In Loving Memory of
Patricia S. Antonas
[October 2, 1949 ~ April 2, 2011]

To those who knew my sweet wife, she was better known as “Trish”.

There is a beautiful story of her when she was a child. One day her mother had just finished shopping and paying for the groceries, and as Trish was sitting in the cart of groceries she would say … “Hi man! Hi lady!” as people walked by. When her mom was not aware of it, Trish was breaking bread and handing out parts of the groceries to give them away. This image depicts her whole life – constantly displaying acts of kindness and generosity. She had such a sweet, sweet spirit, and I was most privileged to be her husband from July 22nd, 1978 until April 2nd, 2011 when she died.

On a consistent basis, whenever we had enough money, she would be writing out checks to give and bless others. On occasion I would ask her if she didn’t mind reducing the amounts, reminding her of some of our own pressing needs. I cannot tell you how much her heart always blessed me.

She had a powerful encounter with the Holy Spirit in 1969. Trish often described the incident saying … “I instantly knew that Jesus was the Son of God!”

She was amazingly unselfish, and spent ample amounts of time praying for others and myself. She always wanted to think the best of others, and thoroughly enjoyed telling others how special they were. She was also beautifully specific as she encouraged others with her words.
Particularly over the last 12 years, although challenged with bouts of death numerous times, serious illnesses and physical challenges, she kept her heart sweet and tender towards God and people. I cannot tell you how many times she complemented doctors, nurses and medical assistants while she herself was seriously ill, even facing possible death. I clearly remember her first serious operation in 1999, when she regained consciousness and began to tell some of the nurses how pretty they were, or how cute their nails were done, etc. (doing so while she had an open 15-inch surgical wound that was very large and deep).

Anyone in Trish’s presence long enough would be encouraged that they were very, very special. Even on this last bout facing death, as the 911 ambulance workers were carrying her out of the house on a stretcher, she smiled at them all while she herself clearly appeared seriously ill. After the ambulance arrived at the hospital, I was at the back of the ambulance to see her as the back doors were opened to transport her to the Emergency Room. It was then that she smiled at me and said … “Elias, these people are so good!”

Even as she was nearing death in ICU, gasping for her life wearing an oxygen mask at 100% capacity (pulmonary failure and lungs holding large amounts of fluids), her spirit was the sweetest I had ever experienced. In some of our final words to each other, I told her how much I loved her, and through her gasping she so sweetly told me … (“I love you too”).

As she passed on to heaven Saturday afternoon, 4:22pm, even in death there was a mighty presence of God’s peace and sweetness that filled the room. Before leaving the ICU, one of the nurses asked me if I would like to remain with her body for a while. I said … “No thank you, that’s not her, she’s gone to be with the Lord” . I departed with deep pain in my heart, yet mixed with joy and happiness knowing that she was finally free. Her liberty is my healing.