Homily: 4-15-2023, Funeral, Joesph Vanlent

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 Joseph Vanlent, a faithful friend, a beloved brother, a holy man.

Mother Angelica said, “Where most men work for degrees AFTER their names, we work for one BEFORE our names: 'Saint'. It's a much more difficult degree to attain. It takes a lifetime, and you don't get your diploma until you're dead.”

In my opinion, our dear Joe has surely attained the saint title to his name, don’t you agree? All of us gathered here are truly blessed to have known and shared life with him. And it is an honor for me to preside over this memorial mass.

I have only known Joe in the past two years, but I have learnt a lot from him. Joe lost his mother when he was only four years old, and as a little boy, he was very much attached to his elder sister who was like a mother to him. He enjoyed helping her in the kitchen and doing household chores. Then at 15, he was diagnosed with diabetes, and at the age of 30, he started losing his sight. He had to give up the family farming operations and moved to Des Moines to be trained in the Dr. Jergans program for the blind. Joe had since trained around 30 other people how to live with blindness.

When he first knew he had diabetes, the doctors told him he would live up to 60 only, but Joe lived till 83 with us. He didn’t let the disease decide his life, he gave his life to God. He lived responsibly and was full of life, radiating positive vibes to people around him.

When I first visited Joe and Lora, I was impressed and inspired by their cheerfulness, positivity and love for each other. Lora shared that it was Joe who woke early every morning to prepare coffee for her.

Even though he lived in physical darkness, light was shining through him. It was a joy to be in his company. He loved St. Ambrose parish and was proud to be an active member in the Knights of Columbus. When our parish children and youth needed support, Joe and Lora were always there to send them to CYC camps and other activities.

One great lesson I learned from Joe is patience. The last five months of his earthly life were spent in and out of hospitals and nursing homes. He was in great pain, but he remained composed and at peace with everything and everyone. Joe never complained about anything to me. He was very thankful for all the blessings God had given him and was full of joy.

From the first reading, "The souls of the just are in the hands of God and no torment shall touch them." Joe’s health situation was tormenting, but it didn’t seem to shake his peace nor his faith. Like St. Joseph, our brother Joe was a just man, obedient to God.


There is this wonderful quote, ‘What we are is God’s gift to us. What we become is our gift to God’. Joe’s gift to God is the beautiful life he lived despite the challenges.

Joe is taken into heaven, we bid him farewell for now and pray for his soul. We also ask him to pray for us, that we may learn from his life how to be positive, joyful and faithful in the face of darkness and difficulties.

When we meet him again in heaven, he will recognize every one of us, because he had known us not by sight, but had felt us with his heart. Amen.


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