Posted on 03/01/2014 9:38:25 AM PST by Gamecock
MOSCOW, Idaho — Longtime church-goer Gert Rizzoli was so devoted to her spot in the pew at Featherside Congregational church that when she passed away last month, her family received permission to bronze her body and set it in the pew. Now, to the consternation of some church members, her body is permanently located in the aisle seat she occupied every Sunday for forty years.
“She loved gazing at the pastor from that spot, being the first in her row to receive Communion, having quick access to the bathroom,” says daughter Sofia. “It gave her a sense of deep, spiritual comfort.”
But fellow church-goers also remember Gert’s stiff response to anyone who tried to take her place.
One man was shooed away by Gert on several occasions when he arrived early and inadvertently took her spot, he says. Now the bronze statue serves as an irritating reminder of the encounter.
“It’s like she’s still there defending her seat,” he says.
When church members enter the sanctuary now, they can’t help but catch the glare of light off of Gert’s bronzed pate. Visitors find it inconvenient to climb over her, and children have stubbed their toes on her hardened shins.
“She was a Christ-like lady, except when it came to giving up that spot,” says a family friend. “She had a real sense of her turf. To her, it was like the Israelites: Once you get land, you don’t give it up.”
Pastor Len Kerralt, who agreed to the odd memorial, looks upon Gert’s frozen smile each Sunday from the pulpit.
“It’s nice to know at least one person is enjoying the sermon,” he quips. But others still mumble about the nuisance.
“What if more people request the same thing?” one woman asks. “Pretty soon the church will be filled with bronze statues.” •
Lark News Ping
My gosh, to think her future over the next 50 years before they burn her for the metal will be to have her butt screwed into a church pew. What a literal pain in the @ss!
Poor thing, no rest even in death.
Maybe she has no right to get buried till she comes up with the proper estate taxes.
Uhm, too creepy for words.
I’m not the least bit squeamish but that’s creepy. I’d find another church.
That’s just weird enough that it could be true, I wonder how many people you’re going to catch with this fish story... :)
I agree. The idea that she would shoo people out of that spot and now her body is there forever is just wrong in so many ways.
Three or four so far.
They bronzed her body or did a bronze of her body. Is her body in there?
You can say that again...
Ok, a plaque on the back of the seat would have been just as nice...
It looks like she was always expecting rain.
This “graven image” is not appropriate in a worship setting.
Did they let the pigeons in yet?
Pews are for the living, those people that still need/want to be at church.
And while people may have favorite spots in church, you can’t just demand someone give up their spot for you if they get there first. That’s not what going to church is all about. If that’s your number one issue you’re kind of missing the point about being there in the first place.
The church members should insist on a SlowPoke bill.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/3128191/posts
You’re gonna need a bigger net.
Can't be sure until the summer heat.
that’s what I’m asking! There’s a skeleton under that bronze????
That’s beyond horrible!
And boat.
Guys, this was posted here on FreeRepublic back in 2007.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/1781569/posts
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