On the Friendship of Neighbor, George Perez

Faithful snowblowing friend, George Perez

By Sister Karen Mohan, VHM

I hadn’t planned to write about George on this blog, but our good  friend and neighbor died last Thursday, and I can’t get  George Perez  off my mind.  He was our community life-line into the ‘hood, and we couldn’t have hoped for a better “ connector,” straight-talker, storyteller,  handyman, and instructor in the art of manual labor, gardening, or life “in the ‘hood.”   He and his wife, Sharon lived just two houses away; they and their menagerie of indoor and outdoor pets, and garage full of every tool, saw, or electrical gadget imaginable!

We first encountered George snowblowing  our sidewalk the first month we moved into the neighborhood. That was November, 1989.  George had recently retired but was full of energy know-how.  We wondered who this kind person might be.  George made it clear:

“I’m snowblowing your place because my mother would be throwing rocks from heaven if I didn’t help the nuns!”

George continued snowblowing our extensive sidewalk for years, and when his health began to fail, Sharon would do this with him.

George wasn’t a churchgoer.  He was still upset over their home parish that had been closed and razed  to make way for the new interstate highway. This all happened right after the St. Joseph tower had been completed– a project for which George had donated hard earned money .  He may not have liked “church” time, but he embraced and lived the golden rule, and he loved his neighbors, the Sisters.

I saw George in church twice.  Once was at a family funeral.  The other time was when he and Sharon  had their marriage blessed.   At that time George purchased a handsome new suit.  He exclaimed,

“Look at this! This cost me $400!  You won’t see me in it again until my funeral!”  And his hearty laugh filled the air!

Helping us in the garden

Humor was usually a part of George’s every conversation. He often regaled us with his fisherman tales, his northwoods’ deer hunting expeditions stories, or his “life lesson” talks.   Often, after helping us, he would scratch his head and say,

“I just don’t know why you all would do this—give up  marriage and join the convent.”

But of course he DID know.  He had already shown us that “actions speak louder than words”  and that  to have a friend like George was to know the truth of Sirach 6:14-15 :

“A faithful friend is a sturdy shelter; those who find one find a treasure.  A faithful friend is beyond price. No sum can balance their worth.”

I saw George for the last time in their car driving down the back alley with Sharon. We waved.  I didn’t know it would be my last opportunity to greet the friend who had made my life so much fuller because of his friendship.   As our Catholic funeral liturgy proclaims: George, may the angels lead you into paradise and the saints welcome you to the holy city where you will see God face to face.  I will miss you.

I would encourage anyone who reads this to contact one of your friends and let them know what  their friendship means to you.