A Great Loss

I went to the funeral of Monsignor Francis Anthony Smyer today. He was a very dear person to our parish and the whole diocese. Monsignor was a little guy with a great big heart. He grew up in our town and went to St Mary's catholic school. The same school where I am blessed to say I am a teacher. He loved everyone and helped many people through hard times for he had some himself. Through his hard times he in turn taught other people how to cope.





Up until a year or so ago I would see him on a regular basis. He loved to eat in the school cafeteria with all of the students. His Alzheimer reached a point that for his safety he had to be put into a nursing home. He started locking himself out of the church in the middle of the night. Then he could not get back in or remember how to get any one to let him back in to the church. Our parish is not what you would call a savory location. Monsignor Waldo had the heart breaking task of telling him they were going to place him in Ware. Ware is a very nice village with safety for him. Monsignor Waldo would bring Father Smyer to church everyday to pray. Our chapel at St. Mary's is a tad different than Ware for it is a baptist facility. Monsignor Smyer was not there 2 weeks and every one loved him and cherished him as we did. He had admirers and if that is not a funny situation. He handled it all to his best with grace.



Monsignor Smyer was 86. He is loved and will be missed.