Harold Keller / L’Observateur / October 21, 2000

Edwina Belvin of the St. John Council on Aging called me last week and asked ifI would conduct a memorial service for one of their regulars who passed away. I accepted without giving it much thought. When I asked who died, I wastold it was Silvio Marano, whom I didn’t know.

Monday morning, when I arrived at the senior citizens center 10 minutes before the 10:30 memorial, Mrs. Barbara Gralapp, the director, greeted me.She escorted me to a place with a little privacy and told me Silvio Marano was the old man who walked the Airline Highway daily, used a cane, and had a black patch over his right eye. Surprised, I said, “I knew him! He went toMcDonald’s almost daily and I often tried to speak to him. He alwaysresponded, but with very few words, and one could detect he wanted his privacy. He was a loner.” I was told that he had been living in this area for sixyears.

Mrs. Gralapp then proceeded to tell me that Sal, as he was called, died March27, 2000, and stayed in the city morgue because no one claimed his body.

After five months, a brother was located in Florida and gave permission to release his body. Mrs. Gralapp then arranged to have his body cremated.However, she knew he had children, so she continued to have hope of finding them.

Finally, a break for Mrs. Gralapp! Sal’s family lived in Minnesota. He had awife, three daughters and one son, who he left over 39 years ago. When thefamily was notified, his son, Vince, and a daughter, Katherine, made the trip for the memorial service. Vince asked Mrs. Gralapp if his dad ever mentionedhim. “Yes,” she said, “I know you were born in England and was four years oldwhen your dad last saw you.” (He started to cry, having been assured thathis dad had thought of him and his sisters.)The service was short. Zack Lennix opened with “Amazing Grace,” and duringthe service also sang, “His Eye is on the Sparrow” and “To God be the Glory.”Harris Rodrigues shared that Sal served in the Army and the Selective Service in Russia. I asked Vince if he cared to share and he did. He said, “Ithank all of you. I now know that my dad had another family. We can now putclosure to the mystery of our dad.”Silvio Marano – a lonely man who walked our streets, didn’t bother anyone, and didn’t want to be bothered. I wonder how many nights he laid his head onhis pillow and was tormented by not knowing the condition of his family. OnlyGod knows that.

As I left the service, I thanked God for the privilege of experiencing the healing of a family, because of the unselfish drive of a very special lady, Mrs.

Barbara Gralapp, and her entire staff.

HAROLD KELLER writes this column as part of his affiliation with the Get High on Life religious motivational group.

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