Mary Anne Zak
Ninety-nine-year old Sue Fuller shared a jubilant smile in the photo on her memorial program at Second Baptist Church, August 15. She also shared a jubilant message. Joining vintage secular and sacred music with ancient psalms and scriptures offered by the Reverend Thomas Carr, Sue shared goodness and peace.
She had enjoyed a happy dinner with family at their beach house. She’d had chocolate fondue for dessert, and had that picture taken. Sue excused herself to rest. An hour later, she went to eternal rest!
A happy ending graced Sue’s story of her life. In the secular song “My Way,” wisdom spoke and accepted “…the end is near… I’ve lived a life that’s full…I did it my way.” She was a woman who had accepted the ancient philosophy: “Know thyself.”
Sue’s way was goodness, kindness and generosity through all the days of her life. It was goodness she found in other lands and other peoples in travels with Syd and their family. She generously supported the arts and Kent Memorial Library in Suffield as well as many good causes throughout her world and lifetime. The Hartford Courant obituary honored Sue’s vast world of interests saying, “She loved animals, chocolate and equality.” (The Hartford Courant, August 11 and 12, 2019.
Pairing temporal and spiritual titles from music and scripture blended Sue’s joy in both spheres with piano solos from “Porgy and Bess,” “Tiger Rag” from the Original Dixieland Band; and “When the Saints Go Marchin’ In.”
Following Reverend Carr’s Welcome and Call to Worship, the assembly sang Sue’s hymn of praise, “How Great Thou Art.” (From the Second Baptist Church Hymnal)
Remaining with the sacred, Reverend Carr led the Lord’s Prayer, intoned Psalm 121, “I shall lift mine eyes up unto the hills,” then invited the assembly to join in praying “The Lord Is my Shepherd.”
Following a reading of “…a time for every season…for every purpose under the heaven…” Evelyne Battle’s guitar and solo “Turn, Turn, Turn” echoed Ecclesiastes 3, 1-8.
Corinthians 1:13 gently reminded “…Love is patient, love is kind… angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.”
Blessing love, the assembly sang “Blest Be the Tie That Binds.”
Sharing her temporal and spiritual worlds, Sue was the answer to the question of Proverbs 31:10 – Who shall find a valiant woman?” She blessed us with the light and peace for which so many yearn.