Michael F. Lynch - Michael Lynch Memorial Foundation

MICHAEL F. LYNCH
12/12/70 — 9/11/01
MASS OF CELEBRATION
for
Michael Francis Lynch
December 7, 2001
Saint Frances de Chantal Parish ✥ Throggs Neck, New York
LITURGY OF THE EUCHARIST
CELEBRANTS
Celebrant
Con-Celebrants
Theodore Cardinal McCarrick
Cardinal Archbishop of Washington D.C.
Hymn
Ave Maria
Presentation of the Gifts
Msgr. Leslie J. Ivers
Brother John LoSasso, O.F.M. Cap.
Agnes Lynch • PatrickLynch
Timothy Lynch • AndrewMcCarrick
Maureen Dolan • Josephine Luccioni
John Badalati • BrianBurns
MUSIC
Organist
Dr. Jennifer Pascual
Violinist
Andrew Wise
Vocalists
Patrick Lynch, Michael’s brother
Christi Chiapetti
Communion Hymns
Panis Angelicus
We Remember
EULOGIES
Family
Thomas Lynch
Maureen Lynch Baker
Fred Lynch
Kathleen Lynch
Paul Lynch
Stephanie Luccioni
John Badalati, Speaker
Elias Langguth
Brian Burns
Brian Mulligan
INTRODUCTORY RITE
Processional
Breastplate of St. Patrick
LITURGY OF THE WORD
First Reading
Lector:
Responsorial Psalm
Second Reading
Lector:
Alleluia
Gospel Reading
Friends
The Book of Wisdom 3: 1-9
John Lynch, Michael’s brother
Be Not Afraid
Romans 8:31b, 35, 37-39
Kevin Lynch, Michael’s brother
Celtic Allelluia
Matthew 5: 1-12a
Msgr. Leslie J. Ivers
Firefighters
Engine 40 / Ladder 35
Engine 62 / Ladder 32
General Intercessions
Theodore Cardinal McCarrick
Colleen Lynch Parigen, Michael’s sister
James Murray
Gerard Crowe
Brian Wiehler
Robert Hagen, Billy Owens
Captain William Chilson
CONCLUDING RITE
Blessing and Dismissal
Homily
Nicholas Corozzo
Recessional Hymn:
Theodore Cardinal McCarrick
America the Beautiful
Michael
Francis Lynch
was born to Kathleen
and Jack Lynch on
December 12, 1970.
He was the fifth son and
seventh child in a family
of ten children. As an infant, Michael seemed fragile,
weathering illness at only two weeks of age. Our family soon learned that our wiry little Michael was a person of great
strength, bravery, and fortitude.
strength
Michael’s mother, Kathleen,
recalls that despite his slender
frame, Michael would remain
outdoors for hours, enduring
cold and bad weather, to
play. One of Michael’s greatest qualities was his ability to
truly enjoy himself, despite
adverse circumstances. This
was a quality ideally suited to
a firefighter
who would
spend his days
alternately bat-
son
firefighter
tling dangerous fires and
enjoying the company of his
fellow firefighters.
Michael’s brothers and
sisters remember him as
a small child, at one point
afraid to take a bath for
fear that there were jellyfish
in it.
bravery
fisherman
Michael grew up an
avid fisherman and
scuba diver. He was
not afraid to face his
fears.
fortitude
always one to inject humor.
We could rely on Michael to
make us all
laugh.
music lover
Michael’s love of
music became evident to
us even when he was a
small child. We remember
him singing songs such as,
"My name is
Michael,
I have a
nickel . . ." a
song we recently learned
was one of his fiancée,
Stephanie Luccioni’s
favorites as a child. Even
before they met, Michael and
Stephanie shared a love of similar things.
fiancé
gentle,
loving
Michael was a
gentle. loving
human being. In
the midst of a
large family, with
all the commotion and activity it
generated,
Michael was
funloving
In his
quiet, unassuming manner, Michael
would offer quips, imitations, and jokes that lightened our hearts. In the
Throgs Neck tradition, Michael affectionately bestowed
appropriate nicknames on his brothers-in-law. He
gave us the gift of funny, lasting memories.
brother-in-law
His nieces and
nephews regarded
him as the "fun
uncle." Michael always
had time for them. He loved
children and they
loved him.
He made
sure they had an
opportunity to visit him at
the firehouse and gave them
wonderful memories.
uncle
godfather
Michael was coach of
disc jockey
Michael loved being a
disc jockey. He played
music for many events
including weddings and
christenings. He entertained friends regularly
in local establishments
and was always willing
to give of his time to
play for charitable events.
Michael was
an outdoors
and sports
lover. He
played soccer
for Cardinal
Spellman
High School
and was captain of his
team.
a local boys’ soccer team.
He loved to run, ski, scuba
dive, rollerblade, and
recently learned to play
golf. He loved to be part
of many extracurricular
activities.
coach
team captain
He belonged to the FDNY Holy Name Society.
He loved being part of the fire department — he
admired the brotherhood and love the fire
department gave to him and his family.
brother
OUR THANKS
FROM STEPHANIE
he Lynch
family wishes
T
to express our
deep appreciation and
heartfelt gratitude to
those who supported
us with their prayers
and sympathetic condolences during this
sorrowful and difficult
time in our lives. Your
generous outpouring
of love has helped to
make our profound
grief bearable.
We feel especially blessed that we live in the Throgs Neck community and St. Frances De Chantal
parish where neighbors reach out to others to help them cope in times of sickness, pain, and
death with unselfish friendship and generosity. We are grateful for the daily supply of food, beverages and desserts, delivered to our home day after day by family, neighbors, local restaurants
and delicatessens allowing us to feed ourselves, our family and our visitors and talk with them
without interruption.
To our extended family, both here and abroad, know that we feel consoled, safe and protected
within the great circle of love that is made whole by each of you, whose presence we feel when
loneliness visits us at unexpected moments in our daily lives.
To our friends, you cannot know the strength we derive from your caring gentle spoken words
of kindness and consolation that help make each day a little easier.
To the considerate extended family members and neighbors who babysat and fed our grandchildren and sent food so that our children and their spouses could be with us during the difficult
hours, your generosity is appreciated.
To Michael’s friends, the wonderful young adults, know that your visits to our home when we
learned that Michael was missing was a great comfort to us, and reminded us of how much joyous living Michael packed into his life and how happy he was to have such great friends.
To Michael’s brother firefighters, especially those from Engine 62/Ladder32 and Engine 40/
Ladder 35, we are proud that Michael was a member of your Brotherhood. Your courage and
bravery in fighting fires and saving lives is only surpassed by your compassion and sensitivity
when dealing with bereaved family members.
Finally to you Michael our son, brother, uncle, fiancé and now a saint in Heaven, we thank God
for making you the courageous, loving, gentle, peacemaker and firefighter you were in this life
and we know that God willing we will all be joined together in His presence through eternity.
o my family and friends:
“Thank you,” is not enough to say for
all you have done for me. You have all
truly shown me what the meaning of family
and friendship means. I see Michael
shining through each one of you as you
all found a way to make me smile. Forever
Michael will be with us, and forever he will
live through me. Throgs Neck is a community that will live in my heart forever.
T
God bless you all,
Love, Stephanie Luccioni
FIREMAN’S PRAYER
When I am called to duty, God,
whenever flames may rage,
give me strength to save some life,
whatever be its age. Help me embrace
a little child before it is too late,
or save an older person
from the horror of that fate.
Enable me to be alert and hear
the weakest shout, and quickly
and efficiently to put the fire out.
I want to fill my calling,
and to give the best in me,
to guard my every neighbor
and protect his property.
And if,
according to my fate,
I am to losemy life,
please bless with your protecting hand
my family, fiancée and friends.