Eulogy delivered by Dr. Sylvester Almiron, Jr. during funeral services held on Saturday, February 16, 2013, Celebrating the Life of Jennifer Villanueva-Pal (d. Feb. 9, 2013).
“I am a thousand winds that blow. I am the diamond glint on snow.
I am the sunlight on ripened grain. I am the gentle autumn rain.
When you wake in the morning hush, I am the swift, uplifting rush
Of quiet birds in circling flight. I am the soft starlight at night.
Do not stand at my grave and weep. I am not there, I do not sleep.
Everyone who met Jennifer thought she was a special person. You only have to look around this room today to realize some of the very important lives that she touched. But what some do not realize is that, Jennifer was a pal with everyone she met, even before she became a PAL. Everyone was special and important in her eyes. Everyone had special value. That is one of the reasons that so many will miss her — as she has changed and touched very many lives.
She brought life to everything and touched every heart that she met. Her silent leadership and influence, usually behind the scenes was phenomenal. As you all may know, as a founding and charter member of the Silliman University Alumni Council of North America (SUACONA) she worked hard together with Bro. Joel to shape and mold it to be the encompassing, inclusive organization that it is today. She dedicated herself to helping others and never expected anything in return.
I remember a conversation when I asked her why she gave so much of herself. She stood in silence for a couple of minutes and then replied, “Because, my friend, that is the only way to live life.” Now I look back to the conversation and understand how she lived her life. She always had hope to give to everyone even during the toughest times of her life. When her son, Claude, was seriously sick, she – with her family- filled their hearts with hope that everything will be all right. With unmovable and unshakeable faith, unquestioning trust and formidable courage — he came through all right.
Many do not know but Jennifer had a constant pattern of doing kindnesses for others, without saying a word. I know that many in this room today have experienced that kindness in some way. When she was discovered doing kind things, she was not the type to brag or talk about them. She just did good things, for the sake of doing good things. To me, that is ultimate kindness.
She had always been a private person, so it was a hard decision to tell everyone that she was sick. Most of all she didn’t want pity. She didn’t want life to stop in its tracks. But there were countless moments where many of you came together to be kind and thoughtful to her and the Pal family during this time. I know it touched her heart.
She had a unique quality in that she could make anyone feel special. She knew exactly how to give people what they needed somehow and she would give this to you in the best way possible for you. This could be a kind word or something she gave to encourage you along the way. Others might have been even a tough word or a bit of a “kick in the pants” so to speak. She always knew how to reach people in the way that would touch their hearts and connect with them. And before you knew it, you would be touching right back.
She battled her illness hard and never gave up. I know there were many hard days because I was there for quite a few of them. But she never stopped, never surrendered. She put all of her determination, great courage and patience into healing until she surrendered to the circumstances at the end. Many of the doctors and nurses in the hospital said they never saw someone with such a fighter’s attitude until they met Jennifer.
They say that in your lifetime we only get one or two really special friends who impact your life in a meaningful way. Without a doubt, Jennifer was one of those types of friends to us.
In as much as I am also representing the president of Silliman University, Dr. Ben Malayang, the Board of Trustees and faculty, staff and students, I bring their condolences and prayers for you and express their profound sadness at Jennifer’s passing. To give tribute to the life of Jen and for all the love she shared, in lieu of flowers, the university will plant a Memorial Acacia tree for Jen and start this as a tradition open for all Sillimanians — a tree to commemorate the life and legacy of a dear departed Sillimanian. Trees that will live on long after we are gone — trees that will cover our campus with their continuing presence among us.
Bro. Joel, Dax, Margaret, Claude, Minji, and Natalie: remember the world is filled with people who care about you and love you and are thinking about you in this difficult time of sorrow. It was Albert Einstein who said, “Our death is not an end if we can live on in our children and the younger generation. For they are us, our bodies are only wilted leaves on the tree of life…”
“I am a thousand winds that blow. I am the diamond glint on snow.
I am the sunlight on ripened grain. I am the gentle autumn rain.
When you wake in the morning hush, I am the swift, uplifting rush
Of quiet birds in circling flight. I am the soft starlight at night.
Do not stand at my grave and weep. I am not there, I do not sleep.
(Do not stand at my grave and cry. I am not there, I did not die!)”
Thank you for allowing me to speak today and to celebrate this beautiful life. May her spirit live in all of us and may those whose lives she touched never forget her unconditional love and dedication.
