Carol Lynne Verhagen Douglas

Carol Lynne Douglas

Born February 29, 1948

Passed away April 20, 2011

Beloved wife of Stephen Douglas

Wonderful Mother of Lea Anne Murphy (Raleigh), Jodi Reiswig (Raleigh), and Andrew Strauss (Maryland). Loving sister to Lee Verhagen, Tina Brosig, Fred Webb, Jim Webb and Robert Webb. Caring Grandmother of eight Grandchildren. Preceded in death by her loving parents, Willard (Nicholas) Webb and Elaine Webb. In our hearts she will forever be, in God's arms she will forever rest.

She was not only a beautiful wife, a precious Mother and a great sister, she was our best friend.

Forever loved and missed deeply.

"If I should ever leave you whom I love, to go along the silent way, grieve not, nor speak of me with tears, but laugh and talk of me as if I were beside you there.

(I'd come-I'd come, could I but find a way!

but would not tears and grief be barriers?) And when you hear a song or see a flower I loved, please do not let the thought of me be sad...

For I am loving you just as I always have... You were so good to me! There are so many things I wanted still to do-so many things to say to you...

Remember that i did not fear...it was just leaving you that was so hard to face...We can not see Beyond...

but know: I loved you so-'twas heaven here with you!"

-Isla Paschal Richardson

Visitation Tuesday April 26, 2011 from 6:00pm to 8:00pm at Apex Funeral Home, 550 W. Williams Street, Apex, NC 27502.

Funeral Mass 11:00 AM Wednesday April 27, 2011 at St. Andrew Apostle Catholic Church, 3008 Old Raleigh Road, Apex, NC 27502.

A reflection of Carol and her passing from this life to another.

4-21-2011

Carol , a beloved wife, mother, grandmother, sister and friend, was called home on April 20th, 2011,

to enter into her heavenly home, from her familiar home, a place of great love and

family.

Carol, who anticipated dining with her husband at noon,

instead now dines with Jesus, her Bridegroom in the Banquet Halls of Heaven.

Carol died the day before the celebration of the Institution of the Holy Eucharist,

is now called into the full communion with Jesus in heaven and rests her head tenderly in His

loving bossom.

Carol and Steve heeded the Lord’s command to love and serve one another;

their marriage a symbol of God’s love for his bride. “ Where charity and love are found, there is God.”

Because of the love they shared, Carol was prepared; she had no difficulty recognizing the God of

love when he came for her.

Carol anticipated an outing to the bookstore with her beloved daughters,

sharing a mutual joy of the written word;

instead found total satisfaction in the Eternal Word, Jesus.

Carol, who so grieved her own mother’s passing, is comforted not only by the reunion with her mother,

but is likely comforted by the Blessed Mother, who cared for her soul to be ready for full communion

at this time with her son.

Carol who was preparing to celebrate the Passion and Resurrection of our Lord within just a few days

here, now finds herself instead entering, with all clarity, into the full reality of his Passion of love

for her. A love that raises her up to himself, through his life, death and resurrection in the joys of

heaven.

Carol, who would have received communion the very next day, has entered into the reality of love and

fullness of life with Jesus,

no longer bound by earthly separation. As scripture assures us, “Nothing can separate her from the

love of God.”

Carol, as a mother, herself, would beckon us to ready ourselves for such a grand moment,

as when the invitation of Christ beckons us.

Surely it would be nearly impossible to resist or refuse the intoxicating call of the overwhelming love

and mercy, beauty and goodness of so great a lover who sweeps the heart and soul of his beloved

into the tender and sacred heart of his bossom.

Perhaps Carol looked back at what she would be leaving behind and we can imagine her concern for

her loved ones. To that concern, her Lord addressed, and assured her, they will be in His care and

he will allow her to help them come to Him some day in such a manner as this.

The One who loved her more than she could ever hope to love in return, has called her to Himself,

a jealous lover, her Creator and King, her Beloved, her Bridegroom, her Beloved Word of Goodness and Truth.

To this God of Love, how could she refuse?

- Eileen Spenla (Sister in-law)