Thank you, our dearest Edna!

The contrast was strikingly clear. Imagine our brother, Nong Joseph as black coffee, Edna as cream. Ebony and ivory.He—funny and loud;she—shy and soft-spoken.Nong Joseph and his jokes always make people stay up to listen to him till the early hours of the morning. Tall, lovely, mestiza Edna catches everyone's admiration for her beauty but she preferred to stay in the background with her home as her kingdom. She never allowed anyone to leave her home without eating her delicious food—her karekare remains everyone's favorite !!!!

While seemingly so different, Nong Joseph and Edna shared much in common: They were born on the same day and year, March 18, 1946! They worked in the same office where they first met, fell in love and married on their birthday!

They both loved this song of Johnny Matthis: "My love for you is deep and endless as the sea, strong and mighty as a tree, My love for you. My eager heart keeps beating just for you alone,Since the moment it has known, My love for you…"

On their wedding day, this was their theme song: "You and I will travel far together, We'll pursue our little star together, We'll be happy as we are together, We may never get to heaven,But it's heaven, at least to try—You and I are going on together, "'Til the time we have is gone together, …You and I!"

They were each other's greatest love! Nong Joseph hugged a smiling Edna ever so tightly until her last breath, in the loving presence of their sons, Jem and Jex( and wife Amadel) and grandchildren, Avery, Austin and Jacinda at 1 a.m.last Christmas eve.

"She chose to join the Lord the day before Christmas," my grieving brother Joseph shared. Prayerful Edna wanted all her loved ones to remember and focus on God's message and gift for all on Christmas Day—because He loved us so much, He gave us His only Son to die for us so that we will all be saved and restored to God back in His home, and His eternal love, rest, and peace!

God bestowed Edna the greatest gift before Christmas: He asked Edna to join Him forever in His eternal home, with faith that God will continue to take care of Nong Joseph, her sons and her apos and everyone in her family.

Thank You, our dear Lord, for sharing Edna with us. Thank you, our dearest Edna, for your deep love for us all! We love you so deeply.

Edna's sister, Lulu, brother Abet, and the rest of the Trias family from America, had planned to spend Christmas, New Year, Sinulog and a wedding even in Bohol to be near Edna whose loving heart had grown weaker and weaker. Together with them, our family and all else touched by Edna's love and care, we will send her off home to the Lord today after the 1p.m. mass at Cogon Shrine.

With much pain and sadness, we join Nong Joseph, Jem, Jex and the rest of our family lift you up, our dear Edna, to God for eternal rest and peace! Eds, you will forever be with us, thank you for your love for our family!

"I miss my grandma," Avery and Austin repeated at her wake. "She was the light of my life,"9-year-old Austin shared. "Yeah, my flashlight," joined 12-year-old Avery. Reminded that their grandma will always be with them, Austin replied, "yes, here" as he gently touched his heart.

‘Thank You, our dear Lord, for sharing Edna with us. Thank you, our dearest Edna, for your deep love for us all!

We love you so deeply.’