Posted on 03/01/2014 9:38:25 AM PST by Gamecock
MOSCOW, Idaho — Longtime church-goer Gert Rizzoli was so devoted to her spot in the pew at Featherside Congregational church that when she passed away last month, her family received permission to bronze her body and set it in the pew. Now, to the consternation of some church members, her body is permanently located in the aisle seat she occupied every Sunday for forty years.
“She loved gazing at the pastor from that spot, being the first in her row to receive Communion, having quick access to the bathroom,” says daughter Sofia. “It gave her a sense of deep, spiritual comfort.”
But fellow church-goers also remember Gert’s stiff response to anyone who tried to take her place.
One man was shooed away by Gert on several occasions when he arrived early and inadvertently took her spot, he says. Now the bronze statue serves as an irritating reminder of the encounter.
“It’s like she’s still there defending her seat,” he says.
When church members enter the sanctuary now, they can’t help but catch the glare of light off of Gert’s bronzed pate. Visitors find it inconvenient to climb over her, and children have stubbed their toes on her hardened shins.
“She was a Christ-like lady, except when it came to giving up that spot,” says a family friend. “She had a real sense of her turf. To her, it was like the Israelites: Once you get land, you don’t give it up.”
Pastor Len Kerralt, who agreed to the odd memorial, looks upon Gert’s frozen smile each Sunday from the pulpit.
“It’s nice to know at least one person is enjoying the sermon,” he quips. But others still mumble about the nuisance.
“What if more people request the same thing?” one woman asks. “Pretty soon the church will be filled with bronze statues.” •
Sorry about that Gamecock, I just realized you were also the original poster. My bad!
Sorry ‘bout that.
I did do a search!
“She was a Christ like lady”
Yah...right.
That is one jacked up church.
This reminds of a recent senior who passed away, and was buried astride his Harley.
Just too creepy! :-D
I have decided to donate my body to a medical school. Far better to use this body to teach future doctors than to do something as silly as this.
lol.
We’ll know next summer when people in the first few rows say “Pew!”
At least he was buried on his Harley and not permanently parked on it sitting at his favorite gas pump.
Her family doesn’t get it...It ain’t about her.
She won’t have far to travel on The Last Day.
How can he say that? The bronze head thing is looking away from the pulpit.
Does the head rotate?
OK...that is just creepy. A good Christian would realize their heavenly worth is in the soul, not the body.
That looks like Hillary sitting with the squatter.
No problem for a Lutheran church, except for funerals and Baptisms. Nobody wants that seat.
“Mardon me, padam, but this pie is occupewed. May I sew you to a sheet, or would you rather take a chew in the back of the perch?”
- Rev. William Spooner, 1891
OMG! I find all of the life like bronze statues of people mostly children creepy but this has to be the worst!
I am changing churches!
At least he was buried on his Harley and not permanently parked on it sitting at his favorite gas pump.
_____________________________________________________
Very true!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.