The Guardian had not intended coming over for dinner that
night as he was pressed with urgent work. But he did come and when Leroy greeted
him asking: How are you tonight, Shoghi Effendi? the Guardian replied: "I
am very sad because of this news we have had." Leroy [Ioas] wondered what
he was referring to, and suddenly realized the Guardian was speaking of his
mother. The Guardian shook hands with both of them and continued: "You
have my deepest sympathy at the passing of your dear mother. I will surely
remember her in my prayers. I will pray for her ardently.
"You must not grieve, you must not weep. We have been
assured by the Master and Baha'u'llah that when we go to the other world, our awareness
of things increases - keenness, consciousness, all are increased. You can be
sure she is following your services with much greater awareness now than before
her death. She follows every detail of your services here at the World Centre
and rejoices at them.
"She is very, very happy now, joined with your father,
and both of them rejoicing together at the services you and your family are
rendering - and watching the progress of you and your work."
When Leroy told the Guardian that Maria [his mother] was the
oldest living Baha'i in America, in years of Baha'i service, having become a
Baha'i in 1898, Shoghi Effendi said: "I was not aware of that - that is in
itself a station."
- Anita Ioas Chapman (Book: ‘Leroy Ioas – Hand of the Cause of
God’)
