Funeral For Helen Cannady

Funeral

On behalf of the family of Helen, I want to thank each and every one of you for being here today. Your presence is a comfort, a testament to the love and respect this remarkable woman inspired throughout her 90+ years on this earth. Though today brings sorrow, we are not without hope. We lean on the promises found in God’s Word, and we take comfort in knowing Helen is now in the presence of her Savior.

Opening Prayer

Dear Heavenly Father, We gather today to remember the precious life of Helen. We come not only to grieve, but to give thanks—for every moment, every memory, every life she touched. Thank you for the legacy she leaves behind and the strength of faith she carried through the years. Surround us now with your peace and presence. May your Spirit comfort us and remind us of the hope we have in Christ. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

In one of his books, A.M. Hunter, the New Testament scholar, relates the story of a dying man who asked his Christian doctor to tell him something about the place to which he was going. As the doctor fumbled for a reply, he heard a scratching at the door, and he had his answer. “Do you hear that?” he asked his patient. “It’s my dog. I left him downstairs, but he has grown impatient, and has come up and hears my voice. He has no notion what is inside this door, but he knows that I am here. Isn’t it the same with you? You don’t know what lies beyond the Door, but you know that your Master is there.”

Today, we stand in the heavy shadow of sorrow, grieving the departure of someone deeply cherished. As we come together today to honor and lay to rest the body of Tom, we do so with hearts that are both sorrowful and full of hope. We are sorrowful because, from this side of heaven, we lose a friend, brother, father, grandfather, and husband. Yet, in our sadness, we also rejoice, for those who knew him best understood that, with great anticipation, he stood on this side of the door, longing to be with his Master.

Scripture Readings

Psalm 46:1-3 “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; though its waters roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with its swelling.”

Romans 8:35-39 “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? ... For I am convinced that neither death nor life ... nor any other created thing shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Reflections on Helen’s Life

As we gather here today, our hearts are full. We feel the ache of loss, yes—but also the warmth of love and memory. Helen was a woman who lived well over 90 years, and in those years, she lived fully and faithfully.

Born into a large family of ten children, Helen knew the power of family bonds from the very beginning. She was surrounded by siblings and stories, laughter and strength. Her six brothers—heroes of a different generation—served in World War II. All six. And every one of them came home. That kind of family history is rare and precious. It's a picture of providence, of grace, and of the kind of grit that runs deep in families like Helen’s.

Helen loved her family dearly. She delighted in simple joys—working in the yard, watching things grow, and tending to God’s creation with her hands. Even as her eyesight failed and blindness became her reality, her vision for life remained clear. She didn’t complain. She didn’t give in to bitterness. Instead, she kept a cheerful heart, a positive attitude, and a spirit of gratitude.

She loved going to church whenever she could. Her physical limitations never dulled her spiritual devotion. Her faith was not based on routine—it was rooted in relationship. She knew her Lord, and He knew her.

A Faith That Overcomes

Helen had a faith anchored in the promises of Jesus. A faith like that clings to the words in 2 Corinthians:

2 Corinthians 5:6-8 “To be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord.”

Helen is not lost. We know exactly where she is—safe in the arms of her Savior, whole and fully restored.

Today isn’t just a farewell. It’s a celebration of a life lived with purpose, and a homegoing into eternity. Helen’s story didn’t end with her last breath. In many ways, her story has just begun.

I. Jesus Prevails Over Death

John 14:1-6 gives us powerful promises: “Let not your heart be troubled... I go to prepare a place for you...”

Jesus took the fear out of death. He faced it head-on and overcame it. And because He lives, those who trust in Him will live also. Helen understood that. The many talks we had, we talked about her faith, I would ask her “who is Jesus Christ to you?” She would tell me that He is her savior, He died for me. Helen know and she had this confidence in Christ and Heaven that waited for her.

She didn’t dwell on the hardship she faced, she had this uplifting attitude about life. Helen faced health problems such as the lose of her sight and whenever I would visit her at home she walk me around the house showing pictures of her family and while I would try to guide her, she wouldn’t let me. She would take my hand and lead me from one room to another, showing me a picture on a shelf, or one hanging on a wall.

She would tell me what the picture was, who was in it and the stories behind them. While she couldn’t see where she was going, she knew how to get to where she needed to be. Helen’s faith was no different. She knew how to get to where she needed to be and that way was Jesus Christ.

Death was not the end for Helen. It was a doorway. And today, she is more alive than ever before—free from pain, free from weakness, free from the limitations of this world.

II. Jesus Prepares a Place

Revelation 21:4 promises, “And God will wipe away every tear... there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying...”

No more doctor’s visits. No more struggles. No more blindness. Her eyes—once dim—now see with perfect clarity. And the very first thing she saw was the face of Jesus. Imagine that moment.

Jesus didn’t just prepare a place for Helen—He welcomed her into it. He was waiting for her. Arms open, heart full. That kind of love is beyond words. A love that covers every regret. A love that heals every wound. A love that says, “Welcome home, my child.”

IV. Jesus Is the Only Way

Jesus said in John 14:6, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.”

Helen didn’t just know about Jesus—she knew Him. She trusted Him as her Savior. She understood that eternal life isn’t something we earn—it’s a gift we receive by faith. That was her quiet confidence, and today, it’s her glorious reality.

John 3:16-18 says it clearly: “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son... that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”

Helen believed. And now she lives. Forever.

So let me ask you—how about you? One day, each of us will come to the end of our journey on this earth. When that day comes, will you be ready?

Helen was ready. She faced life and death with the confidence that only comes from knowing Jesus. And now, she has entered into her reward. You can have that same peace. That same hope. That same eternal promise.

Look to Jesus—the only Savior, the only Way, the only Truth, the only Life.