In early March, we said goodbye to a dear friend and former resident, Anthony Faulisi. Anthony had lived at St. Herman’s in 2010, and in our transitional house in 2016-2017. He was a parishioner at St. Albert the Great in North Royalton. He had studied at seminary and was always eager to talk about theology and scripture. He was a friend to many at St. Herman’s and will be greatly missed.
Even after moving out, Anthony came back frequently to St. Herman’s as a volunteer, as his way of showing his appreciation for all St. Herman’s had done for him. Not only was he a close friend to the residents, but he was beloved by the two house dogs. They had a unique bark just for him, and as soon as they heard him open the front door, before seeing him, they would run to the gate and wait for him. A friend of Anthony’s sent us a moving tribute. “Anthony personally touched so many of our lives and it was evident in the faces and comments today at the funeral. It’s rare and special to be friends with someone who loves you just as you are and in turn opens himself up completely to you. He wasn’t hiding anything. He shared his life and anything he had with all of us. We’ll all miss him. But you know as well as all of us, he is exactly where he wants to be. He has been ready to meet the Lord for a long time.” Memory eternal!