Birth date: Mar 27, 1950 Death date: Feb 29, 2016
Patricia Lee Hurst (nee Teaford), age 65, of North Ridgeville, passed away on Monday, February 29, 2016 at her home following a 35 year battle with Multiple Sclerosis. She was born in Muskegon, Michigan and had been a resident of Read Obituary
CARED FOR BY
Bogner Family Funeral Home and Cremation Services
36625 Center Ridge Road, North Ridgeville OH 44039
The following is posted on behalf of my dad, Ed Hurst:
The eulogy, "Quilt of Holes," read by my sister, Pam, can be found below.
This is what I would have done as a eulogy, but I knew I simply did not have the composure to do so.
She makes up the story
She's the only story
Of my life
-Ed
-----
Patricia Lee Teaford Hurst
March 27, 1950 – February 29, 2016
I do not have the talent to write a song, let alone sing one. However, I have long loved this song - it truly reflects my life with my beloved bride, Patti. I offer it as my eulogy for her.
Story of a Life by Harry Chapin (on albums “Sequel” and “The Gold Medal Collection”)
I can see myself it's a golden sunrise
Young boy open up your eyes
It's supposed to be your day
Now off you go horizon bound
And you won't stop until you've found
Your own kind of way
And the wind will whip your tousled hair
The sun, the rain, the sweet despair
Great tales of love and strife
And somewhere on your path to glory
You will write your story of a life
And all the towns that you walk through
And all the people that you talk to
Sing you their songs
And there are times you change your stride
There are times you can't decide
Still you go on
And then the young girls dance their gypsy tunes
And share the secrets of the moon
So soon you find a wife
And though she sees your dreams go poorly
Still she joins your story of a life
So you settle down and the children come
And you find a place that you come from
Your wandering is done
And all your dreams of open spaces
You find in your children's faces
One by one
And all the trips you know you missed
And all the lips you never kissed
Cut through you like a knife
And now you see stretched out before thee
Just another story of a life
So what do you do now?
When she looks at you now?
You know those same old jokes all the jesters tell
You tell them to her now
And all the same old songs all the minstrels sang
You sing 'em to her now
But it don't matter anyhow
'Cause she knows by now
So every chance you take don't mean a thing
What variations can you bring
To this shopworn melody
And every year goes by like a tollin' bell
It's battered merchandise you sell
Not well, she can see
And though she's heard it all a thousand times
Couched in your attempted rhymes
She'll march to your drum and fife
But the question echoes up before me
Where's my magic story of a life?
Now sometimes words can serve me well
Sometimes words can go to hell
For all that they do
And for every dream that took me high
There's been a dream that's passed me by
I know it's so true
And I can see it clear out to the end
And I'll whisper to her now again
Because she shared my life
For more than all the ghosts of glory
She makes up the story
She's the only story
Of my life
The following is the Eulogy that was read by Pam Wolters:
(This was Ed's suggested intro – Pam said something close to it)
Good morning, I am Pam Wolters, one of Ed’s sisters. Patti and I shared a love of sewing. Patti’s creativity is a gift that has always been shared with her family and friends.
Ed and the family struggled with the task of doing something as a eulogy for Patti. Amy said we should look at her Bible and see what she may have highlighted or noted as something that appealed to her as a way to get started.
When we unzipped the case with her Bible, a piece of paper fell out. Patti had saved a story called, “Quilt of Holes.”
After reading it, we all were certain that she had left it there for us to find for this occasion.
-----
As I faced my Maker at the last judgment, I knelt before the Lord along with all the other souls.
Before each of us laid our lives like the squares of a quilt in many piles; an angel sat before each of us sewing our quilt squares together into a tapestry that is our life.
But as my angel took each piece of cloth off the pile, I noticed how ragged and empty each of my squares was. They were filled with giant holes. Each square was labeled with a part of my life that had been difficult, the challenges and temptations I was faced with in everyday life. I saw hardships that I endured, which were the largest holes of all.
I glanced around me. Nobody else had such squares. Other than a tiny hole here and there, the other tapestries were filled with rich color and the bright hues of worldly fortune. I gazed upon my own life and was disheartened.
My angel was sewing the ragged pieces of cloth together, threadbare and empty, like binding air.
Finally the time came when each life was to be displayed, held up to the light and the scrutiny of truth. The others rose; each in turn, holding up their tapestries. So filled their lives had been. My angel looked upon me and nodded for me to rise.
My gaze dropped to the ground in shame. I hadn't had all the earthly fortunes. I had love in my life and laughter. But there had also been trials of illness and wealth, and false accusations that took from me my world, as I knew it. I had to start over many times. I often struggled with the temptation to quit, only to somehow muster the strength to pick up and begin again. I spent many nights on my knees in prayer, asking for help and guidance in my life. I had often been held up to ridicule, which I endured painfully, each time offering it up to the Father in hopes that I would not melt within my skin beneath the judgmental gaze of those who unfairly judged me.
And now, I had to face the truth. My life was what it was, and I had to accept it for what it was.
I rose and slowly lifted the combined squares of my life to the light.
An awe-filled gasp filled the air. I gazed around at the others who stared at me with wide eyes.
Then, I looked upon the tapestry before me. Light flooded the many holes, creating an image, the face of Christ. Then our Lord stood before me, with warmth and love in His eyes. He said, 'Every time you gave over your life to Me, it became My life, My hardships, and My struggles.
Each point of light in your life is when you stepped aside and let Me shine through, until there was more of Me than there was of you.
Welcome home, my child.'
My all our quilts be threadbare and worn!
So sorry for your loss. Patti was a special lady with a very special family. Ed has been Patti's strongest support/caregiver and did it with a lot of love and devotion. I've known Ed since my position with Alpena Savings Bank, in Alpena, MI, then to Bay City, Kalamazoo, Cleveland, and Pittsburgh.
Patti was a special lady of which I will always have fond memories. She raised a wonderful family, along side her loving husband. May the entire Hurst and Teaford family lean on your friends for strength, and remember how much you are cared about. You are in our thoughts and prayers during this difficult time.
