Victoria Loli
June 18, 2020 - October 11, 2012

"Simon, I was very saddened to hear about your loss. May the love of God embrace you and your family in the tough moments and may you rejoice in all of the wonderful memories of such a wonderful spirit.I can't believe so much time has passed since we hung out and I first met your Mother. I actually think of those times we had dinner and played music at your place often because we live in Mt. Lebanon now and pass your street often. Even though I had only spent a few evenings with her and your family, I distinctly remember the first impression I had of how vibrant, elegant and just plain fun she was. You and your family were so unique and welcoming that those memories have always stuck with me. Good times!Your eulogy was very uplifting. Thanks for sharing. It is no surprise that a common thread in these comments is your Mother's unique charisma and spirituality. You and your family are truly blessed to have had that kind of inspirational soul in your lives.My thoughts and prayers are with you.Bob"

"Victoria Loli...I was so sad to hear of her passing!! I worked with Simon and had the pleasure of meeting her a few times. The times I saw her, I knew she was special! She had an amazing presence about her and she felt like an angel. She was bright and her spirituality shined through her. Simon and Julia lost their mother too early, but I know her spirit lives inside each one of them!! I feel fortunate to have met Vicky Loli and when I see her picture instead of sadness I feel happy. She was a beautiful woman who touched the lives of many around her!!! Her spirit continues to live!! I send my love and thoughts to her family."

"I recognized that Vicki was a truly special person from the first moment I met her. She projected such a positive and caring vibration which could be felt by all who were in her presences. I felt very lucky to have gotten to know her.. I will always have nothing but positive thoughts and memories when thinking about her. She obviously has a special place in heaven given how passionately and positively she lived her life while on earth. Her spirit is always with us!"

"I met Vicky by chance one day soon after I returned to the States after working in the Middle East and Eastern Europe for over a decade. She was such a dynamic personality, bright, articulate, and knowledgeable of the peoples and cultures of the world that to be in conversation with her was so very stimulating. She was a woman with strong opinions, ideals, and conviction. I always looked forward to our times together. But the one thing that stood paramount above all else for Vicky was the love she had for her Lord Jesus Christ. Our shared faith in Christ brought us very close together like brother and sister. She was ever amazed that Jesus loved her and all mankind enough to make the ultimate sacrifice to save us all from ourselves. To me Vicky was a female version of the Apostle Paul who wrote, "I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believes." Vicky was certainly not ashamed of the gospel of Christ and would boldly proclaim Jesus to anyone and anywhere. I remember on one occasion when we were waiting for an appointment in the lounge area of the county court offices - she began to engage those around us in conversation about Jesus and how she loved Him and what he meant to her and what he had done for her. And then went on to tell them all that He love them and had died to give them forgiveness and eternal life. You would have thought we were all in church. I will never forget these moments with Vicky. I miss her and always will, but with joy I will remember her now with her Lord and Savior, Jesus. See you later Vicky!A FriendJames Parrish"

"Victoria Loli is one of the most honest and brave woman I've had the privilege to know, and I'm a better man for it. Thank you Victoria. God bless you."

"She was and still is a very special lady and will be greatly missed by many but her wisdom, passion and spirit will be with us for a very long time. Alex"

"Simon and Julia,I had the blessing to pray by your mother's bedside right after she died. I really felt that her spirit was still in the room so Techie and I prayed the Divine Mercy Chaplet for the repose of her soul.During our prayer time, I had a vision of a woman clasping your mother's hands and gently placing them in Jesus's hands. She was handing your mother over to Him. I know that this woman was Mary, our blessed Mother.Our Lord never refuses His mother's desires, so be at peace knowing that your dear and faithful mother was accepted by Jesus and welcomed into His eternal kingdom.Your mother is now praying for both of you and for your families.God bless you.Your friend in Christ,Judy DiPonioSt. Therese of Carmel"

"Below is Victoria's bio and eulogy that I read at the ceremony at St. Demiana Copt Orthodox Church on October 13, 2012:Victoria Emerhoum Hanna El Qommos was born in Cairo, Egypt--March 28, 1939 to Emerhoum Hanna El Qommos who owned a printing press and Aida Guirguis who was studying to be one of the first women doctors in Egypt.She grew up in a large and loving family, surrounded by grandparents Tafida Tedros and Antoun Guiguis, aunts and uncles who were painters, writers, archaeologists and scientists, cousins and her sisters Nadia and Juna and her brother Makram.She attended British Catholic schools and studied psychology in college. With her amazing talent for languages and pioneering spirit, she began working at airline agencies, but it wasn't long before this destined job set her on a more adventurous path. She traveled and worked in Austria, learning German overnight (among the Arabic, English, Italian, French and Spanish that she spoke).She confronted seemingly insurmountable obstacles and found gifts, opportunities, beauty and blessings in barren lands, thanks to the fearlessly positive attitude (and here she would remind me that it is the Lord who is giving her that, not herself) that we all know and admire her for. She trailblazed on to work and live on over 4 continents, countries including Tasmania, Australia, Zambia, Italy and the United States, jumping across oceans and boundaries with not an ounce of fear, always with an indefatigable enthusiasm and love of life.It was this attitude, guardian angels and ancestors watching over her in addition to her faith in the Unseen Hand of God maneuvering all that guided her.In her work life, she was incredibly organized, efficient, timely and responsible in all of her administrative posts and combined with her spontaneous, intuitive, courageous nature made for a woman of rare strength. Among all her journeys, she touched so many people's lives with her uplifting and tireless optimism. And I believe we will still be feeling the full impact of her spiritual strength working in each one of our lives for many years to come--like a star emitting light for innumerable years, like a wave of the ocean rippling out unseeable distances. And each of us, absorbing this beautiful energy will pass it on to the next and next and next, forever, perfect and everlasting.This is the proof of Power of the Holy Spirit. Just to let you all know, she disliked funerals and extensive mourning and morbidity, seeing them all as a weakness and a contradiction to her belief that the spirit lives forever and God reserving a place for us in His Kingdom of Heaven.She would want us to see this as a celebration of the journey to the One home of the Soul, God. She was truly a testament to the Power of Faith, praising Jesus during her greatest trials and believing with a burning passion that death is not the end, that suffering is worth it if only to bring people together in belief, praise and love--like Jesus Christ her beloved savior--, and that life is to be lived only full steam ahead, with the Holy Spirit coursing through it all. I think her greatest gift to the world was being proof of this Power of Faith. And like the most valuable gifts, it cannot be bought or sold, but is free, invisible and readily shared like a flame passed from candle to candle, like love passed from heart to heart, a life-changing idea passed from mind to mind and inspiration passed from soul to soul.This is the Power of the Holy Spirit.She has given us so many gifts of friendship, love, compassion, inspiration, dedication, support, ebullience, courage, hope, dynamism, rare conviction, beauty and resolve. As a mother, sister, aunt, mother-in-law, daughter and friend, you could always count on her to lift your spirits, encourage you and make you see the positive in whatever circumstance you faced. It was like having your own personal cheerleader.She was also a prize-fighter, a warrior, a muse, a force of nature, a fiercely independent, spontaneous, glamorous and headstrong woman, driven by her convictions and taking on more challenges than most of us could possibly imagine. The best gift we can give her in return is to ensure that we keep this positive mental attitude, this philosophical approach to life and especially to share generously the burning love of the invisible Force manifested in Jesus that made her a truly amazing woman. Her transition from this Earth to Heaven is much more important than the most that we can miss her in our lives. she is loved by all of her family, including:Her brother MakramHer children, Ingrid, Simon and GiuliaHer grandchildren, Isabella, Sofia, Meroe and MilaHer nieces Rania- who dedicated so lovingly her time to take care of her during her recent battles, Reem and Rasha.Her children-in-law, Morgan and CharisHer family in Egypt: Emad, Nancy, George, Moenes, Amel, Magad, Ines, Mohsen, Mango, Mamdouh, Christine, Marianna, Refaat and so many dear friends who are part of the family. +++ There is a very important event in her life that I'm sure she'd love to continue sharing: On September 28, 2009, Vicky had a very powerful dream that she felt compelled to share with whomever she met. She called it, 'Confession of the power of Christ'.She had this dream after reading the chapter before this one from the Agbeya "I will confess You, O Lord, with my whole heart, for You have heard all the words of my mouth. Before the angels I will chant to You. I will worship toward Your holy temple, and confess Your name, on acount of Your mercy and Your truth, for You have magnified Your holy name above all. The day in which I call upon You, hear me speedily; You shall exceedingly look upon my soul with power. Let all the kings of the earth, O Lord, confess You; for they have heard all the words of Your mouth. And let them sing in the ways of the Lord; for great is the glory of the Lord." --Agbeya (The Coptic Book of Hours), Midnight, The Third Watch, Psalm 137 (see attachment of mom's dream, "confession of the power of Christ, 9-28-09"----read all of it, if you can) (in case you don't have time to read it all, here's an excerpt) The message of her dream was:"WHILE YOU WERE GOING AROUND IN CIRCLES ACCOMPLISHING NAUGHT, WHILE YOU WERE GRIEVED AND DISTRESSED AND REFUSING TO LEAVE THIS WORRY TO ME, I WAS THERE ALL THE TIME WITH YOU, BUT YOU DID NOT ACKNOWLEDGE ME.OH LORD MY JESUS, I LOVE YOU DEARLY AND MAY I ALWAYS KEEP YOU IN FOCUS NEVER TO GIVE SATAN THE LIBERTY AND OPPORTUNITY TO SLAM ME TO THE GROUND. YOU ARE MY AWESOME LORD THAT I LOVE DEARLY, I WILL NEVER FORGET THIS DREAM AND THE HEALING POWER OF YOUR EMBRACE. AMEN.I AM WRITING THIS IN ORDER THAT I DO NOT FORGET THIS WONDERFUL EXPERIENCE." -- Vicky Loli nee' Emerhoum Hanna El Qommos And in keeping with the way she lived her life and beliefs, in full exclamation points!: "The Lord lives! Blessed be my Rock!Let the God of my salvation be exalted." - Psalm 18:46"

"It is indeed true that "the proof of the power of faith is the love of Jesus shining through you". Mom, you had such immense, relentless and powerful love for us and God and we are certain that you are in heaven happy as can be and watching over us. You are deeply missed but entering the gates of heaven is much more important than us missing you on this material earth. Please do not stop praying for us as we pray for you constantly. Love you more than ever. Your loving son."