by: \u00a0Frances Maloney<\/p>\n
It is written of Mary of Magdala, that, after the disciples had returned to their homes, Mary lingered like a humming bird before the silent face of the tomb, weeping. \u00a0“And as she wept, she bent over into the tomb and saw two angels in white sitting there, one at the head and one at the feet where the body of Jesus had been. \u00a0And they said to her, “woman, why are you weeping?” \u00a0She said to them, “They have taken away my Lord, and I don’t know where they have laid him.”<\/p>\n
I am that woman. \u00a0And so, I am deeply grateful to Mary Flynn, Katherine, and Suzanne, and to all of you who grieve Frank’s passing, for allowing me to join you in this company of mourners. \u00a0Frank and I did not attend Frank’s parents’ funerals, because Frank chose not to go without me, and I wasn’t sober.<\/p>\n
Frank was merciful and kind, honest and true, first with himself and with God, then with all of us, indeed with all creatures, great and small.<\/p>\n
Rabbi Rami M. Shapiro has provided this prayer for bride and groom that I think was fulfilled in our marriage:<\/p>\n
“Dear God,<\/p>\n
You have brought this couple together<\/p>\n
that they might risk the joys and sorrows of love.<\/p>\n
They have said “yes” to You and to each other.<\/p>\n
We now ask that you bless them<\/p>\n
with love and compassion<\/p>\n
righteousness and truth.<\/p>\n
Guide them in ways of deep and loving<\/p>\n
friendship that they may forever<\/p>\n
cherish, honor, uphold and sustain<\/p>\n
each other and the divine image<\/p>\n
that is our deepest self.”<\/p>\n
Ma, that is, Frank’s mother (of blessed memory), taught me to pray, “Thank you, God, for all you have given me, for all you have taken away, and, for all you have left me.<\/p>\n
Left me, are vital memories, full of Frank’s spirit and likeness. \u00a0For example, one day, when we lived in Ann Arbor, a bee appeared in our apartment. \u00a0I was terrorized and called on Frank to save us. \u00a0Well, Frank took what seemed like an hour to tackle that bee, amused at my distress. \u00a0Anxiety turned to wonder as I watched him carefully collect the bee into the palm of his hand and lovingly escort the bee outside, a sweet man doing a sweet thing.<\/p>\n
Like Frank himself, the honey bee<\/p>\n
The humble, the lowly honey bee<\/p>\n
Needed to feed the earth<\/p>\n
Needed to feed the earth.<\/p>\n
By his spirit and example, his farmer’s faith and heart of a fisherman, Frank drew me to something better than I had ever known, becoming my personal rock, my personal redeemer.<\/p>\n
Remembering the concluding line of a poem by Langston Hughes, as reads, “Yet you never know, when a woman like me is free.” \u00a0I testify that I never want to be free from the Love of God, as expressed by my only husband to his only wife.<\/p>\n
Frank was patient, Frank was kind<\/p>\n
Frank was glad for the well-being<\/p>\n
\u00a0 \u00a0 and success of others, such as<\/p>\n
\u00a0 \u00a0 his brother Joe, who was a<\/p>\n
\u00a0 \u00a0 blessed father and grandfather<\/p>\n
Frank envied no one<\/p>\n
Frank was generous, unassuming,<\/p>\n
\u00a0 \u00a0 faithful, devoted<\/p>\n
Not egotistical, not ‘in your face’<\/p>\n
Not rude, never selfish<\/p>\n
Frank’s heart was a vessel of gratitude<\/p>\n
Frank was slow to take offense,<\/p>\n
\u00a0 \u00a0 harbored no resentments<\/p>\n
Frank was merciful and forgave in truth<\/p>\n
Frank was moral<\/p>\n
Frank was ethical<\/p>\n
Frank did Matthew 25:34-36<\/p>\n
Frank was courageous and brave<\/p>\n
Frank bore all things, believed all things,<\/p>\n
Hoped all things<\/p>\n
Endured all things.<\/p>\n
Francis Albert Dynan nearly died in infancy. \u00a0In Vietnam, he was flown around in helicopters packed with explosives. \u00a0Surviving these, Frank never missed, for an instant, his work as an instrument of peace, in thought and deed.<\/p>\n
Frank and I never parted without desire and hope to behold each other again.<\/p>\n
Francis Albert Dynan, how do I love thee? \u00a0I love thee to the depth and breadth and height my soul can reach, when feeling out of sight for the ends of Being and ideal Grace -, and, if God choose, precious, gracious, loving, compassionate man, my Rabbouni – I shall love thee better after death.<\/p>\n
Ed.Note:<\/strong> \u00a0Francis Jean Maloney served in the United States Army as did Frances Albert Dynan. \u00a0They met while serving together in Germany and married. \u00a0After several years, they divorced, but in spite of their legal status they remained friends and remained married and true to one another for the rest of their lives.<\/p>\n Francis Maloney came from an amazing family. \u00a0Her mother was the first African American to perform with a major symphony orchestra in the United States and her father was Surgeon General of Liberia. \u00a0Frances was homeless for a time. \u00a0What she experienced and suffered should make all of us think about how we treat those who served these United States. \u00a0She is currently on the board of Bettina Network Foundation, inc. and is a tremendous asset to the Foundation and everything it does.<\/p>\n ________________________________________________________________________<\/p>\n