Number one:

EULOGY TO BROTHER JOHN

Dear Linda & Peter, dear brothers & sisters, & dear relatives & friends;


By: Joseph Moy

"It is very difficult to believe that less than one week ago Johnny was as alive and you and I. In a twinkling of an eye he was gone and into our memories. If we could speak to him about his sudden departure, I think he would probably smile. He is the kind of guy that doesn't blow his horn either about what he has done or is is about to do.

"No one can understand the wisdom of God in calling Johnny on such short notice. But we can be certain it was according to His plan. I remember when Johnny was a combat engineer during World War II. As you may know, a combat engineer is a frontline soldier whose primary duty is to build something in the midst of enemy action. I recall he wrote home that on one occasion artillery shells were exploding around him. It wasn't Johnny's time to go. So he came home no worst for wear.

"One other incident in Johnny's wartime service is worth remembering, because it so typifies his concern for the people around him. In Belgium he helped a war-destituted family by sharing with them his Army rations. This act was significant because it shows that to him people are people -  not just persons of Chinese ancestry.

"Johnny married shortly after then end of the War. He gave it everything he had and them some. I remembered that he did just about anything and everything to support a growing family. He worked in a factory, he sold vacuum cleaners, he held part-time jobs, he even owned and operated a retail store on Canal Street. As well as I can remember he never asked for help without any thought of repaying. He was a very proud man... and also a very stubborn one. In retrospect I believe he had some very happy times, but he must also have had a very heavy burden to carry over the last thirty years. But whatever his adversities he did not hide from other people's difficulties, nor did he stray away from doing the 'right' thing even if meant not getting what he, in all probability, needed desperately. It is not surprising then that the strongest word I ever hear in his language was 'Heck.'

"No, Johnny's life on earth did not win him any material things; but material gains for its own sake was not his life's objective. He touched our hearts because of his humanity to man, not just on Sunday, but seven days a week.

"In conclusion, I would like to quote a passage from a letter written by St. Paul to the early Christians which I think exemplifies Johnny's outlook:

Love is patient and kind; love is not jealous or boastful; it is not arrogant or rude. Love does not insist on it's own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrong, but rejoices in the right. Love bears all things, believes all thing, hopes all things, endures all things...

"We will miss you, Johnny. May your soul rest in peace."


[I have made some minor changes and edits to this lyrical piece; however any errors or omissions are mine--pjm
Thanks again to Priscilla L. and Virginia B. for all their efforts in getting this published.]

News

A copy of Joe's original eulogy has been found, and is winging its way to me even as you read this--it will be posted as soon as possible. Thanks and kudos to Virginia and Priscilla for this.

First cut

Johnny had a child's curiosity about everything. No matter the subject, he was interested from the get-go. As a child of said parent, I absorbed. Have you communicated a sense of wonder to your kids? (and, think about it--it's not only blood kids I'm talking about, but, rather, younger people you encounter daily who need and want your good advice and experience.)

Johnny respected everyone. I rarely saw him angry or mad at anyone or anything. It may sound like I'm describing a saint, but think instead: even-tempered. I hope and pray I carry the gene for that particular temperament in me, because I don't think it's all that common, and not nearly as valued as it should be.

Johnny did his duty. No matter how difficult the relationship he was in [big smile and smilie here], or whatever path God set him on, he was there. To those of you thinking: well, I do my duty; let me explain. You are not doing your duty, if you complain or bitch. Don't get me wrong, you're entitled to same if that's what you want (or need) to do; but it ain't duty. You're just doing what we all have to do 24/7. Doing your duty comes from a higher sense of purpose--what you're supposed to do. No rewards, no gold at the the end of the tunnel--part and parcel of doing your duty is doing the painful thing.

Are you doing your duty? Beats me--ask your spouse/significant other/someone whose opinion you respect. They are the ones who will tell you the truth. This allows me to segue to Johnny's final strength: he always spoke the truth to your face. In a world of people telling what you want to hear, Johnny stood out by telling you the way things were. Those of us who admire such a valuable trait feel sorry for those of you who have missed the sheer joy of receiving same.

[VB, in an email] 
I do remember Uncle Joe saying the strongest words uttered by your father might be “What the heck,.....” 
[Johnny was almost the mild-mannered Chinese Clark Kent in that respect.]

[JM, in a post]
...
I remember him as [a] slender, friendly young man, busily taking on life.
...

For me, as a son, Johnny was the (my first) warm, fuzzy, big male person in my life. I think this is a hard feeling to convey, but through thick and thin, good times and bad times, he was there. I pray I do as well with people I interact closely with.


From the Firefly TV series:
 Book: How we treat our dead is part of what makes us different...http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0579528/quotes

Prologue

You'd think that writing a eulogy about your father would be easy. But a lot of the good things I remember about my father Johnny are based on the warm, fuzzy person I remember from when I was very young. As an adult, these are not the things that made him great (although they are based on the same factors.)

Eulogy number 1 was written by brother Joseph at Johnny's funeral after his untimely death. A copy is currently not available. If anyone has one, please contact me, and we can arrange a transfer and publishing. It would be much appreciated.