Funeral Mass for February 22, 2011

Funeral Mass for Larry Preller
(Readings #2, #10, #16)
Shrine of the Sacred Heart
February 22, 2011 / 10:00am

The Seed As Kernel, Starch, and Skin
By (Rev. Msgr.) Nicholas P. Amato


CONDOLENCES AND THE PEANUT

To Doris, Larry’s wife of 18 years. To his children Debby and Ed, Rita, Lauren, Joe and Leeann, Adam and Dawn, and Patrick and Amanda. To Doris’ children, Rob and Gail, June and Derry, Janelle and Eric, and Donna and Steve. To his 14 grandchildren and 5 great grandchildren, we offer you our heartfelt condolences on the death of Larry

Larry was a simple man with big dreams and a will that would never quit. I met him the day I came to the Shrine in early September 1989; he was pouring a cement floor in the basement of this very church.

Days later his beloved wife Marie, of 44 years, died. Marie’s was my first funeral here in and over the years Larry and I became very close as I came to know and love his children. After three years, I witnessed his marriage to his new love, Doris at this very altar.

I begin my remarks with a vivid memory I have from elementary school of my science teacher holding a large plaster classroom model of a peanut for all of us fifth graders to see.

As I recall, there were three main parts to that peanut model: the inner kernel that we were told, held the “mystery of life itself.”

Then there was the large massive area that was called the starch. This starch (demonstrate) was to serve as fuel for the growing kernel. And finally, there was the thin outer skin or membrane that kept it all together.


JESUS AND THE MYSTERY OF THE PEANUT

Recall that Jesus says, “Unless the grain of wheat falls to the earth and dies, it remains just a grain of wheat. But if it dies, it produces much fruit.”
My description of the peanut can help us unlock the mystery that Jesus is discussing, namely how life comes out of death.

Applied to Larry, his innermost kernel of faith, fed by his love for his family and Church, grew and grew and finally became so expansive that it pressed beyond a thin outer skin and is now transformed into glory.


HIS FAITH = THE KERNEL

His faith was the kernel. It’s no secret that Larry loved God. He had a longing for God and he nurtured that longing in prayer and regular Sunday worship. He had a great devotion to St. Joseph the carpenter.

How confident he was that St. Joseph understood him even as a fellow-carpenter. On Larry’s last day, he clung tightly to a small statue of the saint.

His love of God was seen in his ministry of taking communion to the sick and dying. At these special times I allowed him to wear a clergy shirt. Doris tells of the day she accompanied him and happened to be wearing black herself and they patients thought they were a priest and a religious sister.

Larry was no rainy day friend of God’s. He was right there either being fed by the Lord, ministering in his name to those in need, or sharing his faith with his children.

His kernel of faith in Jesus Christ enlivened, quickened, and animated him to be there for others and to bring the presence of that very same God he enjoyed to others.


HIS FAMILY = THE STARCH

His love for his family was the starch on which his kernel of faith fed. Now remember Larry was a disciple of Jesus, so whether it was family, friends, neighbors or strangers he didn’t know, you’d get a heavy dose of a faith-filled man loving you as Jesus would.

He was a devoted family man and while he built many beautiful dwellings, his greatest “edifice” was his relationship first for Marie and then Doris, and course, his children.

He captured 25 years of family gatherings on film and made copies for all the kids.
He was happiest when he was with them and surrounded by others. He would use any excuse to get together with them.

Larry’s life was one of sacrifice. The children got the best educations, clothing, food, and homes and he worked hard to provide these. He was a bit of a workaholic, and it was work he would gladly do.

The Preller children had more than their share of family challenges and Larry was always there for them. He was there in ways many parents would not or could not have been.

He listened. He was open-minded. He spoke honestly and lovingly. He did not judge. No matter what personal crisis – and there were many – he was always available to help by a prayerful presence.

Once he knew the problem, he’d help financially, spiritually, or emotionally. He had the uncanny ability to put a positive spin on the darkest of situations. He was good at reminding the children that there was a higher power in charge.

Whenever an issue was more than he could handle, Larry would call in a third party to sit down with the entire family to work things out. These became their regular family meetings and drew parents and children together.


BREAKING THROUGH THE KERNEL

Yes, the kernel feeding on the starch was growing beyond what the skin would allow. Larry was becoming physically challenged.

In addition to spending himself, there were medical issues regarding kidney, prostrate, bladder, and knee replacement.

His nurse noted that his desire to live and serve was strong, in her words, “The strongest she’d ever seen” his body couldn’t contain his spirit.

Larry as a man of faith, feeding on the starch of serving others so sacrificially needed to break through the membrane, if it is to be transformed to another level of life.

And so his life add light and understanding to Jesus’ words, “Unless the grain of wheat falls to the earth and dies, it remains just a grain of wheat. But if it dies, it produces much fruit.”

That moment of passage came on Monday morning at 8:30 and the fruit of his life is now being one with the Lord he so beautifully served.