passed away yesterday. He was my DH's uncle and godfather. My DH was closer to him than he was to his own father. He was only 59 and died suddenly yesterday morning.
His funeral was today. The family didn't want to turn the funeral into a 3-ring circus. Even with having a private funeral, a very large basillica was filled with standing room only in the back of the church.
He was studying to be a deacon and was always at the church, in hospitals distributing communion or on retreats with the priests. His faith was boundless. To honor him, the family buried him in his alb. (The vestments he wore on the altar.)
Before my DH and I were married, we hung out with him all the time. He loved to watch movies with us at his house, go to church with us, or go for drives in the country so he could see cows grazing. He loved cows and pigs.
If my DH couldn't make it out with us, I would go alone with him. A typical night with DH's uncle would be to go to funeral homes to pay our respects to the families who'd lost loved ones. All you had to do was meet him once and he'd remember your name and show up at your loved one's wake. This is why the family knew that his funeral would be bursting at the seams if it was announced prior to his burial.
He was in our wedding as an usher and he also did one of the readings. He walked with my best friend because I knew that they would keep each other laughing.
He was born deformed and with many health issues. He had only 3 or 4 fingers on each hand after multiple surgeries to remove the webs that connected his fingers. His family was told that he would be ******** (I'm using that term because it was almost 60 years ago.) His mother wouldn't believe it and she was right. He is the only person in his generation who holds an MBA.
Even with his physical limitations, he never complained. He adapted to make sure that he could do anything that he wanted to do. Nothing or no one could stop him.
I saw him just a few weeks ago coming out of a grocery store. He told me that he was the happiest that he'd been in years. He shared many funny stories with me and yelled at me for not telling him that my Mom had been in the hospital with a heart attack scare. He wanted to give her communion and pray with her. I promised him that I'd try to stay more focused if another loved one was in that situation.
But, it will not be. He is in Heaven now. I am sure that he is watching us to guard and protect us. It is just his nature. Today was very hard. I just know that his faith has been rewarded and he no longer has physical limitations. His huge heart that he opened to so many failed him. I only hope that others in the family will try to emulate his kindness. He was a true gentleman.
Thank you for reading this eulogy to my DH's uncle. I could go on and on about him, but I think you understand just how much he was loved.
His funeral was today. The family didn't want to turn the funeral into a 3-ring circus. Even with having a private funeral, a very large basillica was filled with standing room only in the back of the church.
He was studying to be a deacon and was always at the church, in hospitals distributing communion or on retreats with the priests. His faith was boundless. To honor him, the family buried him in his alb. (The vestments he wore on the altar.)
Before my DH and I were married, we hung out with him all the time. He loved to watch movies with us at his house, go to church with us, or go for drives in the country so he could see cows grazing. He loved cows and pigs.
If my DH couldn't make it out with us, I would go alone with him. A typical night with DH's uncle would be to go to funeral homes to pay our respects to the families who'd lost loved ones. All you had to do was meet him once and he'd remember your name and show up at your loved one's wake. This is why the family knew that his funeral would be bursting at the seams if it was announced prior to his burial.
He was in our wedding as an usher and he also did one of the readings. He walked with my best friend because I knew that they would keep each other laughing.
He was born deformed and with many health issues. He had only 3 or 4 fingers on each hand after multiple surgeries to remove the webs that connected his fingers. His family was told that he would be ******** (I'm using that term because it was almost 60 years ago.) His mother wouldn't believe it and she was right. He is the only person in his generation who holds an MBA.
Even with his physical limitations, he never complained. He adapted to make sure that he could do anything that he wanted to do. Nothing or no one could stop him.
I saw him just a few weeks ago coming out of a grocery store. He told me that he was the happiest that he'd been in years. He shared many funny stories with me and yelled at me for not telling him that my Mom had been in the hospital with a heart attack scare. He wanted to give her communion and pray with her. I promised him that I'd try to stay more focused if another loved one was in that situation.
But, it will not be. He is in Heaven now. I am sure that he is watching us to guard and protect us. It is just his nature. Today was very hard. I just know that his faith has been rewarded and he no longer has physical limitations. His huge heart that he opened to so many failed him. I only hope that others in the family will try to emulate his kindness. He was a true gentleman.
Thank you for reading this eulogy to my DH's uncle. I could go on and on about him, but I think you understand just how much he was loved.
