Pastor Heidi's Sermon from Michelle's Funeral Service
Today we meet to pay tribute to a loved one…Michelle Marie Franta. Daughter, Fiancé, Sister, family member, friend and neighbor. Our prayers are with Stan and Lynn...with you Sean…and with your families… Michelle shared life in important ways with all gathered here today.
It is important that we gather as a community of faith… We share both our sorrow and our hope this day. And proclaim together our faith… that our help is in the name of the Lord.
Especially when death is so quick and comes so early in life… we are devastated….we want answers…we don’t understand…we ask Why, God…We’ll never get the answer to that question… But I can tell you the question we will get the answer to…where God…
Where are you God…
As Family and friends you share pieces of Michelle’s life journey… and the joy she found in family and the arts…
From our reading in the Gospel of John...Jesus promises to come again…to take us to Himself…. and to show us the way… we are never abandoned……….
I am the way…the truth…and the life… Michelle followed…and lived a full life in her 26 years.
THE WAY Michelle began her journey on December 4, 1977. She grew up in Maple Grove… graduating from Osseo High School in 1996. After which she attended the University of Minnesota…where she was the Copy Chief for the Minnesota Daily, the University's paper. Michelle graduated in 2000 with a degree in Psychology.
Michelle’s first job was the Ventures Magazine. Currently she was the Marketing Editor for LarsonAllen company.
What can we say about Michelle…that she loved life…she was gifted and blessed in so many ways…
Michelle was accomplished in music…playing both the piano and violin… but her passion was dancing…she began at age 4 and still danced with Lynn every Wednesday night…
Michelle loved to read…she watched movies to make her cry…loved animals…Italian food…and her blue VW beetle...
Something in her spirit called her to create...when she watched TV it was often the Home Decorating Channel...she had original artwork on her walls... literally on her walls at home… She was determined to master cooking with her new Cuisinart...
But Michelle’s real passion was people...Sean and her family were the center of her life, shared with friends... the Book Club girls, Dance line, Alpha Gamma Delta sorority….
Sean and Michelle were to have been married in October… they met at a wedding….Michelle being the instigator...boldly approaching 5 unknown ushers…they danced…a week later began dating…after a mix-up with phone numbers… they found soul mates… Sean gave her the gift of future...and her perfect engagement...a horse drawn carriage, stone arch bridge, proposal on bended knee and champagne. The retro part of her personality was fulfilled.
Michelle loved life and lived it to the fullest…always trying to stretch and grow… She had even planned on becoming an outdoor enthusiast…and looked forward to camping...and whatever life had to give...
THE TRUTH Michelle lived the truth through her life ...and what she gave to those that were touched by her. The gift she gave was simply herself...all that she was able to share…she gave.
Her family shared these words when asked to describe her that she was…classy...brave...persistent... gave all she had…intelligent…generous heart…sweet… honest…everybody’s best friend…strong willed and always willing to share her position…resourceful.
Her life centered on other people and how she could make their lives better….whether it was fixing a computer program… finding a book…or finding a lost professor on sabbatical…she loved challenges.
Life was easy with Michelle….she wanted to give and invest in life and others.
THE LIFE In the midst of life with it’s joys and trials…. CHRIST IS PRESENT. Michelle knew that presence in all aspects of her life…. and accepted God’s blessing and turned to God when life was complicated.
Christ was present…. Ready to love...show HER the way... Michelle was a child of God.
As a child the church was an important focus of her family….she was baptized in the Catholic Church. And grew here at Prince of Peace…confirmed here…active in the church musicals…sharing her gifts.
She and Sean talked about faith...were searching for common ground in their faith life and plans for having a family… They were attending Normandale Lutheran.
Sean put it simply...”she had a heart God would be proud of”
Jesus said I am the way the Truth and the Life… ...What matters is not what we do, but how we live and love…That counts….
Life is a journey…one that we are called to live faithfully. The promise of new life is offered to us all ...Michelle now lives that reality.
In faith we now commit Michelle Marie Franta to Christ’s loving care.
