A vast crowd of people, including relatives, friends and spiritual children, went to give their final farewell to the mortal remains of Mr. Geo Bianchini Gianni, at the Monumental Funeral Chapel of the Eastern Cemetery between January 5th and 6th, 2017. Their hearts were divided by the sadness of his departure, and by the hope that, after having lived a virtuous and spiritual life, he would be in the Kingdom of God with his beloved wife, the servant of God Maria Esperanza Medrano Bianchini.
Eucharistic commemorations, prayers, songs and fraternal embraces were the consolation for all those who were present.
The teachings and example of Mr. Bianchini resonated in the words of many important personalities, who attended to give support to the Bianchini family.
“A goodbye that is a ‘see you soon’,” was part of the homily of Bishop Ovidio Perez Morales, bishop emeritus of Los Teques. “This Eucharist is a thanksgiving to God for the life of Mr. Geo, for what he was and did. His existence was an ecclesial service of evangelizing work, of example in the testimony of his life, for having been an axis with Maria Esperanza of a Christian family, very united, an example of what the family has to be as a mirror of the Holy Trinity. He was the axis of a family that was not only human, but also divine. To give thanks for he was the husband and companion of a great woman, a wife who was privileged by the Lord with manifestations of the Blessed Virgin Mary and of the Lord Himself; a person chosen, in body and spirit, to be a light of the world, and as Saint Paul says: ‘A good perfume of Christ.’ She illuminated and perfumed.”
Bishop Georges Kahhale, former Melkite Greek Exarch Catholic Bishop in Venezuela, exhorted the members of the Betania Spirituality Movement to continue working for the unity of all Churches. He promised the servant of God and Mr. Bianchini, whom he considered to be his friend and brother, to be faithful to Our Lady Reconciler of Peoples.
Father Timothy Byerley said that Mr. Geo Bianchini, his wife, and all his family were a special grace for Venezuela, a gift for the world, for the Church and a true example to heal families.
Father Juan Carlos Silva, parish priest of Saint Rosalie, quoted the Beatitudes and explained how they defined the life of Mr. Bianchini, who was convinced that his life and hope rested on the Lord, who also had heroic faith in divine providence, besides being merciful, loving and unable to judge anyone.
Father Cadmus Mazzarella, representative of the Betania X Community in Williamstown, NJ, USA, explained that just as people have the image of Saint Joseph as protector of the family, “we have another image of Saint Joseph in our beloved Geo Bianchini”.
Father Numa Rivero of the social pastoral of Saint Anne Church gave thanks for the testimony of life that Mr. Bianchini and his wife, the servant of God Maria Esperanza, had left for everyone and also said: “We have a holy couple in Heaven.”
Father Noel Francescci, Pastor of the Holy Family of Nazareth and St. Josemaria Escriva de Balaguer Church, narrated his experience with Mr. Bianchini of how he lived thinking about others and how he practiced mercy in a concrete way.
Father Jhonfer Camacho, Vice-Rector of the Sanctuary of Betania, together with the Sisters of the Congregation Mother of the Savior, the High and Eternal Priest, accompanied the Bianchini family and friends at all times. “Mr. Geo’s departure from this world gives us the opportunity to thank God for all the blessings he has given us through his life and service with his wife, the servant of God Maria Esperanza Bianchini, on receiving the mission of reconciliation at the Sanctuary of Betania,” were part of his words during his homily.
Finally, after the funeral service, which was carried out with great solemnity, each of his seven children, at the foot of the gravesite that was covered with hundreds of flowers, said words of affection and gratitude to their father and of commitment to work apostolic work inherited by their parents.
