March 2, 2021
We received very sad news Tuesday night; our dear friend and sister, Doina Haji, went home to be with Heavenly Father and our Savior, Jesus Christ.
She was gentle and kind and made others feel welcomed. She was hard working and shared what she had with others. She worked tirelessly taking care of her family and those she loved.
Diona had a strong testimony of the Gospel and was the most incredible mother as she raised her 3 beautiful children, by herself, with strong testimonies and a love of Jesus Christ and His Gospel.
Olfa Haji just returned from her mission in December; first serving in AZ then when Covid hit she came back to Romania and served faithfully in a couple different cities here in Romania. She is rock solid in her testimony and the most wonderful girl you could meet. She is now the District Young Women's President.
Nabil is such a great young man. He is a righteous priesthood leader in their home and would speak in church and prepare and pass the Sacrament. He will now take on even more responsibility as he helps his sisters through this difficult time.
It will be so difficult for all of them but Andreea was the baby and even though she is 19 she and her mother were so close. This loss is almost unbearable for her and she will have to rely on the Atonement of Christ and the complete comfort of the Holy Ghost to get her through this tragic loss. She teaches Sunday School at our YSA Branch and is a phenomenal teacher. This has shattered these kids into a million pieces.
Sora Haji loved President Rucker and even though she only got to meet him one time she treasured those moments and she had this picture displayed proudly in her home.
She loved all of the Branch activities and was always helping and doing what she could to make it good for others. She had many callings in the church and welcomed new people when they came to visit or attended the activities; she loved to share and talk about the the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Our hearts will continually be saddened with this unexpected news. Sora Haji was radiant and she touched many lives with her goodness. She was only 59 years old but had been suffering with some heart problems and diabetes. She was a bright light in this sometimes dreary world. How we will miss her.
Please keep this little family in your prayers. I have such a strong testimony of prayer and how as we pray and fast as a group the voices reach up to heaven and miracles take place. Our hearts are heavy for the loss that we are experiencing but more for these 3 beautiful children that now have this huge void in their lives.
The funeral was on Wednesday and because the orthodox morgue were the ones who came and took Sora Haji from her home, they had to have an orthodox funeral to begin with. It was very interesting and the service was mostly done in song. The two ecclesiastic men were dressed in long robes and had deep beautiful voices, Of course, Bill and I had no idea what they were singing but the missionaries could understand. When the men would say "Amin" the men would go around the room ringing their bells, we were expected to make the sign of the cross. None of us did, so the one man would sing louder and the other man would ring his bell harder. We wanted to be very respectful of their church and their practices but we also don’t use the sign of the cross to represent us taking upon our cross ~ we do this as we continually try to live as the Savior did, keep the commandments and be obedient to the covenants we made at our baptism. We celebrate His resurrection and rejoice in the fact that He Lives.
**If you’d like to read more as to why most LDS members don’t wear crosses, Elder Gregory A. Schwitzer explains it in his talk, "The Meaning of the Cross for Latter-day Saints". He gives a great explanation of it. https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/ensign/2011/07/the-meaning-of-the-cross-for-latter-day-saints?lang=eng
More information about the cross: https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/gs/crucifixion?lang=eng (click on “cross”) Mark 15:20–26, Matt. 26:26–28; D&C 20:40, 75-79
After the service we walked in a procession to the graveyard. I thought this was very nice. We followed the van, which was open so we could see sora Haji in the open casket and proceeded down the street. Nabil and his sweet aunt were in the very front and Nabil carried the wooden cross that goes on her grave, then the two robed gentlemen followed behind them then a few missionaries then the van, then Olfa and Andreea and the rest of us followed.
Once we got to the graveyard the men said a few things then they left and we were able to have our own little memorial service.
As Sora Haji watched over us all, I know this would be one of her favorite gatherings; her adorable children, her sweet sister and the missionaries. This was a time to celebrate the life of a remarkable woman: kind-hearted, talented, admired, unforgettable, fun-loving, funny, wonderful, well-loved, lovely, sweet, generous, one-of-a-kind, honorable, respected, caring, hardworking, strong, energetic and happy ~ this is Sora Haji.
I love this beautiful poem as it gives a great perspective of birth and death.
I Am Standing Upon The Seashore
by Henry Van Dyke, (sometimes attributed to Victor Hugo)
I am standing upon the seashore.
A ship at my side spreads her white
sails to the morning breeze
and starts for the blue ocean.
She is an object of beauty and strength.
I stand and watch her until at length
she hangs like a speck of white cloud
just where the sea and sky come
to mingle with each other.
Then, someone at my side says;
"There, she is gone!"
"Gone where?"
Gone from my sight. That is all.
She is just as large in mast and hull
and spar as she was when she left my side
and she is just as able to bear her
load of living freight to her destined port.
Her diminished size is in me, not in her.
And just at the moment when someone
at my side says, "There, she is gone!"
There are other eyes watching her coming,
and other voices ready to take up the glad shout;
"Here she comes!"
This is dying
This is birth
What is a sad and horrible time for us, is a beautiful and rejoicing time for her in the life hereafter. Knowing we will see her again is a sweet blessing and assurance of eternity. Heavenly Father’s plan can be confusing at times but we have the knowledge of being with her for eternity after our life on earth is completed. It doesn't make our time without her any less painful but gives us hope of a better day when we will have the opportunity to meet up with our loved one.
To Olfa, Nabil and Andreea, your Mama was an amazing lady and led a remarkable life. We feel privileged and so grateful that we had this chance to get to know her. We know you all will miss her so deeply. Our prayers are constantly with your family at this time and we’re wishing you moments of peace and comfort.
With deepest, heartfelt sympathy,
President and Sora Rucker, The Matthews, The Falsevs,
The Vogelbergs and all The Romanian Missionaries
