“Remember that when you leave this earth, you can take with you nothing that you have received ... but only what you have given: a full heart, enriched by honest service, love, sacrifice, and courage.”
- St. Francis of Assisi
On Tuesday, November 9, I returned to my home parish of Sts. Simon and Jude in Scott Twp. for the funeral of a long time neighbor, John Angelo Palamides, 86 years old. I grew up on the same street of Allender Avenue with the Palamides family. John was married to Gloria Bolla for 57 years. They had four sons and five grandchildren. He was the eldest of three siblings. I received a phone call from his son Tom from Southern California on Friday, November 5, informing me that his father had died. He had a brain aneurism the day before and suddenly and unexpectedly, like a "thief in the night," his life ended. I conveyed my sympathy to my friend Tom who attended Sts. Simon and Jude Grade School, Bishop Canevin High School and Duquesne University with me. Tom has a twin brother, Tim. I got to church a half hour before in order to spend quiet time in prayer. As I sought God’s comfort, I prayed that the family would be consoled by all who came, near and far, for his funeral. While kneeling before the Blessed Mother and a beautiful banner of the patron saints of the church, Sts. Simon and Jude, I asked the patron of impossible cases, St. Jude, to turn this darkness into victory.
- St. Francis of Assisi
On Tuesday, November 9, I returned to my home parish of Sts. Simon and Jude in Scott Twp. for the funeral of a long time neighbor, John Angelo Palamides, 86 years old. I grew up on the same street of Allender Avenue with the Palamides family. John was married to Gloria Bolla for 57 years. They had four sons and five grandchildren. He was the eldest of three siblings. I received a phone call from his son Tom from Southern California on Friday, November 5, informing me that his father had died. He had a brain aneurism the day before and suddenly and unexpectedly, like a "thief in the night," his life ended. I conveyed my sympathy to my friend Tom who attended Sts. Simon and Jude Grade School, Bishop Canevin High School and Duquesne University with me. Tom has a twin brother, Tim. I got to church a half hour before in order to spend quiet time in prayer. As I sought God’s comfort, I prayed that the family would be consoled by all who came, near and far, for his funeral. While kneeling before the Blessed Mother and a beautiful banner of the patron saints of the church, Sts. Simon and Jude, I asked the patron of impossible cases, St. Jude, to turn this darkness into victory.
John served in the US Marine Corps during World War II in the Pacific Theater (VMSB 333 Marine Scout Bombing Squadron). Mr. Palamides was educated in the Pittsburgh public schools and was a former city of Pittsburgh police officer of 23 years. He pioneered the “Officer-Friendly” program that promoted child safety and awareness at home and in the community. After retirement as a police officer, he transitioned to VP of Mellon Bank for 14 years. John was an enthusiastic trombone player and an original member of the Pittsburgh Police and Firemen Band, who also joined the Western Pennsylvania Branch 84 Letter Carriers Band — performing in parades and community events for over 35 years. John loved life and people: his family, his country, his community, his parish, his neighborhood, and he carried a heart as big as his trombone bell. He was a "long-time" member of Sts. Simon and Jude and sang in their choir for over 50 years.
There were approximately 250 people in attendance for his funeral. It was wonderful to be back home and see so many familiar faces in my hometown. The twin sons read. From the book of Revelation 21:1-5 we heard, “I saw a new heaven and a new earth. I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, ‘Behold, God’s dwelling is with the human race. He will dwell with them and they will be His people. And God Himself will always be with them as their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there shall be no more death or mourning, wailing or pain, for the old order has passed away.’ The One who sat on the throne said, ’Behold, I make all things new.’” And in the Epistle of St. Paul to the Romans 14:7-9, “None of us lives for oneself, and no one dies for oneself. For if we live, we live for the Lord, and if we die, we die for the Lord; so then, whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s. For this is why Christ died and came to life, that He might be Lord of both the dead and the living.” The Gospel reading was of the Last Judgment of Jesus’ Eschatological Discourse which reads, “When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, He will sit them upon His glorious throne ... and He will separate them one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will place the sheep on His right and the goats on His left. Then the King will say to those on His right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.’” (Matthew 25:31-34).
Jesus gives us a preview of the “final exam” in this passage. For when I was hungry, when I was thirsty, naked, ill, in prison ... you served and cared for others and poured your life out in loving service for others’ sake. When you did these things out of love for Me, you furthered my reign. John Palamides’ devotion and service touched countless lives.
One of the sons, Tom, gave a farewell remembrance (eulogy) in offering remarks at the close of the Mass. Tom said such things as:
- Thank you, Dad, for being our Dad. What a special gift from God you are to us!
- Thank you, Dad, for changing our diapers. Although we did not know at that young age, your tenderness and care, we came to know it through our lives. (By the way, none of us never suffered from diaper rash!)
- Thank you, Dad, for teaching us right from wrong. When I left my tricycle on the sidewalk and it was run over by the bakery truck and smashed to a pretzel, I learned the lesson to obey my parents more clearly.
- I thank you Dad for teaching us how to ride a bicycle and a motorcycle which taught us the key lesson of life—to have a balance. Otherwise, we fall.
- Thank you, Dad, for your passion for music. In teaching us to play an instrument, we grew stronger as a family to play in the parades together. I can still hear Dad’s trombone sound off in the distance.
- Thank you, Dad, for providing us with a Catholic education, the foundation and framework of our lives --the beliefs, the values and the lessons Mom and you taught have not been in vain.
- Thank you, Dad, for taking us to the library. It opened the horizons of our minds to the dreams of what we were called to be in this life.
- Thank you, Dad, for taking us fishing at Conneaut Lake. Although we did not catch many fish, we had the comfort of being together.
- Thank you, Dad, for taking us to church and singing in the choir. Teaching us to feed on the grace of the sacraments and to live lives centered around the Lord and His plan for us, and His will for us, that we can hope hat we shall reign with him in everlasting glory!
- Thank you, Dad, for having been our Dad. God chose you to teach us to love Him. Dad, we love you!
