Margaret Moles
September 28, 1945 - May 01, 2017
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Margaret Moles
September 28, 1945 - May 01, 2017
Obituary
Margaret Ianne Gorsuch Moles, age 71, was freed to rest in the loving arms of our Savior on May Day, 2017. The daughter of Ted and Bernice Gorsuch in Ferndale, WA, she grew up in a vibrant, loving family consisting of 5 brothers and a sister. Margaret remained closely devoted to her siblings and extended family throughout her lifetime. Family reunions and time spent together were cherished beyond measure. Her greatest joy and life’s calling was as a mother and grandmother. The love she expressed for her children and grandchildren was unconditional and imprinted on their character. Generations to come will be blessed. Margaret was a gifted lay-minister and was visionary in her ability to see the needs of those who were overlooked. Her humility, thoughtfulness and opened-minded approach to ministry touched people from all walks of life. A generous smile and warm conversation indeed were her hallmarks. With a witty-humored twinkle in her eye she was “clothed with strength and dignity; she laughed at the days to come.” Margaret was an educator and scholar, holding a bachelor’s degree in biology, a teaching credential from Western Washington University, and a Master of Divinity from Princeton Theological Seminary. In her spare time, she loved long walks filled with lively conversation, time spent with family at Birch Bay, and all things Scandinavian in accord with her Norwegian heritage. She was an avid reader, writer and learner who loved sharing her ideas on building life-giving communities of faith. Margaret was faithful, courageous, long suffering, and intelligent, remembered for her beautiful singing voice and hilarious sense of humor. Her laugh was contagious. Perhaps one of Margaret’s own reflections captures her philosophy best, “The perils of easy solutions and sentimental ideas haunt me. I believe we need, as a community of faith, to come together in those reflective times provided by waiting, to study, question, discover and formulate judgements about how to live out our faith. Through the work of the Spirit, I believe such preparation provides hope that we can indeed go forth as God’s people in service and love of our neighbors, proclaiming the Good News of salvation through Jesus Christ.”
She is survived by her daughter, Suzanne and husband James Stratford; son, John and wife, Anathea; grandchildren Johännah, Carolyn, Avah, Isabelle, Owen, Suzanne, Lillian, John, Theodore, Winston, and Hosännah; sister, Miriam; brothers Harvey, Gary, Charlie, Doug, and Kurt; and numerous other relatives and friends.
Services will be held on Friday, May 5, 2017. Funeral Mass at 9:00 a.m. at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Bellingham. Visitation at 2:00 p.m. at Moles Farewell Tributes – Greenacres, 5700 Northwest Dr. Ferndale. Graveside Service at 3:00 p.m. at Greenacres Memorial Park. Celebration of Life and Reception at 4:00 p.m. at Moles Farewell Tributes – Ferndale, 2039 Main St. Ferndale.
Celebration Of Life
- Date & Time: January 1, 1970 (12:00 AM)
- Venue: Moles Farewell Tributes - Ferndale
- Location: 2039 Main St Ferndale, WA 98248 - (Get Directions)
Funeral Mass
- Date & Time: May 5, 2017 (12:00 AM)
- Venue: Sacred Heart Catholic Church
- Location: 1110 14th Street Bellingham, WA 98225 - (Get Directions)
- Phone Number: (360) 73-4-2850
Graveside Service
- Date & Time: May 5, 2017 (12:00 AM)
- Venue: Greenacres Memorial Park
- Location: 5700 Northwest Drive Ferndale, WA 98248 - (Get Directions)
- Phone Number: (360) -38-4-3401
Visitation
- Date & Time: May 5, 2017 (12:00 AM)
- Venue: Moles Farewell Tributes - Greenacres
- Location: 5700 Northwest Dr Ferndale, WA 98248 - (Get Directions)
15 responses to Margaret Moles
Ron Hitzler says:
May 1, 2017
I just stumbled on Margaret’s Obituary by accident. I met Margaret two years ago on an Amtrak train from Washington to Chicago (we live in Cincinnati, OH and were traveling back from a vacation). We chatted for many, many hours (you know she had plenty of stories, and a fabulous sense of humor). She was certainly a complex person in a very positive way. I never really understood just where she lived (Washington or Pennsylvania or both) – I guess part of her intrigue. For sure she was a very spiritual person. I really came to love her during our continuous conversations during our three days on the train. We would always meet in the Observation Car. We were actually 8 hours late arriving in Chicago, late at night, and of course no place to sleep and many of us stranded until the next day. So they detached a sleeping car from another train and let all of us sleep in it until the next morning – Margaret was right across from us. She could turn anything into an adventure. We kept in touch for awhile through her almost daily spiritual blogs, and then they just stopped coming. I always looked forward to these and to her wisdom – it was really nice just to hear from her. I really missed her when we parted.You can imagine my shock when I typed her name in Google – “just to see” and found her obituary. I guess I wasn’t surprised, though, of the strong feelings I had when I read this and how touched and sad I was. Isn’t it funny how close you can feel about a person after only three days. She was a very special person (didn’t take three days to see that), always a minister first, and always a sincere love for those fortunate enough to have crossed her path. We talked at length about charitable endeavors we were both involved with, and I can remember telling her about my involvement with the Dress For Success charity in Cincinnati that provides job readiness training for disenfranchised women and then providing suits and shoes for their interviews. We were joking but she told me that if she was dying she would send her shoes to me for these women and then we both laughed – I would have never imagined. (We’re the same age). I loved seeing the memorial video – she was a passionate and happy person who loved life and God’s many gifts and who gave back far more than she took. I am deeply saddened and will miss her I hope family finds solace in knowing that she certainly had a seat on the express elevator to heaven. Very best. Ron Hitzler, Cincinnati, Ohio ronhitzler@gmail.com
geneva ,pat lane, uncle john victor says:
May 1, 2017
may god walk with you, alway have love. hugs. kisses. prays.now is an angel take care of us.
Bud Granger says:
May 1, 2017
Bob, Kathy, extended family;
So very sorry to hear of Margaret’s passing. What a sweetheart she was an how loved. Our hearts ache for all of you and you are in our every thought and prayer. Love, Bud and Laurel Granger and family.
Vernie West says:
May 1, 2017
It was John’s and my treasure to have known Margaret.
Jeff McSorley says:
May 1, 2017
My most sincere sympathy and prayers go out to the entire Moles and Gorsuch families. I have many fond memories of Margaret from school and our Church Road neighborhood. I know she will be missed greatly!
Sincerely,
Jeff McSorley