Alma Lois DeCicco

When I was a little girl, I had a frequent prayer. I would pray, “God, please help my mother to walk”. As I got older my prayer changed. It became, “God please ease my mother’s pain and suffering”. Often I would wonder is God listening. My prayers never seemed to be answered. I even lost faith at one point in my life and was angry with God. But I came to realize that God had another plan for mom. Even though He didn’t specifically answer my prayers, He gave my mom a much deeper gift, the gift of His Grace. I know I speak for my sister, brothers and family, when I say that mom was a source of strength and faith to all of us and everyone who knew her. She taught us that life is what you make of it, regardless of your circumstances. Mom had many reasons to be angry and bitter, but she wasn’t. She could have been someone who complained about her situation, but she never did. Her favorite saying was “don’t worry, be happy”. She even had a sign stating this on the back of her wheelchair. As her disease gradually progressed over 51 years, she didn’t let it get the best of her, she loved life. Her life! Her life as a wife, mother, grandmother and most importantly, faithful disciple of Jesus. I remember once stating to her that life hadn’t been too kind to her. Her reply was “I have a great life”. My dad once said “I don’t know how your mother does it, nothing bothers her”. Towards the end of his life she was also a source of strength and courage to him as he battled his own illness. When I looked at my mother, I felt closer to Jesus. His Grace poured out of her. I believe that through her suffering she brought us all closer to Him. It certainly brought us very close as a family. We often told her how she was an inspiration to others. We liked to call her Amazing Grace. It made her feel good to know her life had such great meaning. She had great faith. Mom, you did have a very meaningful life. You had a husband who was clearly devoted and children who adored you. Your grandchildren were the light of your life. You were the best mother a child could have. Thank you for all you gave to us, especially our lives. They told you not to have children, it could progress your disease. But that didn’t deter you any. Once you got started, you didn’t want to stop. You were unselfish in everyway, sacrificing everything for us. We can only hope to become a fraction of the person you were. Your strength and endurance are an example for all of us. You accepted God’s will courageously and almost effortlessly. We are so proud to have had you for our mother. In the last few years my prayer became “Lord, please have mercy on my sweet mother”. He did, and gently called her home. But not until she was good and ready! I would now like to add, that on behalf of my sister Maryann, brothers Michael and David and myself, Thank you to our brother John and his wife Roxanne for devoting the last 6 ½ years of their life to the care of our mother. This enabled mom to remain at home where she wanted to be. We are eternally grateful to you both. ---------------------------------------------------- Heaven [1023-1029] Grace, God’s presence within you, is like a seed—a vital, growing seed that is destined one day to break forth full grown. God has given himself to you, but in a hidden way. For the time being, you seek him even as you possess him. But the time will come when your seeking will be over. You will then see and possess God completely. This has been revealed [1024]. In his First Letter, Saint John says: “Beloved, we are God’s children now; what we shall be has not yet been revealed. We do know that when it is revealed we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is” (3:2) [1720]. And in his First Letter to the Corinthians, Saint Paul Says: “At present we see indistinctly, as in a mirror, but then face to face. At present I know partially; then I shall know fully, as I am fully known” (13:12) [164]. This is heaven: direct face-to-face vision of God as he is – Father, Son, and Spirit; total and perfect union with God, an ecstasy of fulfillment beyond human imagining; the “now” of eternity in which everything is ever new, fresh and present to you; the warm flood of joy in the company of Jesus, his Mother, and all those you have ever known and loved; a total absence of pain, regret, bad memories; the perfect enjoyment of all your powers of mind and (after the resurrection on Judgment Day) of body. This is heaven. That is to say, this is a pale, human indication of what God has promised to those who love him, of what Christ has gained for us by his death and resurrection [163, 1023, 1024, 2519]. ----------------------------------------------------- Alma Lois DeCicco of Guyton St. died Monday, June 18, 2007 at home following a 51-year battle with Multiple Sclerosis. She was 79. She was born May 18, 1928 in Kingston, a daughter of the late Michael and Alma Koeppen Schupp. A homemaker, 'Lois' was a parishioner of St. Catherine Laboure Church and was a former member of the Altar Rosary Society. She was a source of strength and faith to her family and everyone who knew her. She collected Hummel figurines, loved gardens and was noted for her wonderful sense of humor. On June 26, 1949 she married John F. DeCicco who passed away December 14, 2000. Surviving are three sons, John A. DeCicco and his wife, Roxanne of Town of Ulster; Michael F. DeCicco and his wife Kimberly of West Shokan; David G. DeCicco and his wife Jacqueline of Kingston; two daughters, Maryann Rowan and her husband Mark of Saugerties and Lori Ann Zinter and her husband Greg of Saratoga Springs. Nine grandchildren and many nieces and nephews also survive. An infant son, Michael, a daughter, Joann, one brother Kenneth Schupp and one sister, Evelyn Wolfersteig died previously. Reposing at the Simpson-Gaus Funeral Home, 411 Albany Avenue, Kingston on Wed. from 7 -9 pm and Thur. from 2-4 & 7 - 9 pm. A canldelight memorial service will be held Thur. at 8:30 p. A funeral procession will form on Friday at 9:00 am from the funeral home. At 10:00 am, a Funeral Mass will be celebrated by Fr. John Kearney in St. Catherine Laboure Church in Lake Katrine. Interment will follow in St. Mary’s Cemetery, Kingston.