One of Heaven's Leading Jesters

Editor's note: This is a eulogy delivered for the author's father, Leon Francis DesRosiers. April 15, 1931 to January 8, 2012.

The Darkness is obvious -- we are all here bearing heavy hearts.

Our father, and your friend, was a great lover of life. His departure from our world will not go unrecognized. With his passing, our world has just become less funny and less loving.

Our Dad's personality, like Nature, abhorred a vacuum: Frank DesRosiers instinctively filled a room and hearts. He could not help himself.

We are the products of our parents' love and devotion, their vows to each other and to us. There is a world of difference between making a baby and being a Parent. Our Dad was there for his Family at every moment of his living life: Provider, Protector, Teacher, Entertainer and Friend.

He would give the shirt off his back to someone -- and I know this because on more than one occasion, I took it -- not to mention some sweaters, shoes, and cash. As you can see, the "DesRosiers Boys" come in all shapes, sizes, and dispositions.

Our common virtue is that we ALL knew how lucky and blessed we were to have Frank DesRosiers as our Dad.

Today, with him lying over there before us, being prepared to be taken away and buried, we are leaning on our Faith, Family, and Friends to deal with the loneliness that comes with going from having two of the best parents in the world to one.

Mom, we can bear our loss of Dad because you are our family's rock, and because you are with us.

To our extended Family and Friends, I can't tell you how much your support and presence means to us. Many are here because you knew and loved my Dad. Many are here because you loved someone in this big family. And I speak for us all: you are Family.

Everyone in this Church is Sad.

But if you believed as my Father did -- and we, his Family do -- the Darkness of physical Death is not the final end but a prelude to a new Dawn of life everlasting. His Soul is immortal.

Father Jim, I don't know if I am on solid theological ground, but I believe that the soul of the physically departed gets to hang around through their wake and funeral, and then they leave us at the cemetery. I'm not sure about the after-Party.

Dad, it's nice to have you here with us. Looking to the Dawn and the Promise of Faith, we not only can find comfort but a genuine reason to celebrate!

When we were together as a family, enjoying each other's company and conversation, our Dad would invariably say: "Life is good." And in his later years he would follow up with: "It's been a good run."

My brother Michael, not only looks like my Dad, he has my Father's sensitivity as well. While we were sitting at his bedside during his final hours, he said: "Dad taught us how to Love.

"He taught us how to love our Mother, to love Each Other, how to love our Wives; and how to love our Children."

Well said, Michael.

I would only add, that he taught us to love our friends and country too.

Frank was a Patriot -- he loved his country and his Flag. And while he loved traveling, he always came back confirmed that we lived in the best country in the world.

He also taught us how to love animals, particularly dogs. They say: "dogs are mans best friend." Frank DesRosiers was a dog's best friend.

It was a blessing that my Father was allowed to die as well as he lived.

Our family was greatly aided by all the folks at Pitt Community Hospital, Greenville. They not only treated my Dad with care and dignity; they were there for us as well. For those of you here from the health care profession: Thank you for treating the whole person.

While he could not speak, we knew his mind and heart: "Life is good and it's been a good run." Our Dad did not die without knowing what he meant to us. He was more than loved. He was adored.

He took his last breath with his loving wife's lips on his face and his children's hands on his hands, chest, and feet. He died, loved from Head to Toe.

The evening before my Grandfather, Vinnie Shea's funeral, I sat at my parents' kitchen table with my Dad and shared with him the Eulogy that I was soon to deliver.

He read it, he laughed and cried where appropriate, and when he was finished, he spoke prophetically: "David, I was not born into this world to tell the truth, but to entertain."

Everyone knew the Robin Williams side of our Dad's nature: He loved life's stage -- and we are so happy that we celebrated our entertainer last year on his 80th birthday with so many of you.

He said walking out, with a little help, "I could die today." Well God, must have heard him and it took God several months to get his new stage ready.

Frank DesRosiers had more than a sense of humor; he had a sense of faith. As you would expect Dad had a special theology; made to measure for his unique soul, but I think also very much within the Church's Doctrine.

He was not of an Old Testament state of mind. He was never looking for God's judgment for himself -- or for others. His faith was Mercy and Love based, which is to say, that he understood the Gospel, "The Good News," better than most.

As a believer, who like his Father loves life -- perhaps too much at times -- I must say that I like where he placed his theological emphasis.

Sitting at his bedside with my family, I realized that his CREDO: "I was not put on this earth to tell the truth but to entertain" was not completely true. Love was Truth that he delivered in jest.

He believed at the core of his worldview that our Creator, whom he loved dearly, had a sense of humor-and would somehow find him as entertaining as we did. Frank DesRosiers was funny because he loved Life, and this is the truth that he was put on this earth to bring to us all.

I would not call my father a Saint.

He was no Nana Shea, Nana Shine or Uncle Al-these people were Saints! He was more like Uncle Joe.

But I do believe in my heart, that my Dad will not just make it into heaven, he will soon be one of Heaven's leading Jesters and that the Kingdom of God will be improved with his addition.

He will certainly have to work hard in coming up with "G-rated" material to perform -- the G meaning God approved. At core, Frank DesRosiers was a Great Lover and his Humor was the means of his life's work. He will find his voice and the angels will laugh.

With the passing of our father, the Lord's Prayer will take on a new meaning for his sons and grandchildren. From now on brothers, we will have two fathers "Who art in heaven" -- our God, the Creator of us all; and our cause, the creator of a loving family.

Daddy, Amen. The End, until we see your face again.