In Memoriam: Lou Parr

In Memoriam: Lou, originally uploaded by lalapapawawa.

I don't have a better picture of Lou, pictured on the right. This was a familiar sight at our church. Lou was a volunteer.
I've only known him for ten of his 80 years. Because of that, I missed many of his milestones. That he joined the Navy, then the Air Force, and gave 20 years in service. That he worked for CSX railroad for an additional 30 years. That he married Rita and had 11 children, 9 who survived him.
I think many people will review these details of his life and come to this conclusion: Very traditional; Very Catholic. They'd be correct. But this would not begin to sum up his life.
I think the viewing I attended was a much more complete picture of him. As a man of service, the place was filled with people vying for the opportunity to serve him. He was a member of the Knights of Columbus, who took turns standing attention around his casket. He was a member of the military, and members stood attention at the entrance to the chapel where we gathered to say a rosary for him.
As a family man with 9 living children and several siblings, the room was filled with people who bore a striking resemblance to both Rita and Lou. As we'd say in the south, there were lots of people who favored him in that room. And as we watched the slide show of pictures in the sitting area, each picture inspired laughter, occasional tears, and young voices asking, "Which one are you, mom?"
As a grandparent, his humor and acceptance were also in evidence. Nestled between friends and pictures of the milestones of his life, a handwritten sign on an ottoman in the sitting area. It read: Conductor Lou is leaving the station. All board! Next to it, a blue conductor's cap.
For a man who spent most of his life in service, and had such a large family - immediate, extended and formed through years of breaking bread together - it must feel odd for him to take this final journey all by himself. But I know one thing. For all of us gathered to pay our last respects to this gentle, good-humored, reliable, oak-tree of a man, we all knew more fully how to show our respects because of the examples he gave us with his life.
With respect...