My father John was born on March 26,1925 - today he would have turned 100! So wishing him a Happy Birthday in heaven, I share a few reflections I shared at my funeral homily I did in 2002, when he died on January 4..... The tremendous amount of good that my father accomplished was done with sincere and genuine humility. Whether he was painting a room, or plastering a roof before the rainy season, whether he was decorating a cake or weeding a garden, whether he was ironing a mountain of clothes or preparing a rabbit or a chicken for us to eat, he did everything with a sincere interest, sheer joy and a total commitment. In one of the letters he used to write to me every week, precisely on the occasion of my parents' 50th Anniversary in 1998, I remember my dad writing to me that the best thing that ever happened to him was when he met my mother. . . . . they knew each other since they were very young, and got married young too, but the way they raised our family is nothing short of a masterpiece. I do not say this just to show off, but those who knew him well, know exactly what I mean.
He used
to recall the hardships he experienced during World War II during which time he
was still a teenager. Once he
found a pair of shoes belonging to a dead British
sailor and wore them for two weeks straight, as he was afraid another boy would
steal them from him. On another occasion he was sent by his mother to buy a
case of tomatoes from Madliena (5 miles away from home), and when he reached
his home at St Julian's, the case was empty as he was starving, and ate all the
tomatoes.
Following the end of the war, my dad entered the Police Department, a career which he served with pride, honor and impeccable devotion. He was loved, respected and fulfilled his duties with utmost dedication, and gave his life, heart and soul to help retain order in our nation, which was going through some troublesome period. It was the highlight of my week when he used to take me or my brother to his Office, where we ended up playing with everything we found on his desk. In a letter sent to him in 1971 by the ex-Police Commissioner Vivian deGray, he wrote about my father: " Mr John Cassar worked under me in the Police Force for over 25 years. He was always employed on clerical duties to the full satisfaction of his superiors. Mr Cassar is a courteous, respectful, capable, conscientious and reliable clerk of unimpeachable probity and integrity."
In 1948, my mother and father were married and had 5 children between 1949 and 1964, Josephine and Rose-Marie, myself and Paul, and since we were very close in age and since they always dressed us alike, many people thought that my parents had two sets of twins. Then came Marcel, and since we were much older than him, he found himself being raised by 6 parents instead of two. Undoubtedly they treasured us and loved us to no end, and the timely discipline we experienced from them, molded us into fine young people, respected wherever we went and wherever we worked. My mother and father were simply and utterly inseparable. Many people remember them for the generous heart they have, and all of us who were so much closer to them, can witness that theirs was truly a heart of gold. And we only heard the word NO as a warning, as a timely correction and an appropriate and deserved scolding. My father was a man who was happy and content with just about everything, and was happy with the simple things in life. He was not a demanding person and never restricted us or placed any impossible rules or unfair regulations around the house. He will do anything to make everyone happy, and he was "jack-of-all-trades," heart and soul. There wasn't anything he couldn't fix, or try to fix. He was proud of all our accomplishments, and they would be twice as happy today seeing their two grandchildren excelling as doctors. As I pray for him especially today, I also pray to him, as his presence in my life has kept me going in my priesthood for another 23 years so far. May we always follow his example of sacrifice, commitment to our duties and showing responsibility in everything we do. Happy 100th Birthday dad !
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