Eulogy for My Uncle R.V. from this Morning's Funeral Mass

My mom asked me to say a few words for her brother. My uncle and I weren’t close – he really did his own thing, outside the family. Lucky bastard! I wanted to say something that rang true, something that touched on what he was – or at least how I remembered him – and also thank the people who helped him out in his last years. You can always tell when these things are bullshit. I tried my best for my Uncle Bob – here’s what I said:

“My uncle bob was a maverick. He did what he wanted. He was his own man. Most of my memories of him are from when I was younger. When I was a kid, I discovered some old records in my Grandmother’s house –it’s not too far from here (meaning the church, it was in my mom’s old hood).

He found out that I liked the old 50’s records left in the attic. When he would come out to visit his parents, and he saw me there – he’d give me his car keys and say: “Hey Eddie, listen to what I’ve got in the tape player.” I think he knew that it was a big thrill for a kid to sit in a cool car and listen to some good music. We definitely shared a love of music.

He liked to travel to Florida and every once in awhile we’d get a call from him on vacation…letting us know about his adventures, how much he won (or lost) at the dog track, the people he met, the kind of beer they had down there.

Though he shared his love of music and travel with me, my Uncle Bob was a private person, especially in his later years. He loved his home at the B~~~ Terrace, and we know he had some great friends there. Fellow residents, staff members, there were so many that looked after him, especially after he lost his legs to diabetes. My mother told me that Uncle Bob was especially grateful for Paul W~~ the caregiver from H~- Health Care Services.

While I have my memories of hanging out with him and my Grandma’s house – listening to records, riding motorcycles I know it was the people who helped him at the end of his life that have made all the difference here. You are the ones Father talked about a few minutes ago. You are the ones who saw Jesus in their neighbor. To those who showed my uncle kindness, know that my family is grateful, and that he is as well.

My Grandmother was a long time member here; she was someone who was like a saint to me. I believe she is looking after him now. She would be glad for everyone who helped her son. She knows that he had his sister (my mom) and his friends, looking out for her Bobby and accepting him for who he was. You all helped make him feel safe at home. And now we trust that he is safe at home for good.”