Lethika Raveendran Richter-Addo (no network) wrote on Nov 19, 2007 at 9:42 PM.
It's not easy to write this as there's so much to say. I don't where to start and how to put it perfectly, so I'm just going to do it since there's never going to be perfect way just the best I can do right now Frances hosted my engagement party at her wonderful house. How blessed am I! On top of that, she was so generous about it like I was part of her family. She made my parents feel so welcome and loved, even though that was the first time they had met! That is just the way she is. Her humility and dedication to Baha'u'llah is out of this world! I am truly blessed to have known her. Thanks Frances for being a great role model! I love you!!!!!
Post #3
Steve Sewell (no network) wrote 11 hours ago.
Here are two of many loving memories. Many people lived in the Coley home as they adjusted to various new stages of their lives. I lived in D.C. during the 60s - never in the house, but once between apartments I had a night with noplace to stay. Everything I owned was in my car. I drove around for a long time looking for an appropriate spot to park. When I got to 16th Street I parked on the side street by Coley's and spent the night on the porch on one of the lawn chairs.
When I woke up I discovered someone had covered me with a blanket. Needless to say I felt loved!Some years lagter after leaving D.C. I was back for a visit and Frances fixed me the best breakfast I have ever had. As she was doing this she stopped and said: "I don't know if you are my Son, my Brother, or my Friend or all three. But whatever you are, you're mine and I love you." Those beautiful words and the blanket that was placed over me that chilly night will always warm my heart. (Steve Sewell)
Tuesday, November 27, 2007
Tuesday, November 13, 2007
Vignettes of Frances read at the celebration to honor her life
Frances Elizabeth Coley
(read by Carol and Steve Coley)
Words that describe her: Devoted to family, committed co-worker, gracious host, loyal supporter, humble servant, and ardent in her love for Baha’u’llah and the Baha’i Faith. Loving, humble, pure-hearted, caring, supportive, sharing, very considerate of others, thoughtful, empathetic, high work ethic, patient, industrious, determined, persevering, quietly pursues her goal until it is accomplished
Born in Washington, DC May 19, 1920 Frances Elizabeth Masciana was born to
Peppino Masciana and Ouida Marshall Masciana
She has one older brother, Andrea P. Masciana and one younger brother, Peppino Masciana. They moved to Reggio di Calabria, Italy in 1923 and returned to USA in 1930. She has lived in Washington, DC – East Texas, PA and experienced the “one-room schoolhouse”, despite family and teachers who believed girls should not be in school, but rather should be at home helping there.
Her father passed away when she was quite young and her mother worked hard as a single mother to provide for her 3 children. She trained them in life skills she saw as necessary to them being as independent as she thought they would increasingly need to be. Thus the boys learned to sew, cook, clean house as well as their sister, and she learned to work with electric wires, paint walls, and fix things around the house.
In her early years, she was home schooled; later she received her high school diploma in Washington, DC. Frances took care of her children’s education and wellbeing before she became a student again – matriculating at the University of the District of Columbia at 77. She graduated in 1997 with a B.A. in Paralegal Studies, cum laude! She was the oldest member of her class!
We are so very proud of her!
Vignettes
Born here in the Washington, DC area in 1920, Frances’s father moved the family back to his home in Reggio di Calabria, Italy when she was a small child. They lived there several years, then returned to the United States. Her young life was permeated with classical European music – her Dad was a barber who sang opera and her Mother played the piano. Mom said when her Mother played the piano and her Father sang, people passing by would stop outside the window of their home to listen. She, of course, developed a deep appreciation for it and later, with sacrifice and patience, made sure her own children were exposed to classical music and trained on some instrument. .
At that time the economic climate began to get very bleak; work was difficult to find for her Dad and so they moved around a bit, even to a little town in Pennsylvania called East Texas.
Although she experienced racism full force, Mom never let that decide for her what her skills, strengths and aspirations should be. Schools for children of parents of African descent, she said, trained the students to be servants as that was the expectation. So it was that every day after school, Mom would go to work for someone, cleaning their house, cooking their dinner, etc., then come home and do her homework.
To make a long story short, Mom set her sights on more interesting job opportunities and landed a position in one of the administrative offices of Howard University. Later, she worked at the Afro-American Newspaper and lastly for several law firms. She managed the law office for many years and when she had to leave in order to care for her husband, C.C. Coley, the firm hired three people to handle her job responsibilities.
She became aware of the Baha’i Faith in 1949 when her older brother, then an airplane pilot in the U.S. Air Force, returned from overseas and brought with him some pamphlets he picked up on a stopover in Chicago on his way home. In the early 1950’s she was the first in the family to become a Baha’i. Later her mother became a Baha’i and steered the rest of us to the right path.
What was her most sincere desire and still is? To tell an interested someone about her beloved Baha’i Faith. Whenever representatives of other Faiths would come to our door, Mom would receive them warmly and lovingly and she would get them to agree to listen to what she wanted to share with them as well. Often, they decided quickly that that would not be acceptable to them and went on their way. When we lived on Randolph Street, our next door neighbor became a Baha’i. During one of the visits of one group of missionaries, the party left our house and went next door to give the “Good News”. A few minutes later, our neighbor came over and asked Mom what had she told that poor man? The neighbor said that when she told the gentleman et al she was a Baha’i, he began to twitch and act nervous and quickly took his leave.
Mom loves people!! She loves to host them in her home. And so it was a precious bounty for her to receive the Baha’i friends, particularly if they were new to the Faith or from some other place in the world. Our lives were so enriched by our guests and it was hoped that they, too, had been uplifted on the wings of joy and friendship. We heard reference more than once about the Coley hotel. She made it a policy to receive kinfolk and ‘Baha’i family’ whenever possible. It was especially sweet to her to have her dear Iranian brothers and sisters. As a result, she has ‘children’ from near and far. I remember coming home after 4 years pioneering in South America. The first night at home Mom was hosting a fireside. People began to arrive and they greeted her with such a feeling of familiarity, even calling her ‘Mom’. At that time I was feeling a little annoyed that all these people were calling my Mom, “Mom’. And I didn’t even know them! Once she agreed to have several Japanese pilots over for dinner. At the end of the evening, she said one of them said that if they had known there were kind people like her, they would never have taken on the missions that they did.
When the Baha’i Center was severely damaged by fire, it became necessary to cease all activities there until renovation could be completed.
So Frances Coley offered her home to serve temporarily as the meeting place for the Baha’i Community. During that time, Hand of the Cause of God, Dr. R. Muhajir came to Washington, DC and, of course, a gathering was arranged. Dad, who was not yet a Baha’i, but a serious businessman, came home and found that the first floor was full of people. He went downstairs to the basement door and found that the basement was also full of people. He went back to his office, called mom and told her he was going to stay there for a while because he couldn’t get into the house. He just wanted her to let him know when he could come home and get in.
Dad was surprising. When he first learned that his wife had become a Baha’i, his response was ‘what is that?’ and he was not at all impressed with her choice. As time went on and he continued to meet the friends, he became ever more supportive of any and all of Mom’s participation in community activities. He often supplied the refreshments for large gatherings and let his vintage car be used in parades and for transporting people and things. He owned several restaurants and at any time Mom was having dinner with him and someone would stop at the table to chat, he would introduce them to Mom and ask them, “Do you know about the Baha’i Faith? Let my wife tell you about it!” Much later he became a Baha’i!!
Shortly after becoming a Baha’i, she was voted onto the Local Spiritual Assembly – a membership which was repeated for the next several decades. Her service on that esteemed body as Secretary for those many years came to an end when she resigned due to family matters. Still she served the community as Librarian until 2005 and managed the Book Store for several years at DaySpring Baha’i Summer School.
Along the way she was a member of the team that identified the current Baha’i Center as suitable; was the official representative Baha’i ‘Marriage Bureau” person for several years; chose to attend the University of the District of Columbia for the sole reason of starting a Baha’i student organization on campus; sang with the Washington Metropolitan Baha’i Chorale for a while - base!!!: participated in all teaching campaigns possible, e.g., street teaching in this city, and being part of holiday celebration activities in nearby communities, such as in parades; hosting firesides, Ruhi sessions, special occasions; Aide to Zylpha Mapp Robinson who ran a 5-week summer day camp at the Baha’i Center for 3 years that the neighbors remember until this day!!; she is a firm supporter of the Capitol Area Baha’i Property on the Potomac River.
She attended the 1992 World Congress in New York City; a Baha’i international conference in Sapporo, Japan; visited the Baha’i House of Worship in India and even got to serve as a guide there; attended the 50th wedding anniversary of her very dear friends, Henry and Sheila Dolphin, in Barbados where members of the party from Washington were interviewed by one of the major newspapers there and a well-written article with reasonable and accurate information about the Baha’i Faith appeared in the next day’s edition.
The time has come when we have been graciously blessed with being able to serve her, who for so long has given so much to so many. She is still an inspiration – her modus operandi is; everything, including herself, must have a useful purpose.’ and that purpose must, in the end, lovingly serve Baha’u’llah.
We recently came across a piece of paper on which handwritten is her answer to the three most important things in her life: her Faith, her family, and to handle money wisely!
(read by Carol and Steve Coley)
Words that describe her: Devoted to family, committed co-worker, gracious host, loyal supporter, humble servant, and ardent in her love for Baha’u’llah and the Baha’i Faith. Loving, humble, pure-hearted, caring, supportive, sharing, very considerate of others, thoughtful, empathetic, high work ethic, patient, industrious, determined, persevering, quietly pursues her goal until it is accomplished
Born in Washington, DC May 19, 1920 Frances Elizabeth Masciana was born to
Peppino Masciana and Ouida Marshall Masciana
She has one older brother, Andrea P. Masciana and one younger brother, Peppino Masciana. They moved to Reggio di Calabria, Italy in 1923 and returned to USA in 1930. She has lived in Washington, DC – East Texas, PA and experienced the “one-room schoolhouse”, despite family and teachers who believed girls should not be in school, but rather should be at home helping there.
Her father passed away when she was quite young and her mother worked hard as a single mother to provide for her 3 children. She trained them in life skills she saw as necessary to them being as independent as she thought they would increasingly need to be. Thus the boys learned to sew, cook, clean house as well as their sister, and she learned to work with electric wires, paint walls, and fix things around the house.
In her early years, she was home schooled; later she received her high school diploma in Washington, DC. Frances took care of her children’s education and wellbeing before she became a student again – matriculating at the University of the District of Columbia at 77. She graduated in 1997 with a B.A. in Paralegal Studies, cum laude! She was the oldest member of her class!
We are so very proud of her!
Vignettes
Born here in the Washington, DC area in 1920, Frances’s father moved the family back to his home in Reggio di Calabria, Italy when she was a small child. They lived there several years, then returned to the United States. Her young life was permeated with classical European music – her Dad was a barber who sang opera and her Mother played the piano. Mom said when her Mother played the piano and her Father sang, people passing by would stop outside the window of their home to listen. She, of course, developed a deep appreciation for it and later, with sacrifice and patience, made sure her own children were exposed to classical music and trained on some instrument. .
At that time the economic climate began to get very bleak; work was difficult to find for her Dad and so they moved around a bit, even to a little town in Pennsylvania called East Texas.
Although she experienced racism full force, Mom never let that decide for her what her skills, strengths and aspirations should be. Schools for children of parents of African descent, she said, trained the students to be servants as that was the expectation. So it was that every day after school, Mom would go to work for someone, cleaning their house, cooking their dinner, etc., then come home and do her homework.
To make a long story short, Mom set her sights on more interesting job opportunities and landed a position in one of the administrative offices of Howard University. Later, she worked at the Afro-American Newspaper and lastly for several law firms. She managed the law office for many years and when she had to leave in order to care for her husband, C.C. Coley, the firm hired three people to handle her job responsibilities.
She became aware of the Baha’i Faith in 1949 when her older brother, then an airplane pilot in the U.S. Air Force, returned from overseas and brought with him some pamphlets he picked up on a stopover in Chicago on his way home. In the early 1950’s she was the first in the family to become a Baha’i. Later her mother became a Baha’i and steered the rest of us to the right path.
What was her most sincere desire and still is? To tell an interested someone about her beloved Baha’i Faith. Whenever representatives of other Faiths would come to our door, Mom would receive them warmly and lovingly and she would get them to agree to listen to what she wanted to share with them as well. Often, they decided quickly that that would not be acceptable to them and went on their way. When we lived on Randolph Street, our next door neighbor became a Baha’i. During one of the visits of one group of missionaries, the party left our house and went next door to give the “Good News”. A few minutes later, our neighbor came over and asked Mom what had she told that poor man? The neighbor said that when she told the gentleman et al she was a Baha’i, he began to twitch and act nervous and quickly took his leave.
Mom loves people!! She loves to host them in her home. And so it was a precious bounty for her to receive the Baha’i friends, particularly if they were new to the Faith or from some other place in the world. Our lives were so enriched by our guests and it was hoped that they, too, had been uplifted on the wings of joy and friendship. We heard reference more than once about the Coley hotel. She made it a policy to receive kinfolk and ‘Baha’i family’ whenever possible. It was especially sweet to her to have her dear Iranian brothers and sisters. As a result, she has ‘children’ from near and far. I remember coming home after 4 years pioneering in South America. The first night at home Mom was hosting a fireside. People began to arrive and they greeted her with such a feeling of familiarity, even calling her ‘Mom’. At that time I was feeling a little annoyed that all these people were calling my Mom, “Mom’. And I didn’t even know them! Once she agreed to have several Japanese pilots over for dinner. At the end of the evening, she said one of them said that if they had known there were kind people like her, they would never have taken on the missions that they did.
When the Baha’i Center was severely damaged by fire, it became necessary to cease all activities there until renovation could be completed.
So Frances Coley offered her home to serve temporarily as the meeting place for the Baha’i Community. During that time, Hand of the Cause of God, Dr. R. Muhajir came to Washington, DC and, of course, a gathering was arranged. Dad, who was not yet a Baha’i, but a serious businessman, came home and found that the first floor was full of people. He went downstairs to the basement door and found that the basement was also full of people. He went back to his office, called mom and told her he was going to stay there for a while because he couldn’t get into the house. He just wanted her to let him know when he could come home and get in.
Dad was surprising. When he first learned that his wife had become a Baha’i, his response was ‘what is that?’ and he was not at all impressed with her choice. As time went on and he continued to meet the friends, he became ever more supportive of any and all of Mom’s participation in community activities. He often supplied the refreshments for large gatherings and let his vintage car be used in parades and for transporting people and things. He owned several restaurants and at any time Mom was having dinner with him and someone would stop at the table to chat, he would introduce them to Mom and ask them, “Do you know about the Baha’i Faith? Let my wife tell you about it!” Much later he became a Baha’i!!
Shortly after becoming a Baha’i, she was voted onto the Local Spiritual Assembly – a membership which was repeated for the next several decades. Her service on that esteemed body as Secretary for those many years came to an end when she resigned due to family matters. Still she served the community as Librarian until 2005 and managed the Book Store for several years at DaySpring Baha’i Summer School.
Along the way she was a member of the team that identified the current Baha’i Center as suitable; was the official representative Baha’i ‘Marriage Bureau” person for several years; chose to attend the University of the District of Columbia for the sole reason of starting a Baha’i student organization on campus; sang with the Washington Metropolitan Baha’i Chorale for a while - base!!!: participated in all teaching campaigns possible, e.g., street teaching in this city, and being part of holiday celebration activities in nearby communities, such as in parades; hosting firesides, Ruhi sessions, special occasions; Aide to Zylpha Mapp Robinson who ran a 5-week summer day camp at the Baha’i Center for 3 years that the neighbors remember until this day!!; she is a firm supporter of the Capitol Area Baha’i Property on the Potomac River.
She attended the 1992 World Congress in New York City; a Baha’i international conference in Sapporo, Japan; visited the Baha’i House of Worship in India and even got to serve as a guide there; attended the 50th wedding anniversary of her very dear friends, Henry and Sheila Dolphin, in Barbados where members of the party from Washington were interviewed by one of the major newspapers there and a well-written article with reasonable and accurate information about the Baha’i Faith appeared in the next day’s edition.
The time has come when we have been graciously blessed with being able to serve her, who for so long has given so much to so many. She is still an inspiration – her modus operandi is; everything, including herself, must have a useful purpose.’ and that purpose must, in the end, lovingly serve Baha’u’llah.
We recently came across a piece of paper on which handwritten is her answer to the three most important things in her life: her Faith, her family, and to handle money wisely!
Frances is a poet!
Here are two poems written by Frances Coley.
"Following are some thoughts on the understanding of one indiividual as to the meaning of:
1) PURITY OF MOTIVE.
By "Purity of Motive", do you wonder what is meant?
To me, it means most nearly, "Honesty of intent;"
Did I mean it when I said it, Did I do it from my heart,
And not have some hidden purpose that I later do impart.
Purity of motive is serving in every way I can.
Without seeking something back from any other man.
Neither "thanks," nor reward, no return should be sought
Or the service is not "given" and truly comes to naught.
F.E.Coley
2) RADIANCE OF SPIRIT
Troubles build character; polish up the heart
To be radiant of spirit is mankind's part,
Mankind's cheerful humble submission
Of his will to God's Will,
No matter what the condition
Radiance of spirit can be demonstrated
By treating problems lightly, as if understated,
By taking time to chant or quietly read a prayer
Then feel the weight of troubles lift, layer by layer.
Being happy and content will create an inner glow
And the RADIANCE of SPIRIT will shine, and gleam, and glow!"
F.E.Coley
"Following are some thoughts on the understanding of one indiividual as to the meaning of:
1) PURITY OF MOTIVE.
By "Purity of Motive", do you wonder what is meant?
To me, it means most nearly, "Honesty of intent;"
Did I mean it when I said it, Did I do it from my heart,
And not have some hidden purpose that I later do impart.
Purity of motive is serving in every way I can.
Without seeking something back from any other man.
Neither "thanks," nor reward, no return should be sought
Or the service is not "given" and truly comes to naught.
F.E.Coley
2) RADIANCE OF SPIRIT
Troubles build character; polish up the heart
To be radiant of spirit is mankind's part,
Mankind's cheerful humble submission
Of his will to God's Will,
No matter what the condition
Radiance of spirit can be demonstrated
By treating problems lightly, as if understated,
By taking time to chant or quietly read a prayer
Then feel the weight of troubles lift, layer by layer.
Being happy and content will create an inner glow
And the RADIANCE of SPIRIT will shine, and gleam, and glow!"
F.E.Coley
song dedicated to Frances
video of Dorothy Odulate's song dedication. Click once or twice on the arrow below Dorothy's photo below to watch the video.
Thursday, November 8, 2007
photos slideshow
click on the link below to see photos from the celebration. It will pop up on another Internet window and will take some time to load up. Once it is up, click the button on the right that says "play" to start the slideshow.
http://www.kodakgallery.com/Slideshow.jsp?Uc=n8c53e5.7botpfxl&Uy=-e4d198&Upost_signin=Slideshow.jsp%3Fmode%3Dfromshare&Ux=0&mode=fromshare&conn_speed=1
http://www.kodakgallery.com/Slideshow.jsp?Uc=n8c53e5.7botpfxl&Uy=-e4d198&Upost_signin=Slideshow.jsp%3Fmode%3Dfromshare&Ux=0&mode=fromshare&conn_speed=1
Tuesday, November 6, 2007
Join our Facebook group to see videos and photos of the special event held for Frances.
For friends and family of Frances Coley, please note that we have set up a group on Facebook add your stories to our compilation. Here are the instructions to see it.
Go to http://www.facebook.com/ and sign up for a new account. You will need to put in some personal info but if you do not want this published, just put there do not publish. Once you get a Facebook account, make sure you look for the group "Sharing memories of the Coley Residence" and join that. If you want to join and have difficulties, just send me an email at laina@getit.org and highlight that you want to join the Facebook group.
If you still have difficulties, you can also add your stories by submitting comments to these posts on this blog.
Letter to Frances Coley from Shoghi Effendi, Guardian of the Baha'i Faith
Israel,
October 7,
1955
Miss Frances E. Coley,
Dear Baha'i sister,
Your letter of August 12th has been received by the beloved Guardian; and he has instructed me to answer you on his behalf.
We are assured that this is a new, different era. Whatever has been given us the Writings of Baha'u'llah and Abdu'l-Baha is sufficient to protect and preserve the unity and integrity of the Faith.
If we look to our fellow-believers, we are likely to disappointed at times; because Baha'is are not perfect, but are consistently striving toward greater perfection.
There exists in the Faith a perfect safeguard for its protection in the station of the Guardianship. We should center our thoughts on the beloved Guardian, and squarely face him. He is the "sign of God" on earth. BY doing this, we can best carry forward our work for the Faith, and our own personal lives on a constructive basis.
You should not feel depressed; but be confident that the Cause of God is fully guarded and protected, through its God-given Institutions, against any unscrupulous practices of men.
With warm Baha'i greetings,
R.Rahbani
Drawing you of my loving prayers for your success & spiritual advancement.
Your true brother,
Shoghi
MOTHER'S DEAR FRIEND
Memoirs written by Juanita Torrence-Thompson
Dear Frances,
I am so sorry, I cannot be there on this APPRECIATION OF FRANCES COLEY DAY, but when you feel a gentle breeze, a shaft of light from the sun, or a drop of rain, please know that my family -HUGH, DEREK and I- are there with you in spirit on this glorious day.
I will never forget your genuine kindness and what a wonderful friends you were to my mother, DR ZYLPHA MAPP-ROBINSON. She always spoke so admiringly, respectfully, and lovingly about you. I was happy when I met you to learn that you did indeed live up to my mother's verbal potrait of you.
As I got to know you better, one of your humorous expressions stuck in my mind, "It's more than a notion," as Frances Coley often says. I always attribute that to you and then I chuckle admiringly.
Well, dear Frances, it was more than a notion when God created you. The world sorely needs more kind, selfless, loving, hard-working people like you to turn this world arouund. KEEP YOUR WONDERFUL, HUMANE, UNIQUE WAYS. There is only one Frances Coley, but the world is a better place because you are here.
Here is a poem, "MOTHER'S DEAR FRIEND" which I wrote about you. This is in my new book, NEW YORK AND AFRICAN TAPESTRIES.
LOVE,
Dear Frances,
I am so sorry, I cannot be there on this APPRECIATION OF FRANCES COLEY DAY, but when you feel a gentle breeze, a shaft of light from the sun, or a drop of rain, please know that my family -HUGH, DEREK and I- are there with you in spirit on this glorious day.
I will never forget your genuine kindness and what a wonderful friends you were to my mother, DR ZYLPHA MAPP-ROBINSON. She always spoke so admiringly, respectfully, and lovingly about you. I was happy when I met you to learn that you did indeed live up to my mother's verbal potrait of you.
As I got to know you better, one of your humorous expressions stuck in my mind, "It's more than a notion," as Frances Coley often says. I always attribute that to you and then I chuckle admiringly.
Well, dear Frances, it was more than a notion when God created you. The world sorely needs more kind, selfless, loving, hard-working people like you to turn this world arouund. KEEP YOUR WONDERFUL, HUMANE, UNIQUE WAYS. There is only one Frances Coley, but the world is a better place because you are here.
Here is a poem, "MOTHER'S DEAR FRIEND" which I wrote about you. This is in my new book, NEW YORK AND AFRICAN TAPESTRIES.
LOVE,
JUANITA TORRENCE-THOMPSON
November 3rd, 2007
MOTHER'S DEAR FRIEND
By Juanita Torrence-Thompson
Frances,
an omnipresent rock
lined with silk,
a steadying force
when my stepfather died.
My mother broke her ankle,
but after nurse and aides left,
Frances, small yet strong,
ferried food upstairs,
shopped, ran errands,
said *Baha'i prayers with her.
Frances,
pivotal for mother's surprise birthday party
kept our long-distance secret,
--opened up her home---
rolled up her sleeves,
chopping, dicing, baking
charming us with her fresh,
enigmatic smile, sense of humor.
*The Baha'is believe in the oneness of humankind. Baha'u'llah, Founder of the Baha'i Faith, brought teachings to spiritualize mankind.
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