“NO father is supposed to bury their own children. But God’s plan is different.”
These were the parting words of Joseph Rodan, in delivering the eulogy at the funeral of his son and namesake at the Immaculate Conception Parish in Lami yesterday.
Also known by many as “JJ”, he was 48 years old and his father told mourners how hard it was for him to accept the loss.
“No father is supposed to bury their own children; that’s what they say. But God’s plan is different; that is a human being’s plan.
“We are not supposed to bury our children.”
For the senior Rodan, losing his son also meant losing a third family member as his wife Rosa and son Richard “Ricky” Rodan had passed prior and the emotional toll had weighed heavily on him too.
“I’m very old and it’s tough – it’s hard. It’s an experience that I don’t want any fathers to go through,” he lamented. He also reflected on the profound impact his namesake’s passing had left upon him in consideration of the Roman Catholic values they espoused.
“We believe that life in this world is limited. When you come into this world, you are given a mission, a mission by God to do what you have to do,” Rodan told the gathering.
“And once you have completed your mission, the good Lord takes you back to His kingdom.”
“JJ” is survived by his father, his brothers Stino and Jason, his wife Samantha and his six children Joseph, Samson, Noelahni, Nathaniel, Maximus and Hezekiah. The late Rodan Junior passed away last week after battling an illness and his funeral service was attended by a multitude of mourners ranging from family, friends and former scholars of Marist Brothers High School.
Eulogies were delivered by close family members and for the Marist Old Boys by classmate Clyde King. The celebrant of the funeral service was Rev. Fr. Aisea Muavesi.
Rodan was laid to rest at the Lovonilase Cemetery in Suva.
