Traian Niculas was born on January 14th 1930 in the village of Cetea, Alba County, Romania, in the family of Nicolae and Iudifta Niculas. He was the second of four siblings – Ioan, Traian, Ana, and Aurel . His childhood was spent in his native village and as a young man he started working in different areas of the country, finally finding in the city of Campia Turzii, Cluj County a good place to work . It was here that he met a young lady ,Maria Latis, who was living in the neighborhood with her widowed mother and sister, Ana. Being a skilled worker and always sensitive to the other people’s needs, he would help these ladies without charging them. At his future mother-in-law’s insistence that he should accept to be paid , one day he replied, :”If you want to pay me, allow Mariuta to be my wife, for she is very dear to me”.
This was the beginning of a 61-year marriage, a joyful and blessed commitment, also full of hardships, expected when providing for a large family of seven. Five beautiful children had been added to the family: Nicu and wife Ellie, Marcel and wife Felicia, Corneliu and wife Madalina, Teofil and wife Cornelia, Christiana and husband Christopher Gibson. In addition, he enjoyed having 13 grandchildren: Claudia, Catalin and wife Vithy, Alexandra, Cristian and wife Nicole, Patricia, Emily and husband Danny, Iulia, Abigail, Andrew, Stephanie, Benjamin, Mathtew and Nathan. He often said that each one of his children and grandchildren was a source of unspeakable joy that was voiced in his prayers to the Lord at family reunions.
Having been born in a family of Christian Orthodox, after he met Maria, he started attending the youth meetings in the local Baptist church, and shortly after he accepted Jesus as Lord of his life. He remained a committed member of the Baptist church of Campia Turzii for the rest of his life in Romania, serving with faithfulness and devotion. Being an active member of this church, he suffered afflictions and persecution by the communist regime of that time, in many instances being threatened to be fired. However, God was good and He provided, moreover, He caused him to be favored and well respected as an honest, skilled and hard-working man by his supervisors. Thus he was able to support his family even during those hard years of communist dictatorship.
After retirement, Traian decided to move to USA, following his wife and daughter, with one goal in his mind – that his entire family should join them in the United States. In 1990 a new chapter of his life started to unfold, in a foreign country, without speaking the language, full of frustrations and hardships, but he never quit. He continued to work until he was almost 80 years old. While other people were enjoying the leisure life of old age, he found fulfillment in helping anyone and anytime they needed help.
In United States, Traian became a member of the First Romanian Baptist Church of Atlanta till the end of his life. Nevertheless, his heart remained attach to his home church in Romania, which he visited many times, serving, helping financially, and counseling people, especially during the building of the new church.
Although he lived a long and healthy life, the last years have been marked by weakness, that caused him to say often that he is ready to go and meet his Lord and Savior. Fully devoted to his family, he was a role model of commitment and strength amidst life’s hardships, knowing how to wisely advise others regarding working for the Lord. Now he has finished his race on earth and could say like the apostle Paul once said: “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.” 2Tim. 4:7-8
We are grateful to God for his easy and peaceful passing.
We thank God for a life worthy to follow, an example of self-sacrifice we had in the one who’s been a husband, father and grandfather – Traian Niculas.
Farewell! We’ll see you again beyond the sunset!