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A Tribute to ApX Friend Millie Gerbo
Fri., Oct. 13. 2017 7:35pm EDT
Millie Gerbo coordinated six concerts with ApX in West Virginia from 2011-14. She also bought a lot of our CDs to share with many others. A tireless advocate for people with special needs, she was a great encourager to us, as was her husband George.
The last time we saw Millie in person was at our concert in Wexford in the summer of 2015. In April and July this year, we sent her emails inviting them to our 25th anniversary concert, but we never heard back. Today, we received this email, and now we understand why:My dearest brother in Christ,
Don't know if you've been made aware that our beloved sister Millie went home to Jesus this past week. She spent so much of her time while receiving treatment with your music playing so as to bless those around her by talking about and singing about the immense unmeasurable love He has always bestowed on His children.
I was of the same mindset as she. Flowers and plants die, but His eternal love never leaves us or our loved ones. After several days of thoughtful prayers and deliberation I came upon the Lord's answer. I'm going to donate $100 today in Millie's name for you and the band to used to whatever is needed.
Furthermore I will be donating/buying various CDs for use in the treatment rooms of those receiving and administrating the medical treatment necessary in an attempt to destroy the malignancies. Millie lay there praising the name of Jesus. She relied on his precious name to calm and ease their discomfort, which indeed helped them through a very traumatic procedure for a disease that is often fatal.
The nurses and doctors were in awe of the almost instant positive transformation of the demeanor and ambiance of the entire area. I spent two months in the hospital earlier this year and found the same reaction on the floor where I resided for that period of time. We would utilize your God-given gifts to change attitudes and lives.
When the patients and staff saw that I began to move my lower limbs after being repeatedly told that I would be paraplegic permanently. Well, as usual they didn't know how great my Lord is. I can walk short distances, so take that, evil one! My mission is to spread your God-given gifts to all the treatment areas in every hospital in the area. I praise the Lord for all He put in place so that you can spread His word. May the Lord bless you and yours now and always.
In His Love,
Rita Kowalski
Weirton WV Ironically, we received this devastating news (we had no idea she was even sick!) while on our way to Green Bay WI, home of Millie and George's favorite football team, the Packers. We think Millie would have liked that. We are humbled and honored that she continued to use our parodies, even in the midst of her suffering.
The last email we have from Millie was dated December 29, 2015. We'll share it below, so you can get a feel for the kind of lady she was:Merry Christmas to you and your family as well. Don't forget you have a standing invite to Serbian Christmas every January 6 and 7. It's a Wednesday and Thursday this year, so you might not have a concert, so consider coming down to see how the other folks do it!
January 6 is Christmas Eve and we have fried cod, baked halibut, Serbian potato salad and Serbian coleslaw with a delicious beans and barley soup. On the 7th, it's everything from soup to nuts – tortellini soup, lasagna, cabbage rolls, sausage and peppers, pork, mashed potatoes, etc. If you can ever make it, just let me know and I'll tell you where we live and where to park. God Bless and Happy Prosperous New Year! Rest in peace, Millie. We love you.
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