Funeral Mass and Burial
Monday, October 13
You stumbled, Bill, as often,
and Abba caught you,
coming to hospice to say goodbye
and you barely waved one last time,
your posts in life were often similar,
appearing without training,
with friends to carry you through,
like theologians for trusting companions
when deciphering Vatican II,
directing confreres of English tongue
around the world,
with smile enough to span the globe,
a rainbow smile
that danced and sang in one exhilaration.
That smile
evoked an easy trust,
so that many would say
that Bill, you were my best friend,
with your undeniable enthusiasm
of enjoying to be with this particular person
while recalling family tales
and your time of happy laughs.
One laugh I remember,
you were disposing things
when once your mother died,
I put mother's chamber pot
out for garbage pick up, you announced,
when a friar spoke for a friend
who collected such antiques,
so, Bill, you went home and saved it,
and now it holds a bunch of flowers,
with never a chip or crack.
Continue your role, Bill,
of compliments and encouragement,
but most of all, the sense of joy
in being with brothers and friends,
when we think of you,
may it be with a happy smile,
one- one- hundredth of your rainbow one.
October 13, 2014
Bonaventure Stefun, OFM Cap.