09/08/2026
With a heavy heart I have to announce to you about sudden passing of Nicole Kathrine Larson.
https://www.kurtzmemorialchapel.com/obituaries/nicole-larson
Our community has been wounded by the recent sadden passing of Fr. Howard and Fr. John and now we hear of passing 22-year-old Nicole.
These are not simply stories we hear about. These are human lives. They are spouses, sons and daughters, friends, classmates, neighbors, and beloved children of God.
And so today, before anything else, we pray.
We pray for those who are suffering.
We pray for those whose hearts are broken.
We pray for the families who are asking questions for which there seem to be no answers.
And we pray for those who have died, entrusting them to the mercy and love of God.
The Church does not respond to tragedy with condemnation. She responds with prayer.
Our Lord Jesus Christ tells us, "Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest."
There are burdens that become so heavy that a person can no longer see a way forward. Addiction can become a prison. Depression can become a darkness. Despair can convince a person that there is no hope and that no one cares.
This is why today we pray!
We do not judge; we do not spread gossip. We do not try to guess why.
We simply pray asking Christ for his mercy and love.
We do not know the secret judgment of another person's soul.
Only God knows the depths of a person's suffering. Only God knows the final thoughts of the heart. Only God knows the battle that someone may have fought in silence.
Therefore, let us be very careful with our words.
Let us not say, "They were weak."
Let us not say, "They should have known better."
Let us not gossip about their final moments.
Let us not turn someone's tragedy into a scandal.
Instead, let us say:
"Lord, have mercy."
"Lord, receive Your servant."
"Lord, comfort the family."
"Lord, forgive us our sins."
And let us remember the words of the Psalmist:
"The Lord is near to those who have a broken heart."
The Christian life is not about pretending that everything is fine.
It is about bringing our wounds to Christ.
It is about confession.
It is about repentance.
It is about forgiveness.
It is about carrying one another's burdens.
St. Paul tells us, "Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ."
This is our calling now.
Let us pray for forgiveness—not only for the sins of those who have died, but also for ourselves.
"Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy upon us."
Let us pray for the young people of our community.
May God protect them from addiction, despair, exploitation, violence, and hopelessness.
May He give parents wisdom and endurance.
May He give friends courage.
May He give our young people the strength to ask for help.
May He give our Church the humility to listen.
And may He give us all the grace to recognize that every human being standing before us is an image of God.
Today we entrust Nicole, her young soul to the infinite mercy of God.
We do not pretend to know what belongs only to God.
We pray. We mourn. We remember and we hope!
Because our faith is ultimately not in death.
Our faith is in Jesus Christ, who entered into death and conquered death.
Christ is risen!
And because Christ is risen, despair does not have the final word.
Death does not have the final word.
Sin does not have the final word.
The final word belongs to God.
And God's word is life, mercy, forgiveness, and love!!!
And may our Lord Jesus Christ, the Physician of our souls and bodies, grant rest to newly departed Nicole, comfort to Ted, Karen and Naithan, healing to those who are suffering, strength to those battling inside wars and despair, forgiveness to us sinners, and peace to this entire community.
Nicole is in peace now.
For You are our resurrection, our life, and our hope, O Christ our God, and to You we give glory, together with Your eternal Father and Your all-holy, good, and life-giving Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages.
Amen.
Fr. Vasyl
View Nicole Kathryn Larson's obituary, send flowers, find service dates, and sign the guestbook.
