NCR Tributes

Louie was our parishioner, husband and father who worked for the city. But Louie was also kind, friendly & generous with his time and skills. He was a volunteer football coach for many years before, during and after his son’s time on our team. He spent many hours helping with repairs to our aging buildings. He had time for everyone and was loved by all. A 50 car motorcade passed his house the day after he died.

John and I were classmates for 9 years in the 1960's from high school through a year of novitiate and on through graduation from Catholic University of America. We were roommates in the '64-'65 school year. We were friends who lost track of one another over the years. John was a wonderful man. He was a strong basketball player. He was an amazingly hard-working student, second in our class. He was a loving son and brother. He was deeply spiritual and not in the lovey-dovey pious way. Most of all, he was one of kindest people in our class. He never married. Since I learned of his death from COVID-19 on 13 April, I've been wondering if his single status put him more at risk - logistically or psychologically - for this horrible disease. In the final analysis, though, I know he is with God.

When I extended my condolences on Facebook to one of Millie's daughters, telling her how lively and spirit filled her Mom was whenever I was around her, her daughter replied: "She was a great Mom, and, she'll be a Great Angel" Millie is my wife's Aunt. Millie's sister Marjorie is my mother in law and she is in a nursing home. It is very sad that she could not say good-bye to her beloved sister.

I was blessed with an amazing husband for 51 and a half years. The Lord blessed us with four beautiful children and six grandchildren. My husband loved to climb mountains and travel. Ten years ago he had rectal cancer, fought for his life. He was in bed for over year with three operations, chemo and radiation. He fought the battle bravely. At one time I could not stand to hear him cry out to the Lord. I went to another part of the house. I told the good Lord if he needed him home I would release him to Him. He told me who do you love the most. I said you Lord. He told me I WILL ALWAYS BE WITH YOU. So here I am not with my husband, he is with the Lord but where does my strength come from, truly I feel the presence of the Lord is with me, his lonely servant. He holds my heart and my husband also. I believe in angels. I do a daily gratitude walk and praise Him for all he has blessed me with. Others have sent me food, flowers and groceries, nourished my body, but truly our Heavenly Father is nourishing my soul, so I can be the best version of myself.

Bob was my brother-in-law who lived in Boston area. He was married to my sister for over 45 years and would have celebrated his 85th birthday in May. He leaves a beautiful legacy of three children and seven grandchildren to whom he was devoted. He was such a kind and good hearted man whose Catholic faith gave him deep meaning. While he had many health conditions, he never complained but kept a positive outlook and carried on. For the past five years, he lived in an assisted living facility. He made many friends who appreciated his ideas for field trips or helping his fellow veterans ensuring they were up to speed on the latest changes in benefits. He always had time for conversation. His three sons have shown such devotion to his care including their final goodbyes via video. The covid pandemic and resulting restrictions have been painful in not enabling us to share our loss with the comforting Catholic ritual of a wake and funeral Mass. We are comforted, however, that we will do so when the travel and shelter restrictions allow us to gather to celebrate his life.

Andrea died of Covid-19 on Palm Sunday. She was a Priest at Grace Episcopal Church in Ellensburg, WA. A good homilist who was interested in social justice and diversity education.

Manny, his pet name, was the chief nurse of a medical center and died from the covid virus. He was so loved by his staff, his colleagues, his patients and was known for his faith, his generosity and his support of the poor. I was talking with him via social media less than a day before he died. He showed me pictures of his tubes and was in pain. Less than 24 hours later, the Lord called him home.

Pastor Craig has been a good and trusted friend since I first met him in 1991. He was an ELCA pastor and I am a Pastoral Minister in a Catholic parish. We met when we were members of our local ministerial association. Craig was warm, compassionate, inclusive and joyous. He was a loving husband, father and grandfather. Craig walked the walk and talked the talk. His example inspired and will continue to inspire me to be the best Christian I can be. One memory I will forever cherish is that I called him Martin (after Luther) and he called me Katie (Luther's wife).He also invited me to preach at his church one year on Reformation Sunday - such an honor and blessing. Craig fell into the loving arms of the God he so faithfully and joyously served on April 16, 2020. His memory will be a blessing.

Jim was our music director at St Katharine Drexel Catholic Church in Cape Coral, a kind man with a talent for music, he left a wife and two children...he got sick after traveling to Miami for a wedding...he had been in the hospital for a month, and on a ventilator most of that time...his kidneys failed...but he fought, and his family all off of the parish family prayed for him...he passed with our Pastor and his family praying for him through Skype....We thank God everyday for the wonderful nurses and Dr's who cared for him with loving hearts and hands....we were blessed...

Ernie Wood, ND’59, a prominent OB-GYN surgeon in Lancaster, PA, was one of the great students at the University of Notre Dame in the late 1950s. A graduate of Salesianum Academy, Wilmington, DE, he received his medical degree from Georgetown in 1963. On the night of November 22, 1963, Ernie was the duty officer at Bethesda Naval Hospital, on the night that President John F. Kennedy was brought back from Dallas, after his assassination.

Jody was my partner of 33 years. He was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis when he was 25 and has used a wheelchair for the last 30 years. Despite his ailment, Jody was always positive never letting the cares of life cast a shadow over him. We shared a warm loving relationship that we shared with numerous rescued cats and dogs. Disability never stopped us from living life. Jody had a special devotion to St. Frances Cabrini whose shrine is located near us. I will always remember Jody with a smile on his face, certain that he would someday get out of his wheelchair and walk again. Now he runs freely in the fields of the Lord enjoying life eternal.

Frank was ordained in 1963; I the year before.We were appointed to Nigeria and to adjacent parishes. We would meet often. During the Biafra war, in another part of the country, we found ourselves in adjacent parishes and in relief work. We would meet often. At the end of the war we, with other missionaries, spent time in a detention camp, followed by imprisonment and then deportation. Later Frank went to Kenya and I to Sierra Leone. If/when vacations coincided we would meet. Frank died in Dublin on 14 April from COVID-19. It was a privilege to have him as a close friend. We plan to meet again!