11/14/2023
Veisinia Tule Vi Taufa’ao or “Vei “ as most would know her, was an alumni of Queen Salote College & Sia’atoutai Theological College. Premier schools of the Free Wesleyan Church of Tonga where they emphasize the proper formation of the Three Fold Life (Body, Mind, & Soul) and dedication to serving God with all of one’s ability in whatever capacity they are called to. A tenacity born of being the eldest daughter of a Pastor, and nurtured in her upbringing and schooling, one hallmark of many, in a life of teaching and service. She was a loving daughter, sister, mother, grandmother, a loyal friend, a talented seamstress, and a dedicated teacher among many things. Her heaviest burden and greatest impact, besides within her family, was her church. Whether it was at Colton United Methodist where she was an integral part of planting the church, and raising generations of lay leaders, lay speakers, clergy, and Sunday school teachers, or later in life when she felt called to return to the Free Wesleyan Church, where she was a founding member of the Siasi Uesiliana Taua’taina o Tonga-Imanuela (SUTT Imanuela) serving as the Lay Leader, a Sunday school teacher and a Lay preacher until the day she was called to rest in our Lord’s embrace.
No matter where Vei served in ministry, her calling to teach the youth and young adults shined. She was firm and honest, some would say to the point of being blunt. Though it was this same honesty which proved her authenticity of faith without pretension. It was the discipline of a mother’s love with the hope that her teachings, disciplined faith and honest dedication would be an example her students would follow and find their own faith and relationship with Christ as Lord & Savior. Vei was a blessing, not only to her family but the countless mothers’ she took under her wing as a mentor, the students, who became her children, and all who served with her in ministry throughout her life.
“Vei, you kept the faith, fought the good fight, and finished the race of life. May you rest in Our Lord’s embrace, peacefully assured of resurrection & the day you will receive your crown with all the saints of Heaven.
May God also grant Pepe, Malia, Mapui, and all the family comfort and peace with confidence in all that Veisinia Tule Vi Taufa’ao has left them in this life, in preparation for the next.”
