Meselech Nadew's Obituary
Meselech was born on October 9, 1966 and passed away on Friday, December 3, 2010. Mesi has lived an amazing life and even though it was too short -it was a great life. She was a person who stood by you when you needed somebody to be there. Mesi was a great sister and daughter. Mesi was a great friend. One day recently, I had started crying in front of Mesi and she told me gently but firmly, “please don’t cry….I have had a great life”. That was Mesi- she cared about your feelings seemingly more than she cared about her own. What is it that we remember when we think of Mesi? In the last few years, I have been trying to make the adjustments that we all try to make to become a better person. A couple of months ago, I posted the listed virtues put forward by Benjamin Franklin -the great American philosopher, Statesman and Christian” – as I was preparing for this eulogy, staring at the wall, my heart hurting, I, by chance glanced at the wall where I had posted this list and yelled “Yes ! I am able to SUM UP why it is Mesi was the most honorable person I have ever met because she embodies this list–if you went down this list, you could check every one of the virtues” 1. TEMPERANCE. Eat not to dullness; drink not to elevation. 2. SILENCE. Speak not but what may benefit others or yourself; avoid trifling conversation. 3. ORDER. Let all your things have their places; let each part of your business have its time. 4. RESOLUTION. Resolve to perform what you ought; perform without fail what you resolve. 5. FRUGALITY. Make no expense but to do good to others or yourself; i.e., waste nothing. 6. INDUSTRY. Lose no time; be always employed in something useful; cut off all unnecessary actions. 7. SINCERITY. Use no hurtful deceit; think innocently and justly, and, if you speak, speak accordingly. 8. JUSTICE. Wrong none by doing injuries, or omitting the benefits that are your duty. 9. MODERATION. Avoid extremes; forbear resenting injuries so much as you think they deserve. 10. CLEANLINESS. Tolerate no uncleanliness in body, clothes, or habitation. 11.TRANQUILLITY. Be not disturbed at trifles, or at accidents common or unavoidable. 12. HUMILITY. Imitate Jesus and Socrates Yes, It was her sense of honor and integrity….. To put in my own way – “Mesi was a right on person with a ton of class-someone who you could trust – A true Christian- (repeat) true Christian” As many of you are – I am very sensitive to people who tell people they are Christians and yet don’t live their lives as Christians. Mesi embodied Christianity with every breath and step she took. She was always so cheerful as well. Every single time it snowed in Washington DC I would call her. It was kind of an inside joke that we had–you see. I loved the snow and Mesi hated the snow. Hated it ! So, every Winter I would check the weather reports in DC and when it snowed – I would call her —and she knew why I was calling–she would pick up the line and would laugh for what seemingly was 5 minutes of straight GIGGLING & laughter…even if she was at her job – and we all knew how straight forward Mesi was when it came to her responsibilities ….she would answer the phone and still let out this sort of giggling laugh….It was that trademark Mesi “giggle” that we will all miss. It brought comfort. It was full of love. Again, she was a selfless person and so honest. A couple of years back we went to see a movie-in choosing the movie beforehand-Mesi insisted that I choose the movie that I wanted to see….she insisted…over and over. Of course, I picked some sort of political thriller…Mesi sat through the movie….so happy that I enjoyed it…a smile on her face throughout….later, over a cup of coffee I asked her if she liked the movie….she simply responded…”NO” …..but said so with a smile on her face…..she was simply happy because I enjoyed the movie- the fact that I she didn’t like it wasn’t important as long as I enjoyed the movie -that was what made her happy- that was Mesi. Mesi could make me laugh when I am really sad. Mesi always cheered me up when she knew I just had a bad day. That was her trademark. She always wanted to make people happy. I remember when I received the news that Mesi had passed, I simply could not believe it. Mesi was too young but as it slowly occurred to me I have realized that Mesi indeed lived her life wonderfully. Mesi was well-loved and she had done so many things on earth. I will forever be grateful to have known Mesi. I will forever be grateful that Mesi was there at the right place and at the right time to help facilitate my marriage to her sister Gelila. I will forever be grateful for spending 5 years of my life with a beautiful person like her. All the memories I have shared with her will forever be cherished and remembered. Mesi will forever live in my heart… in our hearts and our souls. Mesi is in heaven now and we are here on her funeral. This is not the time for us to grieve her death but it’s our time to celebrate her life. She never wanted to see people cry. She wanted to make everyone happy. So at this moment when we are about to lay her body to rest, let’s all think back and remember how she touched our lives. How she made us laugh and how good Mesi was as a person. This is not the moment for us to shed our tears but we should all be thankful that we were given the chance to have known her. Meselech Nadew will forever be missed. Jeffrey Pilch (Brother-in-Law)
What’s your fondest memory of Meselech?
What’s a lesson you learned from Meselech?
Share a story where Meselech's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Meselech you’ll never forget.
How did Meselech make you smile?