Thursday, October 18, 2018
"My Memories of Bruno
How wonderful that Bruno was able to attend Fr. Michael’s 40th Anniversary celebration!
Ann Marie D’Amario and I met Bruno just outside the entrance to the first of the feasting rooms and escorted him to his place at the table that some of his friends were saving for him.
I feel very grateful that we became each other’s “Admiration Society” for hats, and especially for fedoras. He would remark about mine and I would also admire his and then he might tell me, “This is a very expensive one!” One time, Bruno had asked me what to do with his new hat to make it fit him better. On the next Sunday, prior to Mass, while in church, I sewed some elastic around the inner band so it would fit. He was most grateful, and I was delighted to have been able to help him.
Last week on Sunday, October 7, I decided that it would be nice to take Bruno to breakfast. However, when I approached him, he said, “The lawyer already asked me!” The lawyer was Nick Mattera, who kindly let me join his other guests, Rosemary and Michael Johnson, at the Park Diner. We were so happy that we were able to share our time with Bruno!
I met him at the entrance door and escorted him, arm in arm, to his seat where friends were awaiting his arrival. He was his usually happy self. That was the last time I would see him.
Later, when Fr. Michael was announcing some people of notoriety, Bruno’s introduction included his actions in the Armed Forces for which he received many medals of honor! When his name was called, many were waiting for him to arise. (He had already left, and I was sad to not have been able to say good night to him.) It was because of that I had thought of “Sound of Music,” and the scene where the Von Trapp Family Singers were not available to accept their award because they were enroute to their quest for the freedom. Unbeknown to us and Bruno, it would be his escape from this imperfect world to being with God for eternity.
So we will all miss Bruno’s presence at Our Lady of Consolation because of his service and to Our Lady of Consolation and his warm and friendly personality.
May God bless you, Bruno! You are loved by many. Peace to his pastor, family, and friends; we were blessed to have known him!
Joan M. Ferrara October 18, 2018
