Today, I stand before you to pay tribute to a remarkable woman, the cornerstone of our family, and the guiding light to our lives --- our mother! In the tapestry of our lives, she is the thread of strength, love and sacrifice, weaving a story of unwavering dedication and boundless compassion.   On Tuesday, December 31st, 1957 a legacy began. Marie-Ange Theus was gently placed in this world and gifted to the late Anne-Marie Joseph and the late Joseph L. Theus. She was born at State University Hospital in Port-Au-Prince, Haiti at 6pm. She transitioned to be with her Heavenly Father on August 3rd, 2024 at 9:19pm.   I can stand here today and talk about her background but I would rather talk about the woman that she is. Yes, I said it is because her legacy is so powerful that even though she's not here physically a piece of her legacy remains with each person that she encountered, especially with her husband, children, grandchildren and her family. She touched many hearts and influenced many lives.   Our mother was the Matriarch and the pillar of our family. She was full of faith, strength and unconditional love. She demonstrated what it looks like to love your enemies. We never understood how she was able to do that, but she did. She didn't love them sometimes but at all times. My siblings and I would watch people mistreat her, and when we tried to defend her, she would grab us and tell us to leave them in God's hands. And that wasn't the worst part, those same people would turn around and ask her for help with no shame and she would help them and do so joyfully and sincerely. Our mother took joy and pleasure in helping others and never did so with any expectations of anything in return. So, we would look at her and say that she was soft for letting others walk all over her, but as we got older we realized that she was strong for being able to do that. Marie-Ange Theus loved not only with her heart but with the heart of God, because only Him can love in that capacity. When we would have our friends around along with their children, you couldn't tell who were her children and who wasn't or who were her grandchildren and who wasn't. We all got treated the same. Our mother's heart and the love that she had was bigger than what this world could contain. She loved truly and sincerely all those she has encountered in her life and we all felt it genuinely. She is the definition and perfect example of how to walk in unconditional love.

Our mother had the strength of 10,000 men and the sweetest touch. Her strength and her faith was out of this world. She has been fighting with her health for over 30 years and yet we have never heard her complain about her conditions or any of her diagnosis, or even got angry about it. Yes, she was sad at times about it and yes sometimes she would get discouraged or just have one of those days but complaining wasn't her thing. We can tell when she was either sad, discouraged or just having one of those days because she would walk around the house worshipping and praying. That was what she did instead of complaining. She reminds me of Job when he says "though He may slay me, yet I will still trust Him". Our mother's faith and belief in God never wavered. Even when I will say "mommy God will heal you" she would respond "if it's His will." She trusted God and His plans for her no matter the cost. She didn't serve God or believed in Him because of what He could do or has done for her but because of who He was to her and what He meant to her.   Not one of us has ever heard our mother say that she didn't like someone or sat there and talked about anyone negatively. She never retaliated against anyone or hated anyone even when she had the right to. When we would start telling her about someone or what they have done to us, she would stop us and say "it's ok, just give them to God." She did not gossip and she never allowed us to. She welcomed and embraced everyone, those who loved her as well as those who hated her and meant her no good. Our mother never allowed anyone's actions to dictate her reaction.   Marie-Ange Theus was an extraordinary person. A true example of how God wants us to live and walk as His children. And for those of us who had the honor of being a part of her life or encountered her remember that yes her body lies here today but her legacy of who she is remains in each and every one of us. Her legacy is the seed that she has deposited in us, one way or the other. So nourish that seed by putting into practice what we have learned from her and don't ever forget how she has touched your lives. And as for her husband, children, grandchildren and her family it is an honor to have had her in our lives and to allow her legacy to continue to live through us until the end of time. So when we find ourselves in a slump, remember what she left behind in each one of us: to remain full of faith, full of strength and to love unconditionally.