put her at well over 200 years old!



Here is the story that I wrote about Mom's life. Originally, when my brothers had asked me to plan the service, and we thought about writing a eulogy, I had no intention of reading or speaking out loud during the memorial service. I thought I would dissolve into tears. So, I wrote the following story for our good friend Burt Lancaster to read. Burt has a wonderful reading voice and he used to read the Scriptures at our church where he and Diane attended with Mom and Dad. The night before the memorial service, when I was reading the story out loud to friends so they could critique it and see if it was clear, they assumed I would be reading it at the service. I said, "no! I can't do that!" But my friend said, "Jane, you HAVE to read this." So, because I wrote it for someone else to read, and it was not about "Mom and I did this and that", but rather how "Gene did such and such", I prayed about reading it and then the Lord gave me the courage to do it.

Olga Gene Thompson was the fourth of six children born to Mary Olga and Charles Thompson. Her family lived in San Jose, but she was born at the home of her grandparents in Aromas, California. (note from me: this was because Gene's mother had poison oak poisoning in her blood at the time of Gene's birth, and had to be cared for by her mother because she was so ill.) Later, the family moved to Santa Rosa, and Gene spent a happy childhood in a rural setting, in a home full of music. Gene began playing the piano at an early age, and accompanied her siblings on their instruments. Gene enjoyed school, and always wanted to be a teacher when she grew up.

Gene had several nicknames in her life, but she most fondly remembered that her Granddad called her “Doodlebug”.

Gene’s father worked for Beacon Oil, and during the war, she and her sisters worked in his filling station, pumping gas.

When her brothers came home from the war, the six Thompson siblings would go and sing on the radio together. Their father sponsored a radio program called “The Beacon Barn Dance”, and to end the show, Mr. Thompson would have his children sing hymns. The Thompson family singers got to be quite popular. At the end of each show, the announcer would even say, “Drop a card or letter and let us know what you’d like them to sing next time.”

Gene Thompson attended San Jose State College in 1946 where she met a girl in the registration line with the same last name. Gene became best friends with Ruth Thompson, and later served as maid of honor for Ruth when she married Kelsey Patterson.

Gene’s older brother Edward had a college friend named Irvin Moose. Irvin was a handsome and responsible young man who had served with the Army Corps of Engineers in Japan before enrolling in college. Irvin met Gene at her home in Santa Rosa, in June of 1948, the day before he graduated from Santa Rosa Junior College. After almost two years of dating while Irvin attended the University of San Francisco, Irvin proposed in May of 1950. They were married on July 1^st, 1951. Her sisters were her bridesmaids, and her friend Ruth Patterson was her matron of honor. Gene and Irvin lived in a furnished upstairs apartment on Tilton Avenue in San Mateo. Gene taught 1^st and 2^nd grades at Sunnybrae School in San Mateo. When they bought their first (and what was to be their only) home, on McLellan Avenue, they purchased their first piece of furniture with Gene’s teaching retirement money: a piano.

Gene and Irvin raised three children in their little house on McLellan Avenue. First came Janie, then Brian, and then a few years later, Steve was born.

Then, Gene had an experience that was new to her: she went through a terrible time of post-partum depression. But, the Lord used this time to cause her to search for what was missing in her life: salvation and a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Their good friend Kelsey started calling Irv very early on Sunday mornings to invite them to church. Finally Irv and Gene went, and Gene volunteered to teach Vacation Bible School, because she knew how to teach. She was surprised that the church asked her only to help instead. As she helped, Gene listened to the children’s stories of how Jesus came to die for our sins. Soon, both Gene and Irv came to an understanding of their need for a Savior, and they prayed to receive Christ.

Gene and Irv began teaching Sunday School, and one friend remembers the first time she ever met them: they were in the 4&5 year old class, teaching the children to sing “Jesus Loves Me”.

Gene helped her children as they went through school. She encouraged them with their studies, and tried to make school fun. Each year she would help the children choose a new lunchbox. She filled those lunch boxes with exactly what her children liked. In fact, she even began making peanut butter and pickle sandwiches for one of her sons when he asked for them! At Christmas time, Gene would make special chocolate kiss peanut butter cookies for the children to take to their teachers. Also, during the school year, she would invite each child’s teacher over for lunch on a school day, so she could share about her faith in Jesus Christ.

Gene was involved as the Chairman of Christian Women’s Club, and later she was a discussion leader for Bible Study Fellowship. She had a passion for teaching women the Bible, and how to be good helpers for their husbands.

Gene was a wonderful hostess. She had cookie exchanges, teas, and all kinds of get-togethers. Everyone wanted to come, and Gene was a wonderful witness through her hospitality.

Gene made a point to share with everyone she knew, about her love for the Lord. She would invite her neighbor ladies over for tea, and would always tell them about her relationship with Christ.


She really wanted to share with her next-door neighbor, but could not communicate with her because her neighbor spoke only Japanese. So, when Gene saw that Billy Graham’s Decision magazine was printed in Japanese, she ordered a gift subscription. She never heard a word about it until years later when the neighbor rang Gene’s doorbell, and holding up the magazine in Japanese, indicated with signs and motions that she had received Christ as Savior.


With all these wonderful stories, you might think that Gene Moose was perfect. But, I know a secret: she got angry once in a while. One day she saw someone back into their front fence. She went right outside and gave him a piece of her mind. Later, when she was telling her friend Ruth all about it. Ruth replied, “Well, you must not have read your Bible this morning!”

Gene really enjoyed watching Lawrence Welk on television. And, her children were told to keep quiet during the show. Do you kids remember her saying, “this is the only time I ask for a little bit of quiet”?

Gene also had a sweet tooth. She really liked See’s candy. Milk chocolate, not dark. She would sometimes come home with a pound of See’s and ask one of the kids to please hide it from her. Then, the next day while they were at school, she would work extra hard while cleaning the house and she usually found it!

When her daughter Jane went as a missionary to Peru, Gene started a Mothers of Missionaries prayer group. She also really enjoyed going out to lunch with her friends. At least one “Lunch Bunch” was formed this way!

In 1985, Irv was diagnosed with cancer, and Gene dropped everything and worked tirelessly to care for him until his Homegoing in 1988. After Irv’s death, Gene prayed about what to do with her time, and then the answer came in two ways. First, she went back to being a discussion leader for Bible Study Fellowship. Also, she began teaching piano lessons, and this new endeavor brought much joy to many children.

During her widowhood, Gene was lonely at times. So, she invited company to come in even more! She invited her grandchildren to come stay with her, one at a time, during the summers. “Camp Gramma” was founded, and the activities and outings were lots of fun. Some of the grandchildren said, “When we slept over at Gramma Moose's house, she told us if we were good we would find a candy or a toy under our pillows in the morning. But even if we were bad we would still find a candy or a toy.”

One summer, Gene invited many young children to come to her home to participate in a music class. She called it “Victoria’s Music School”, in honor of her granddaughter Victoria. The children learned music theory and even wrote their own music. How many of you remember learning music from Mrs. Moose?

Did anyone here ever receive a Christmas angel ornament from Gene Moose? Gene loved making them. She always wanted to make people happy. Today in the reception there will be a Christmas tree with a sample of each of the angels that Gene made.

Gene had a vision for Women’s Ministries. She helped begin the women’s ministries program at the small church she began attending after Irv’s death. She was intent on excellence in all things, and she made Bible Study rewarding and interesting. She also helped begin their annual tradition of having Christmas teas.

Gene served as a church pianist many times during her life. She was always available, and she even led a children’s singing group.

Music was always a major part of Gene’s life. From her childhood up until her last day on earth, Gene had a “song in her heart” and enjoyed playing and directing music. Even after her stroke, she was able to hum perfect harmony to any hymn. And, on the day that her best friend Ruth passed away, when she gathered with the Patterson girls around their mother’s bed, all of a sudden Gene started directing everyone with her hand, that they should sing a hymn.

One of Gene’s last conscious acts, while her family was gathered around her bedside, was to start moving her hand in time to the hymns that were playing in her room, as if she was directing music. And, when Gramma Moose directed music, everyone sang.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Colleen Mortensen gave a wonderful tribute to Mom. Here are her notes of her talk. Colleen was one of the gals who Mom mentored through the years, and later Mom said goodbye to her as Colleen left to work in Albania. It was while Colleen was in Albania that Mom had her stroke. When Colleen returned home, she and Mom kept up their relationship, and Mom asked Colleen one day if Colleen would do the honor of speaking at her memorial service. Here is what Colleen said:

Gene Moose

January 7, 1928 ~ November 13, 2009

A Godly Legacy of Godly Virtues

A virtuous woman, who can find? For her price is far above rubies. Strength and dignity are her clothing, and she smiles at the future. She opens her mouth in wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue. She looks well to the ways of her household, and does not eat the bread of idleness. ~ Proverbs 31:10,25-27

These words taken from the OT passage of Proverbs 31 could just as easily be written to describe Gene Moose. She exemplified these qualities in all that she did. When I first met Gene in 1998 at Berean Bible Church, I remember walking away from our conversation and thinking to myself, “that is a woman that I want to get to know better and would love to have her mentor me.” Even in my brief interaction with her at that time, those qualities mentioned in Proverbs 31 were evident. In the years that followed, Gene and I became great friends and she took every opportunity to teach me to exemplify Christ more and more in my life. She was always doing this with people. She regularly came alongside young single women in the church and mentored them. I was blessed and changed for the better by knowing Gene. I remember so many afternoons after church where Gene and I would have lunch together often at Max’s Opera Café which was one of her favorite lunch spots. We would end up back at her house and talk about anything and everything for hours. The bible was always opened during our conversation and I do remember tears on both sides being shed many times as well. She had such a sweet spirit and could empathize so easily with people. She was such a great source of wisdom on biblical topics. I found myself seeking her wisdom often. When I went to Albania as a single missionary, she was just a phone call away. She was such a great encourager and gave me hope when we would speak. She had such an easy way of directing my thoughts back to God and biblical thinking. One thing that she did when I left for Albania was to give me a package filled with several gifts with instructions to only open one on the first of each month. Each gift came with an encouraging note pointing back to God and His goodness. When Jane, her daughter and I were talking a short time ago, it was fun to learn that she had first done this for Jane when she went to Peru years before.

When thinking about Gene, one cannot help but think about the NT passage of 1 Corinthians 13:4-7. This is the famous passage on love. Gene embodied the love described in this passage. The passage reads, Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant, does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered, does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Gene loved people and was always making sure people knew they were loved. She was always sensitive for the other person. Perhaps that is why she took so many single women under her wing at church. I am not sure how many of you were able to visit with Gene after she had her stroke, but these qualities of love continued to be demonstrated in her life. After her stroke six years ago, she was struck with Aphasia and was unable to speak clearly and concisely, but she could clearly get her point across if she wanted to. Just as this passage talks about love being patient, Gene was patient. If she couldn’t help you to understand what she wanted and you said, “I am so sorry, I just don’t understand.” She would shrug her shoulders and mouth, “Oh well.” I can’t imagine living like that for six years and having so much to share beforehand and not being able to share now. She was so patient even at the end. When I visited her hours before she went to be with Jesus, we had a similar experience and she just shrugged her shoulders when I couldn’t understand and turned her lip up as if to say, “Oh well.” Even when she was in so much discomfort, she was patient. Jesus Christ had changed her life and she was such a sweet and gentle soul till the end. The passage talks about being kind. Gene was kind. She was always taking time out to be with the younger women in the church and to teach them things their mothers never taught them. Her kindness continued after her stroke, I remember last year when one of the women from the home where Gene lived stopped by her room to say hello. Gene caught my eye with her eyes and motioned that I should talk to this woman and make her feel comfortable. Gene wasn’t able to talk much with this woman, but she certainly wanted to make sure that I would talk to her and make her feel welcome. The passage talks about bearing and enduring all things. Gene bore and endured all things. Before her stroke, she had battled lymphoma and all the treatments that went with it with grace and dignity. She was always so gracious whenever you talked to her about her treatment and how things were going. After the stroke, she was always so cheerful whenever I would come to visit her in either home. She bore up with the difficulties of this life with great courage and strength of character that I know was only found in her savior Jesus. Finally, the passage talks about believing and hoping all things. She believed and hoped all things. I know without a shadow of doubt that as Gene sat silent in her room year after year, she prayed for people. She was always ready and eager to rejoice with people when they had some answer to prayer to share. She loved to pray and read her bible since she had come to know Jesus personally. I know that all those years that she spent studying and memorizing scripture kept her encouraged, believing and hoping all things. Christ was her solid rock before the stroke and was her solid rock after the stroke. It was because of this strength from Christ that she was able to be an example and teach others to live a life that challenged them to love Jesus more.

I think it was because Gene had such a sweet and gentle disposition throughout her life that she had so many visitors to her room during the six years she spent in the care of others. I think those who worked at her homes were surprised by the number of visitors she constantly had. Her family kept a log book where visitors would write notes about their visit. It was so fun to see how she would have up to five or six visitors per week. Not many of us can say that we get that many visitors now. It was also amazing to see how loved she was by the staff and other residents at both her homes. In her most recent home, I took note of how many staff would make a special stop at Gene’s room to wave and say hello. There were also many residents who would roll their wheelchairs into her room. She was loved and there was something that drew them to her even in a state of being unable to talk. I know that it is only because of Christ’s transforming power in her life that she reflected Him back to the people who visited and the people who cared for her daily.

I believe because of this she also was such a joy and delight to be around. Even in her final hours, I remember Jane holding up the phone so that Gene could hear her oldest granddaughter, Lizzie. Gene smiled such a bright smile that must have taken so much energy because of the obvious joy at hearing her granddaughter’s voice. After the phone call, Gene followed that smile by lifting her only good arm to conduct in perfect time the hymn music playing the background. What an honor to sing alongside her conducting such heavenly music in preparation for her home going. She will be greatly missed by many and will be greatly remembered for her love of God and her desire for others to love Jesus more. Proverbs 31:29-31 says it best. Many daughters have done nobly, but (Gene) you excelled them all." Charm is deceitful and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the LORD, she shall be praised. Give her the product of her hands, and let her works praise her in the gates. Goodbye Gene, we love you still!!!!

Will you Love Jesus More?

Now Amy Abels, James Papasin and Jonathan Holowaty will grace us with a song selected by Jane, Gene’s daughter. It is titled Will you Love Jesus More? Gene’s main goal above all else and even at great expense to herself was to ensure that people knew who Jesus was and that those who did, loved Him more. She often reached out to her neighbors and was always inviting them over for teas where she would share about Jesus. She wanted all to know about Jesus and I can’t think of a more fitting song at her memorial. Thank you Amy, James and Jonathan.

Here are the words to the song:

The joy we've shared, the memories,
Times of love and laughter
Heartfelt words, a tender touch,
Sometimes a tear or two,
But above all else that we've shared on earth
I want for you to see
That there is something more I've been called to do
There's someone else I want you to see

Chorus:
Will you love Jesus more

When we go our different ways

When this moment is a memory

Will you remember His face?

Will you look back and realize

You sensed His love more than you did before

I pray for nothing less than for you to love Jesus more


I liked to keep these memories
And treasure them forever
To reminisce from time to time
About the smiles we shared
But above all else I hope you will come
To know the Father's love
When you see the Lord face to face
You'll hear Him say "well done"

Chorus:

Will you love Jesus more

When we go our different ways

When this moment is a memory

Will you remember His face?

Will you look back and realize

You sensed His love more than you did before

I pray for nothing less than for you to love Jesus more

Will you love Jesus more

When we go our different ways

When this moment is a memory

Will you remember His face?

Will you look back and realize

You sensed His love more than you did before

I pray for nothing less than for you to love Jesus more

I pray for nothing less than for you to love Jesus more.

During the sharing time, many loving friends and family had special memories of Mom. Her friend Myrt Arthur brought the following letter which she read, and then she gave us the letter to keep. Myrt gave me permission to include her letter here, and I think you will find it a real blessing to see how God brought Mom and Myrt together as lifelong friends. Again, you can click on the image and it will enlarge so you can read it more easily.