In Memoriam

Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints. (Psalm 116:15)

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Roseta Olivia Harris, 87, fell asleep in the Lord on April 10, 2014.  She emigrated from Barbados, West Indies, in 1965.  Gifted with a heart of compassion, she was the nanny of children in New York City and in Kansas, and helped the elderly in various ways.  She was “grandma” for many of her grandchildren’s peers, as well as in the our congregation of St. Matthew.  She is survived by her daughter, Norma, grandchildren, Michael and Joy, and great-grandchildren, Kaya and Micah.

Rev. Paul Edward Schulze, 88, of Ocala was called to eternity on February 13, 2014 at his home. Born in Depew, NY he retired to Ocala 23 years ago from New York City. He was a US Navy Veteran of WWII, retired Pastor of St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church, New York City (1967-1990) and a member of St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church in Ocala. He was a devoted volunteer, along with his wife Gertrud, at Hospice of Marion County and Church Without Walls prison ministry. Paul was devoted to his family and was a humble servant of the Lord. He is survived by his loving wife of 51 years, Gertrud; children, Clement (Becky) Schulze of Minneapolis, MN, Claudia (David) Freudenburg of Ocala and Christoph (Sheryl) Schulze of Brooklyn, NY; siblings, Gertrude Tilton, Irene (Wilbur) Erhardt, Robert Schulze and Anita Polubinski; sister-in-law, Bonita Schulze; grandchildren, Nicholas, Jack, Emmi, Esther, David-Paul, Lydia Joy and many beloved nieces, nephews and extended family members.

We are thankful to God for the life of service of Pastor Schulze to his holy Church and to our congregation.  Well done, Paul, thou good and faithful servant.

We thank You, O Lord,  for Pastor Paul Schulze and all who faithfully shepherded Your flock here on earth.  Grant that we, too, may be faithful unto death and receive the crown of life.  (Lutheran Service Book, Pastoral Care Companion, p. 119)

Elizabeth Dotter Schlenker,  100. Missionary to Guyana (Dec 6, 1912 – Sept 29, 2013) was called home to be the with Lord after 100 years of living in the baptismal grace of her Savior, Jesus Christ. In 1970, at the age of 58, she embarked on a missionary work of love in the Christian Education Department of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Guyana (ELCG) where for twelve years she taught and wrote Sunday School curriculum for the local church as well as a three-year Proclamation Series commentary on the Lectionary.  She was honored by Muhlenberg College for her work in Guyana with a Doctorate in Education.  We thank God for her life of service to His church and to the ELCG for blessing us with her gifts.

Pastor Lynell Hampton Carter  was called to glory (Aug ’13) after  fulfilling his Call of faithful service in the divine Ministry of Word and Sacrament to the Lord’s Church.  He was the Pastor of Bethany Evangelical Lutheran Church in Yonkers, NY for many years and most recently was the Pastor of St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church of Tremont in The Bronx. He retired in May 2012. Well done thou good and faithful servant, Pastor Carter. 

We thank You, O Lord,  for Pastor Lynell Carter and all who faithfully shepherded Your flock here on earth.  Grant that we, too, may be faithful unto death and receive the crown of life.  (Lutheran Service Book, Pastoral Care Companion, p. 119)

Wayne Rudy (June 8, 1947 – April 16, 2013) was called to glory after 43 years of faithful service to Lutheran schools – Redeemer, Queens (2000-2013), St. Matthew, Manhattan (1975-2000), and St Mark, Brooklyn (1970-74).

Paul Callwood (June 28, 1941 – April 16, 2013) was called to glory and now rests from his labors.  He worked at the Lutheran Social Services of New York for 29 years before he became ill, which led to his passing.  He was the father of Kathleen Archibald and grandfather of Kamryn Archibald.

Norma McNeil, 94, was called to glory on Jan 30, 2013, ending her pilgrim journey here on earth to her eternal home prepared by Christ Jesus, our Lord.   Born in Mobile, AL, she settled in NYC as a teenager and worked in the book binding industry until her retirement. She was a faithful member of St. Matthew for many decades.