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.
Receive news alerts
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.
Read Full Article »