Greer gave God all she got

By Archbishop Robert Rivas OP

If Heaven could stand still to take time to roll out the red carpet for one of Jesus’ friends to enter and take her seat at the eternal banquet, then the cherubs and the seraphs would do it for Greer—Greer Rose-Marie Furlonge-Kelly Lum Lock—a true daughter of God and woman of faith who passed quietly at her home in Alyce Glen at 3 a.m. on Wednesday, March 26, the day after the Solemnity of the Annunciation of Our Lord.

She would not have wanted anything better than to have Our Blessed Mother, Mary, close to her at her passing. Indeed, in interceding for her before she died, someone shared an experience of receiving an image of Mary, Our Blessed Mother, holding Greer’s hand!

Two things I appreciated about Greer were: she was a deeply spiritual woman with a deep love for the Eucharist, and she also loved Our Lady with great devotion. She was a model and example for all of us in the time she spent in Eucharistic Adoration weekly.

She was a committed Lay Carmelite and loved the Dominicans. Both the Carmelites and Dominicans have great devotion to Our Lady. For her Funeral Service one of the hymns she chose was ‘Dear Virgin Mother, Lady of Mt Carmel,’ which the choir at the Church of the Nativity, led by Janice Hepburn, sang beautifully. Her brother Guido also sang the ‘Ave Maria,’ which she also requested. Greer chose the First Reading which her nephew Isaac read, as well as all the hymns for her funeral.

There was only standing room at the Church of the Nativity in Crystal Stream, Diego Martin, for her Funeral Service on Friday, March 28. The Carmelite Sisters and members of the Lay Carmelites, and many priests and deacons were present to comfort her family and to say farewell to a wonderful woman. Fr Thomas Lawson OP was the preacher and conducted the Service.

For all the years I have known Greer, she has always treated me as part of her family. She was related to some of my cousins and when I retired and returned to Trinidad, she would often say to me with a big smile, “We are family, you know!” This then gave her the right to scold me like a mother and love me like a sister whenever she saw me looking tired and weary.

She was always faithful in participating in the Sunday Eucharist. I remember her over 50 years ago with her mom in church at St Theresa’s, Woodbrook. She loved her Church and cherished the Sacraments. It pained her to see others putting aside or taking lightly what was so precious to her.

There were times when I would see her worshipping in her parish church and a few hours later we would meet up again at another Eucharistic Celebration elsewhere and with a big smile she would say, “All for Jesus!”

Her joyful disposition and dynamic faith earned her the name ‘Hosanna.’ She was always praising and glorifying God and making joyful sounds with her tambourine.

Her cheerfulness was not superficial but a grace that came from within. She gave God ‘all she got!’ This was further reflected in her giving of herself to others.

Since my retirement, and during the time I assisted in the Valley Cluster, I met Greer frequently. She still had her youthful smile and cheerful disposition. She was always appreciative of good preaching.

Often, she would hug me after Mass and with bright, smiling eyes say to me, “That was good, thank you.”

I will miss her smile, warmth, friendship, dependability, and happy disposition at Mass and in serving others. As long as she was well, she would not miss daily Mass and Communion.

She was Fr Tom Lawson’s nurse when I came to live at St Finbar’s and quickly became my nurse, too. She gave freely and with love. That was the person she was—generous, kind, and selfless.

She loved her nieces and nephews and one of her secret desires was to see one of her nephews become a priest. Her love for David, her husband, was deep, committed, and full of affection. He brought sunshine into her life, and she instinctively watched out for him and cared for his every need.

She enjoyed telling the story of how they met and in God’s providence, got married. Greer had a sense of humour too and possessed great savoir faire.

She had everything planned for their future together but in the final analysis, it was God who took control, and she submitted by letting go and letting God take over. None of us who knew Greer well could comprehend the rapidity with which she lived out the last three months of her life. There was nothing to hold on to in the end but only God.

To die peacefully is a grace and a blessing. When, in her weak health she sensed the time was close, she decided not to take chemotherapy. She then entrusted her life completely to God and said, “I am now ready to meet the Lord and enjoy His glory.”

Thank you, Greer, farewell. You have left us many gifts and blessings that we will treasure forever. Ride home safely on eagle’s wings!