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 EULOGY

for

Dr. James McCarthy

Delivered by his Brother - Fr. Bill McCarthy, MSA

at

Pope Pius X Church - South Yarmouth, Massachusetts

                  June 11, 2010

On behalf of the Gorman and McCarthy families, Monsignor John Smith – family friend and former Pastor; on behalf of the present Pastor, Fr. George, we offer to you Jimmy, Billy, Christopher and Mary Ellen and your families, to you Janet – Jimmy’s beloved wife, to my sisters Mary Anne, Alice and Kathleen and your families and all the relatives and friends of my brother as well as myself sincerest sympathy. 

We are made by God with these very fragile hearts that are made to love.  When someone is taken from us, we go through a whole gamut of emotions:  sadness and shock, grief and depression, loneliness and doubt; yet St. Paul reminds us that we must not grieve as others who have no hope in the Resurrected Christ who said, “I am the Resurrection and the Life, and any one who puts their faith in Me shall live forever.”  Yes, through the Death and Resurrection of Christ, we pass over to eternal life in Heaven where eye has not seen, nor has ear heard, nor has it every entered into the minds of men the glories, the happiness and the bliss that God has prepared for each one of us who love Him.  Yes, Jimmy is still alive and will be alive forever.  What a consoling and yet true thought.  You and I will live forever and forever in that realm where love, joy, peace, happiness, companionship and on-going wisdom will be ours forever with Jesus, Mary, all the Saints, all the Angels and all our loved ones who have gone before us.  Jesus said, “If you put your faith in Me and follow My footsteps, you will live forever; for I am going ahead to prepare a place for you in My Father’s House.”  Yes, in Heaven there will be music and exaltation, worship and praise, love and delight without end.  That is why Jimmy was baptized.  At his Baptism the Holy Spirit entered into him to give him a share in supernatural life to enlighten his mind with a new kind of wisdom; that of Christ Himself, and to enflame his heart with a new kind of love, and to empower his spirit with the Spirit of God Himself.  That is why Monsignor Smith just greeted his body enshrouded with the sacred Pall. 

His Family

He was born the third day of the third month in 1936, the third youngest and the third oldest child of William John and Alice Elize Cote McCarthy at St. Francis Hospital in Hartford, Ct.  His family was very religious and very devout.  Jimmy worked for a time at the family bakery in Hartford with his mother, grandmother and aunts.  Jimmy was blessed with four wonderful children – Jimmy, Mary Ellen, Billy and Christopher and was a grandfather to many. 

His Education

He attended Our Lady of Sorrow Grammar School and Hall High School before going on to New Britain Teachers’ College, St. Thomas Seminary and College, Fairfield University and College, Springfield College and then in Administrative positions at Lyndonville College, Missouri State Western College and the University of Massachusetts.  All parents wish that their sons would go to college, but little did they realize that their third son would go to college, go to college, go to college and go to college.  Jimmy will be fondly and lovingly remembers for his deep devotion to higher education beginning as head of the Department of Education at Lyndon State College then as Dean of Students he became Executive Vice President at Missouri Western State University with a contagious enthusiasm and loving spirit to all the faculty and students.  His was the voice of the students who will long remember him. 

A Meaningful Poem

When he was four times three, he said, “The whole world looks good to me.  Oh, but the sky seems vast.  But then how could he know the older that you grow that childhood was not meant to last.”  And the Lord brushed by and said to him, “Jimmy, another door is opening soon.” 

When he was five times four, he thought he found that door that opens wide the gates of time.  But then how could he know the older that you grow there is always one more hill to climb.  And the Lord sat down and said to him, “Another door is opening soon.”

Now he’s seven going on eight times ten.  He can look at younger men who seem to know what life is about.  But then how can they know the older that you grow the more you learn to go without.  And the Lord came in and said to him, “Jimmy, I am that door that opens wide from now until eternity.  Yes, I am the Resurrection and the Life and because you put your faith in Me, you will live forever.”

A Final Parable

Once there was a ship that sailed away and on the shore were all his loved ones sadly waving goodbye.  It sailed over the ocean of mercy and as it arrived on the other shore, there were all his relatives and friends, his mom and dad, his aunts and uncles and family friends waiting to greet him.  Yes he traveled from one homeland to another, that is the journey we will all take if we stay close to Christ who says to each one of us, “I am the Resurrection and the Life and anyone who puts there faith in Me and follows in My footsteps you too shall live forever.”  My father’s favorite poem was, “Wherever you go, I shall go; wherever you live so shall I live.  Your people will be my people and your God will be my God too. 

Jimmy would like to say something to all of us who have become a part of the fabric of his life.  The color and texture which you have brought into our lives has become the song that we can sing forever.  For there is an energy locked deep within us, God’s Spirit, that makes things happen when the paths of others cross ours.  We have to be there to let it happen.  When the time of our particular sunset comes, our thing, our accomplishment won’t really matter a great deal, but the clarity and warmth with which we have loved others will speak with vitality of the great gift we have been to each other for we shall be forever together and our life will be the gift of our lives.

I AM THE RESURRECTION AND THE LIFE AND ANYONE WHO PUTS THEIR FAITH IN ME SHALL LIVE FOREVER

Dear Jimmy, Mellon, Billy & Christopher;

We are extremely saddened for our loss. Your Dad was always very important to my family. I fondly remember those two years that I lived in Vermont and your house was my home.

From being the ring bearer at his wedding to the visit a couple of weeks ago when he was able to go to lunch and then breakfast the next morning that completed the full cycle. Every phone call he made to me the last two years during my illness were very emotional for me and is something I will always remember. It had been a very long two years and with our families’ prayers everything seems to be getting better. I am sure if is very hard because when he initially got sick things went downhill very quickly.

The presence he had when he was with us will always be part of us. His personality and enjoyment of life to the fullest made every event special.

We will see you tomorrow and if we can do anything please ask. We will always remember that smile and zest for life.

Love Stephen, Anita, Shannon and Maggie

Stephen Skelly,

Wethersfield, Connecticut

~

June 09, 2010

Dear Janet and family:
As you already know, James was a wonderful person and a joy to be around. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family in this time of sorrow. It is my hope and prayer that you will find comfort in the kind memories he left to you and to everyone.

~ 

Nadyne Justin,

St. Joseph, Missouri

June 09, 2010

Dear Janet,

I was saddened to hear about the loss of Dr. McCarthy. You both were such an influence in my life during my time at Missouri Western. I worked for several years in Dr. McCarthy's office as a student assistant. I've never learned so much while having so much fun. Dr. McCarthy was also part of my wedding in 1998 when I married my husband. He read I Corinthians 13 during the ceremony. Dr. Mc was and will continue to be an uplifting presence in my life. He will be greatly missed.

Love,
Tara Hovenga-Stuart, Todd Stuart and Campbell Stuart (6 months old)

~ 

Tara Stuart,

Platte City, Missouri

~

June 09, 2010

I would like to extend my deepest sympathy to all of the family of James J..McCarthy on the loss of a dear husband, father, grandfather, brothers and sisters. Please know that you are in my thoughts and prayers as you celebrate his spirit.

~ 

Dodie Arsenault,

East Hartford, Connecticut

June 09, 2010

Dear Janet, Jim, Mary Ellen, Bill and Christopher,
We are so sad about the loss of Uncle Jimmy. I am so grateful that our visit a few weeks ago was so nice. My mom is heartbroken at the loss of her beloved little brother. They had such a special relationship and he will sincerely be missed as a brother and an uncle.
Sincerely,
Sue (Skelly), Ian, Erin and Sara Kaswan

Sue Kaswan,

~

Dear Janet, Jim, Bill, Mary Ellen and Christopher,

We're so sorry for and saddened by the loss of my dear Uncle Jimmy (and my Godfather). Please know you are all in our thoughts and prayers, and that we celebrate his spirit, can still hear his laugh, and are with you as you mourn and remember.

Love,
Mike, Kathleen, Fiona, Michael, Sean and Mary Dunn

Michael Dunn