Chief Roland Jerome

Aug 5, 1943 – Jan 24, 2020

This is what was read at Chief Roland Jerome’s funeral on behalf of UNACC:

Good morning, I am Lorena Novak and this is my husband, Matthew Novak. We are members of the United Native American Cultural Center or as many know it, UNACC.

Today, we speak on behalf of UNACC. We’ve lost our friend, our teacher, our leader, Chief Roland Jerome and now, we are somewhat lost. Eventually, we will once again find our footing, and we know that Roland will be watching over us, somehow showing us the right way to do things.

Roland was patient with us. He was fair and always thought things through when difficulties were presented to him. Roland was a teacher, a friend and a counselor. He was easy to talk to, a good listener, when one was needed, and easy to laugh with.

Words cannot express the sorrow we feel with his loss. There is a huge void in our lives. Over the last few years, Roland was getting tired. All of us realized that, but we never thought the outcome would be this, this soon. Roland, our lessons from you were not finished yet.

All of us have wonderful memories that will keep Roland alive in our hearts. The pain of not seeing him each day/week, hearing his stories and laughter will affect us all for a very long time. The pain will lessen but your memory will never fade.

One of the most important things that Roland taught us is that we need to be proud of who we are and where we come from. He used to say to sit with one of your elders, listen to their stories and learn of who you are. Most of all, be proud of who you are. Roland certainly was proud of who he was.

UNACC would like to thank Roland and Barbara’s family. For many years, Roland and Barbara’s schedule was for that of UNACC’s events often leaving their family to move their events around to accommodate them. We thank you so much for sharing your Dad with us. Please, know it was not in vain. There are so many people that benefited by the work which your Dad did within the Native Community as well as outside the Native Community. We will always be grateful by having your Dad at the helm of the Center.

In closing, we would like to share the

Johnny Paleface 4 Direction Prayer:

Creator, as I look to the East, where the sun rises and the day begins. I have opened my eyes to another day. Please help me by taking away all that is negative. Take away my impatience, intolerance, resentment, denials, anxiety and all other things that are negative within me.

Creator, as I look to the South, where the Sun never sets and everything grows. Please, help me by letting me grow in eyesight and hearing so I can hear and see the beauty you have created. Let me grow in strength, not to be greater than my brother but to fight my greatest enemy – myself. Please let me grow in wisdom so I can pass it on to others

Creator, as I look to the West, where the sun sets and the harvest takes place. Let me harvest all that I asked you to take away in the East so that I can serve you better by giving me patience, tolerance and peace of mind. All the things which I asked you to take away, let me have them in the positive so that I can redeem myself in your eyes.

Creator, as I look to the North. I know that the trail from the South to the North is very long, as is life, very difficult. Difficult because when you blew the breath of life into me, you gave me free will. I have used, abused and misused that will. Now I am ready to do your will. I pray for the knowledge of Your will for me and the power to carry it out.

Creator, I know that each day that I open my eyes to the East, I have one more day to redeem myself. Please let me keep this day. Each day I take one more step towards the day that I will be with you, my body will be in Mother Earth and my spirit will be with you. Let me keep this day so when I am called to you, I can come home to you with clean hands and straight eyes so that when my life fades as the fading sunset, my spirit can come without shame.

Life is a full circle, where one never leaves from birth till the day we cross over. One has to live within the circle that the Creator given to each of us.

Roland, rest now in the arms of the Creator. You go with clean hands, straight eyes and without shame.

Please, continue to watch over us. We will need it, but mostly, watch over your loving family. Aho

This was shared on behalf of Jean Martin and family:

Do not Stand at My Grave and Weep
Mary Elizabeth Frye

Do not stand at my grave and weep,
I am not there, I do not sleep.
I am in a thousand winds that blow,
I am the softly falling snow.
I am the gentle showers of rain,
I am the fields of ripening grain.
I am in the morning hush,
I am in the graceful rush
Of beautiful birds in circling flight,
I am the star shine of the night.
I am in the flowers that bloom,
I am in a quiet room.
I am in the birds that sing,
I am in each lovely thing.
Do not stand at my grave and cry,
I am not there. I do not die.