The family of Tesfaye Berhane wishes to express our heartfelt gratitude. Thank you for keeping us in your heart. Your support has comforted us, and your love sustains us. Whatever the part, whatever you did, we thank you very much.
“A special thanks to Gizachew Afrasa for being with him until the end.”
Solomon Abera Eskindar Abera
Meherteab Tessema
Ashagari Habtegabriel
Teferi Yirga Gideon Yilma
Andreas Yilma Marcus Mays
FITAT/PRAYER FOR THE DEPARTED SOUL BIBLICAL TEACHING
Kesis Gebremeskil & Kesis Sirak of Debre Selam Kidus Michael Ethiopian Church, Kesis Endalew & Kesis Teklu of Mekane Selam Kidest Mariam Ethiopian Orthodox Church & other priests from the surrounding Ethiopian Orthodox Churches
REMEMBRANCE
Belene Tesfaye & Mamenasha Tesfaye, Daughters TRIBUTES
Tersit Teshome, Wife
Solomon Abera & Meherteab Tessema, Nephews
Ashagari Habtegabriel, Great-Nephew
OPEN REMARKS
Invitation to share your thoughts, feelings, memories, lessons, salutations
SCRIPTURE READING
Andreas Yilma
II Corinthians 9:6-12 ~~ THE CHEERFUL GIVER
CLOSING PRAYER:
Ayite Kenzo Aminou
Dear God,
Please watch over Your children. Have mercy on those who have not found You, for those who may have walked away, and those who are still looking. May You soften their hearts so that they are willing to receive You. May they look to You for guidance and be wrapped in Your everlasting love. In Jesus name, Amen.
Tesfaye Michael Berhane, the only son of Berhane Gebre and Bafena Akalehiwot, was born in Asosa, Ethiopia and flew into the United States to spread his wings and his wings did he spread. Leaving behind all the women of his family, namely his mother and older sisters, he naturally took himself a wife, Tersit Teshome. Over the next 50 years, he, together with his wife, raised 3 children –Belene, Mamenasha, and Samuel; and housed, sponsored, and facilitated the education and employment of numerous emigrating family members, associates, and local kids.
During that time, unable to resist the desire for independence and maintain control over his life, he ditched the likes of store management, retailing designer clothing, dressing news anchors and the wealthy, to try his luck as an entrepreneur. With strong confidence in himself and what he has to offer, with the joy in problem-solving and eagerness to find innovative solutions, with a knack for handling financial uncertainty and an innate aversion to strict schedules, he started an international trading company (GATC) and (AFTA) travel agency with an enterprising spirit, followed by various independent contracting.
Whether on the business front or social arena, livery driving, and even at the checkout line, he could socialize with just about anyone. He magnified hope and trivialized life’s challenges –nothing was insurmountable in his mind. He brought laughter, light-heartedness, and playfulness into times of dejection; but in his seriousness, after deeply contemplating on a drive by the ocean, he would return with his theory to press upon you…because he knows better…and because he wants what he thinks is the best for you, from the minutest of things to the grandest of thoughts.
Philosopher. Critical Thinker. Fashionista. Showstopper. Eclectic in nature, Tes was a showstopping Confucius of his generation, always shutting down the party –from his elaborate suspenders, unorthodox ties, and bedazzling shoes to finding a couch to catch his Zzzzs…. Classic him. But locally, some may know Tesfaye as the neighborhood watchman yelling at young men to pick up their pants and chasing away thieves. Others may know him for frequently being kidnapped on long rides that would start off with a “I’m just going to pick something up” and ending up at Home Depot picking out the supplies for his next greatest DIY project. My dad was known to put you in “safe”, uncomfortable situations like throwing you in the pool to “teach” you how to swim or putting you in the driver seat of a stick shift for the first time and telling you to drive him home. He taught by allowing you to assess the situation yourself and applying yourself before he interjected. With the love of Asian martial arts movies, food, comedy and reconstructing anything and everything in his possession, he found ways to enjoy life. Most of all, however, he embodied pride, generosity, family, and doing things his way, up to the very end, when he could no longer. We feel grateful to have received and learned the very best from him.
Almaz Berhane [Tesfaye’s sister] used to do the following song every morning after finishing her prayers. We [Hirut & Mahlet] as her children, we grew up hearing this every morning.
Amharic Version
sētochi tesebisibewi diniberi sīkafelu tesifahuni birihanē kelayi yihuni ālu tesifiyē birihanē ānidu ye’inatē liji ānite bitimet’a inēmi bik’oyihi kech’ini(kech’ineti t’ēfi) t’ēfi yibelit’ali yemach’awitihi
This original song is an expression of love of a sister’s treasure. The literal translation to English says As the women of the family gather to share a boundary, they said let Tesfahun Berhane be the first.
Tesfaye Berhane, the only son of my mother, If you come, I can't wait to play with you countless times.
Meaning, the women of the family want Tesfaye to get the first of everything they have to share –be it land/territory, food, every necessity. Let him eat before them. Let him receive before them.
The only brother she has, she loves him so much, she wishes to spend time with him, play with him, speak with him. She has so much to share, it would never end and she doesn’t want it to end.
II Corinthians 9:6-12 NKJV
But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work. As it is written: “He has dispersed abroad, He has given to the poor; His righteousness endures forever.” Now may He who supplies seed to the sower, and bread for food, supply and multiply the seed you have sown and increase the fruits of your righteousness, while you are enriched in everything for all liberality, which causes thanksgiving through us to God. For the administration of this service not only supplies the needs of the saints, but also is abounding through many thanksgivings to God.
Matthew 11:28 KJV
“Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”
From Tersit Teshome
[uncle] was a very generous and a giving person! He was a person that would give you the shirt off his back! I needed, He was always there for me and eager to help!
KJV
The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Yea, though I walk through the I will fear no evil: for thou art with Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.
From Elizabeth Abebe
