Singing Ave Maria... RIP Fausto

They say that death comes in three's.
It would seem that the statement may be true.

Sunday on Valentines Day..
The day we celebrate the power of Love and Hearts.

The heart of a wonderful man stopped beating.
Did we know it was going to happen Yes...
Did we know it was going to happen sooner rather than later Yes..
Did we all think because we knew that the inevitable would happen that we could use reason and rationalize this Yes

Did we know how much it was going to hurt to say good bye.. NO.

I remember distinctly how I met him..
I was a very little girl.. perhaps 5 years old.. He had come with a friend... who was interested in buying our house.
The visit was very last minute..
I was barely awake..and still bleary eyed with morning sleep but the house was to be shown...

I remember my mother sat me down at the kitchen table with a bowl of cereal.
( Basically to keep me quiet) while the adults took the tour.

After a few moments he appeared from around the corner.. and came to sit down next to me at the table.. while the others looked about the place.

He asked me if I was enjoying my breakfast..and I nodded my head yes..

He asked my name and I answered ... (in Italian ) Marcella

I think he was a bit surprised that I understood him when he spoke Italian.

He asked me how old I was.. and told him

Then... with eyes wide open he exclaimed that he too had a little girl the exact same age!

I asked her name and he told me Maria Grazia..

I asked where she was.. and he told me she lived far away in Italy..

He spoke to me so sweetly with a genuine interest

He said he really missed her.

Even as young as I was ,could not imagine being so far away from my Daddy.

I felt sorry for him and his little girl
( Little did I know how much that little girl's life and mine would intertwine)


He lead an interesting life..

He had the most beautiful tenor voice..

For years he sang aboard cruise ships with live bands... entertaining passengers... he saw so much of the world and the fascinating people in it.

Eventually he met the love of his life ... and started a family.

Fate would bring him here to the United States to work... only to be separated from his family..
Eventually all would be united here and true roots would form.

He worked hard to support his family and make a new life for them here.

His son would go on to become an attorney.. proving that with hard work and determination...anything is possible in this land.

Always impeccably dressed.. even in a casual atmosphere.. he looked dashing..

Life was good to him..

He lived during a time that allowed him to see and experienced things many could never possibly imagine..

To work hard ...forge on and enjoy a wonderful family.. and to live long enough to cherish his wonderful grandchildren.

He lead a exemplary life.

He lived

He loved

He laughed

Did I mentioned he could sing?

My Gosh how he could sing..

On my wedding day.. he did me the incredible honor of singing Ave Maria.

It was a moment I will never forget.

On my last visit to him only about a week ago..

I could see he was past the point of really knowing who I was and was unable to speak

(Although his eyes were full of life ...still so wide and searching)

"I said to him.. Fausto.. I am so glad to finally be able to see you !"

He almost seemed to struggle to say something..

" I hope the next time I see you... You and I will sing Ave Maria together"

(As I exaggerated my very best falsetto opera voice belting out AAAAVE Maaarrria !!!)

I hope perhaps one day ...
God willing... We will get the chance to do just that.

God Bless You Fausto..

You WILL be missed.