Bepi - Published

We are gathered here today to remember Bepi.  Bepi immigrated to this country from Italy and later sent for his bride more than 40 years ago.  Together they had four children.  Bepi worked hard all his life and led a very simple life.  He was a carpenter and with those skills, he raised and educated his family.  Bepi enjoyed the simple things in life.  He loved his garden that provided fresh vegetables.  He would marvel at the beauty of nature, as he nurtured his roses and different colorful fruits all from his labor.  I loved Bepi.  I loved Bepi because he was a kind man, a gentle man.  He was the only man aside from my own father that I could open the door to and it did not matter how I looked because he always envisioned me as a child and not as a woman.  I loved Bepi because he was the only person aside from my father who refused to take any money when I needed his carpentry skills.  You see Bepi was generous with his self.  This generosity expanded to everyone who knew him.  And if there is a heaven then Bepi is already there watching us and pleased that we are all with him today.

          I have written this for Bepi because there was no eulogy that day in church.  Just prior to entering the church I saw his casket in the limousine.  He was all alone.  Others were in the comfort of their own limousines.  I touched the door near where he lay and entered the church.  I did not want to do this for I felt that he should not be alone.  I knew it was cold but someone should have been at his side.

                Inside the church there were many people and all were watching each other to determine who had come.  They would have something to talk about later.  You see Bepi did not have any real friends.  Bepi was always ignored.  And on that day, his day, he was alone in his limousine while his family kept warm in another.  And the minister raved on about heaven and hell and judgement day and did not speak of Bepi.  For if he knew Bepi, he would have known there was no need to speak of such things because for Bepi there could only be heaven.  But the minister failed to see Bepi because he saw a congregation of people that were in his church who were not normally there.  So, he took the opportunity to warn this flock that death was near and so was hell and heaven.  So, once again Bepi was ignored.

So Bepi, I want you to know that I love you and have always cared for you and treated you with respect when I know so many others failed you.  I want you to know that though there was no eulogy for you in church that day, there will be one for you today.  Because Bepi you deserve to have your story told.  I loved you and would have been proud to have you as my father.  I would have held my head high.  I want you to know that though there was no police escort for you that day along the many miles to a cemetery that is so far from your home, you had an escort of angels as you looked down from above.

Good by my friend.