Eulogy for Mom: Sharon Elaine Agriesti

On behalf of our family, I want to thank you all for being here today to celebrate the life of our beloved Sharon Elaine Agriesti—our Mom, Nonna, Wife, Sister, and Friend. Your presence, prayers, and love mean more to us than words can express.

The whirlwind of Sunday and the hustle of Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday finally ended. The logistics involving the funeral home, florist, cemetery, church, music, printer, popcorn, finance, and restaurant had been finalized. At last, I sat down on Thursday afternoon to gather my thoughts and prepare for this moment of reflection. Initially, I struggled to form a complete sentence. Inspiration struck from the trend emerging from the more than 100 comments on Mom’s Facebook obituary post.

What others Thought (VIA FACEBOOK)

Denice said — was a true angel, loving and giving in all she did.
Anna said — She was beautiful in every way—so loving, sweet, smart, industrious, a hard worker who couldn’t stay retired.
Florence said — The world was a better place because of Sharon.
Mike M said — She was the sweetest person on this earth and always had kind words for me.
Ali said — I feel lucky that I had the chance to know her and experience the love and kindness she shared with everyone she came across.

Love and Compassion

So, how do you sum up the life of someone so full of love, kindness, generosity, and faith? Mom wasn’t just special to us; apparently, she was special to everyone she met. She had a way of making people feel seen, included, loved, and valued. Mom invested in people, whether through a warm meal, a listening ear, or a bit of guidance that helped shape their future. She was the kind of person who would give without hesitation and love without limits. Mom did it out of compassion rather than for fame, glory, or attention.

Family

One of the greatest joys of her life was family. If you were blessed to sit at her table, you knew the joy of our Sunday dinners—a tradition lasting over 30 years. In the early years, it was either a home-cooked meal at her house or Grand China, where the staff knew our orders when we walked in. And every Sunday, her grandchildren were getting another special gift from Nonna. In recent years, we have eaten out more often than at home, typically at a different restaurant every week. I am positive many of you have seen the family huddle in the foyer every Sunday as we debated where to go.

However, no matter what was going on in life, we always knew there would be good food, laughter, and the warmth of home at the table with Mom. She loved to feed people—both physically and spiritually. Holidays were always meaningful, not because of gifts, but because of the love she poured into making every moment special.

Work

Mom also loved The Ohio State University—maybe even more than she loved us—not really. She was a season ticket holder for football for a long time. For many years, she and I had a tradition of attending the season’s first football game together. However, she always clung to the Michigan tickets until the last minute, debating whether she wanted to brave the cold. Those moments cheering for the Buckeyes were some of our best. Even when she wasn’t in the stadium, you could bet she was watching the game, probably coaching from her chair while folding laundry. Meanwhile, David tolerated her excitement with opera and a good pair of headphones.

Faith

More importantly, Mom was a woman of great faith. She spent over 50 years serving at Calvary Apostolic Church, touching lives with her kindness and unwavering belief in God’s goodness. She filled many roles through the years, and the one with the most tenure was the time spent sitting in the finance office processing the Sunday offering, balancing the finance sheet, and preparing the deposit. Interestingly, it was also in that office where she developed a working relationship with that eligible bachelor who had yet to be caught. Then, thanks to Robin, David joined a lunch table that one momentous Sunday afternoon with Mom.

Not to digress in further. Mom lived her faith—not just in words, but in action. She reached out to widows, lifted the weary, and reminded us of the power of love and perseverance. Even through hardship, she never lost hope or drive. Her life was a testament to one of her favorite songs, The Goodness of God. She knew that through every trial and triumph, God was faithful.

Survivor

If there was ever a phrase that summed up Mom’s spirit, it was, I will survive. Life, for Mom, wasn’t always easy, but she faced every challenge with strength and resilience. She worked hard—right up until the day she entered the hospital. She taught us that perseverance and hard work matter and that no obstacle is too great with God, faith, and determination.

Conclusion

As I sat in my office chair, reminiscing about Mom and all the stories I could share—like her constant home improvement projects or her adventurous spirit dragging David all over the country and around the world—I decided to focus on the essence of my mother. See, Mom gave us a legacy: a legacy of love, of faith, of family, of hard work, and of strength. If she were standing here today, I know she would tell us to keep going, to work hard, and to take care of one another. She would want us to carry forward the love she so freely gave, to keep the traditions alive, and always to remember that no matter what, we will survive.

Mom, we love you. We will miss you every day, but we will carry you in our hearts, our Sunday dinners, our love for others, and every Ohio State game we cheer on. Your God-given goodness lives on in all of us.

I love you, Mom.