Outpouring of Love and Respect

Ralph and I went to the funeral this morning.  Got to the church early and already were placed in the second line of cars for the procession to the cemetery.  When the mass began the church was full of people.  When we came out there were cars with flags lined up everywhere in the church parking lot.  Once we finally began moving there were flagged cars as far as we could see both in front  and behind, but the hearse was way beyond what we could see, and we were heading in the opposite direction from the cemetery.  There must have been 150 cars in the procession.  At every intersection police cars blocked traffic for us and long lines of cars and trucks were waiting for us to pass.  Even at the end of our street to allow the deceased to pass his home on the way to his resting place.

We drove for 55 minutes, disrupting traffic in Westlake, North Olmstead, in Cleveland along Brookpark Road leading to the airport and on to Holy Cross Cemetery.  It was the largest funeral procession I have ever seen.  Not for a public official, or a corporate giant, or a priest or bishop.  For a 30-year old man with a heart of gold who had helped and touched the lives of everyone he met.

Rest in peace Tony.