While it took many tries to get up the courage to read this, John, I am so grateful that you put this massive friendship and massive grief into words. So much love to you and Cassidy right now.
This made me cry. Will taught me Latin for a year at OLSW, and he was the best teacher I ever had at any school. The world seems smaller knowing he isn't here anymore, even though I didn't know him very well.
John, your stunningly accurate portrait of our Will moves our hearts beyond words....beyond words.... Thanks be to God that he was given such an extraordinary friend in you, one to match him toe to toe, and soul to soul. We will see him again....
John, this is heartachingly beautiful. In 2016, a dear cousin of mine passed away suddenly and unexpectedly at around the same age as Will. His mother, a devout Catholic and former school teacher expounded the following which I will leave here.
"The wound of grief never quite heals completely. Mother Nature , through time, puts a band aid in place to help us cope.
We must permit ourselves to grieve, but ,more importantly , to speak their name with love and pride and visit the happy times over and over.
It cannot be that they were never here.
Let the 'tsunami ' of loss come. It is our 'reward' for having loved them so very much."
Thank you for this beautiful eulogy. Will isn't an easy person to forget. I miss him now, even though I haven't seen him in years. God bless Will, God bless his family.
Thank you for writing this. Death has creeped into the peripheries of my life with more intense concentration lately... and this was very meaningful to read.
Tears. It seems that Will lived more than one life. He packed into his short life vastly more than most of us do in long lives we may be blessed to live. I'm astonished and awed by all of the things he knew and did and by the fierce energy with which he tackled everything. I would like to have met him. That kind of life force lives on, I could almost feel a stirring in the ether reading your account, John, of your dear friend. He lives on in Mary, in his children, in his farm, in the hearts and in the memories of all those who loved him. May he truly rest in peace and may the perpetual radiance of the Face of God shine upon him!
I attended the Seminary of Christ the King from 2001-2003. I was in the minor seminary, and Will was in the major seminary. He was a larger than life figure even back then. Supremely talented, with a joy and zest for life that was infectious. I haven't seen Will since 2003, and I doubt he remembered me (and why would he? I don't even think we ever spoke to each other one on one) but I remember him. I think that that is an indication of the type of man he was - if you encountered Will, no matter how briefly, he made an impression and left an impact that few can do even if they try. Thank you for writing this, John. It gave me a glimpse of the grief that you, Will's family, and other close friends are feeling from his loss. I am praying for Will and all of you.
While it took many tries to get up the courage to read this, John, I am so grateful that you put this massive friendship and massive grief into words. So much love to you and Cassidy right now.
This made me cry. Will taught me Latin for a year at OLSW, and he was the best teacher I ever had at any school. The world seems smaller knowing he isn't here anymore, even though I didn't know him very well.
John, your stunningly accurate portrait of our Will moves our hearts beyond words....beyond words.... Thanks be to God that he was given such an extraordinary friend in you, one to match him toe to toe, and soul to soul. We will see him again....
Love always,
Michael O'Brien
Thank you for this beautiful tribute. May The Lord grant unto Will memory eternal! ❤️🙏☦️
John, this is heartachingly beautiful. In 2016, a dear cousin of mine passed away suddenly and unexpectedly at around the same age as Will. His mother, a devout Catholic and former school teacher expounded the following which I will leave here.
"The wound of grief never quite heals completely. Mother Nature , through time, puts a band aid in place to help us cope.
We must permit ourselves to grieve, but ,more importantly , to speak their name with love and pride and visit the happy times over and over.
It cannot be that they were never here.
Let the 'tsunami ' of loss come. It is our 'reward' for having loved them so very much."
Thank you for this beautiful eulogy. Will isn't an easy person to forget. I miss him now, even though I haven't seen him in years. God bless Will, God bless his family.
Thank you for writing this. Death has creeped into the peripheries of my life with more intense concentration lately... and this was very meaningful to read.
Tears. It seems that Will lived more than one life. He packed into his short life vastly more than most of us do in long lives we may be blessed to live. I'm astonished and awed by all of the things he knew and did and by the fierce energy with which he tackled everything. I would like to have met him. That kind of life force lives on, I could almost feel a stirring in the ether reading your account, John, of your dear friend. He lives on in Mary, in his children, in his farm, in the hearts and in the memories of all those who loved him. May he truly rest in peace and may the perpetual radiance of the Face of God shine upon him!
I attended the Seminary of Christ the King from 2001-2003. I was in the minor seminary, and Will was in the major seminary. He was a larger than life figure even back then. Supremely talented, with a joy and zest for life that was infectious. I haven't seen Will since 2003, and I doubt he remembered me (and why would he? I don't even think we ever spoke to each other one on one) but I remember him. I think that that is an indication of the type of man he was - if you encountered Will, no matter how briefly, he made an impression and left an impact that few can do even if they try. Thank you for writing this, John. It gave me a glimpse of the grief that you, Will's family, and other close friends are feeling from his loss. I am praying for Will and all of you.