Goodbye

Today my family said goodbye to my former husband and father of my son. My cousins, my sisters, my aunt and uncle, as well as dozens of George's friends and relatives joined my children, his mother and sister and me in saying goodbye. The priest was kind, the music was beautiful and the church is like a museum with all of its beautiful artwork. 

At the end of the funeral mass this morning, I struggled through reading the following:

We are gathered today to celebrate the life of a good and kind man, the best of us, George Mancuso. To all of us, his friends and family alike, his death at only forty-nine is an unimaginable loss.

A long time fixture in Throggs Neck, George started working alongside his uncle Gaetano when he was seventeen years old. As his friends can tell you, he was a whiz of an oven man at Tommy’s Pizza.

The loving son of Rosario and Carmela Mancuso, George was also the “big brother” to Rosalba. As George joins his father, Rosario, in heaven, I ache for Carmela and Rosalba for their tremendous loss on this day and in the days to come.

George was enchanted by Motion Pictures, as anyone who has taken part in his Oscars pool can attest, and also all things Disney. But most of all, George was enchanted with his children, John and Liz. He spent as much time with them as possible, coming for Christmas each year, always with cannolis in hand. The trips they all took to Disney were the stuff of legend. It was because of him that Liz found her way to “Up with People and that grand adventure.

In short, he spoiled them rotten and loved them fiercely. As a result, they are the best of him, a testament to his kindness and love.

Rest in Peace, George. We will miss you.

Next we went to the cemetery for a final blessing and goodbye. I am exhausted and heartsick and so sad. And old. So very old.