Bill Horosz Sr. - Euology

I have had a number of my friends ask me for a copy of the euology that I gave at my father's memorial service in 2007 so here it is:

Thank you all for coming today and allowing me a few moments to reflect on the life of someone we all knew and loved. I would like to start out by thanking the doctors, nurses, and staff at UPMC Presbyterian, UPMC Southside, and UPMC Shadyside hospitals. Without your care, dad would have had no quality of life left.

Words cannot express our thankfulness to you.To the nurses, aides, and staff of Kane Glenn Hazel: you became like family to us. Your love and care for dad went above and beyond your job descriptions. And how each time you lovingly greeted mom and I gave us both a warm feeling in our hearts. Thank you just seems so inadequate.

To VITAS Hospice: How you stepped right in and made dad’s last days on this earth comfortable defies explanation. And every step of the way calling and talking with both mom and I letting us know everything that was going on. You have a most difficult job but you all did it with love and showed that to both mom and I. You care not because it is your job but because of your genuine love for people. Again my saying thank you seems to fall short of what you did for us.

Lastly, to the minister and body of Christ know as the First Hungarian Reformed Church of Homestead. It cannot be put into any words what all of your thoughts, support, prayers, cards, and well wishes have meant to mom and I. May our Lord Jesus bless each and every one of you for your outpouring of love at this most difficult time in our lives.

I would like to remember dad five ways: his life growing up, as a patriot for his country, his career, his life as a husband and father, and lastly for his service to Christ’s bride the church.

It would be an understatement to say that dad had a very difficult life growing up. At a very early age, his birth mother passed away. I only recently found out that he and his sister were placed in a orphanage for a year as his dad simply did not know what to do. And his dad made the decision to send his sister over to Europe to be raised by relatives.

Dad’s father remarried. As his wife became sickly, dad had to take care of her. I never heard him complain about it but I am sure it was not very pleasant for him.

Dad loves dogs and had a German shepherd when he was a teen. He told me that he never was bothered by bullies after school as his dog would faithfully wait for him at the corner. Can’t beat that for protection. !

It was indeed a treat a few years back to look at dad’s high school yearbook. On one of his pictures he had his hair combed down the front. The yearbook also mentioned “nicknames” and dad bore a striking resemblance to “Moe” from the “Three Stooges” hence he had the nickname of “Moe”. And dad, just to let you know, I did pass the torch to a new generation. Not the kind JFK was talking about but the love of watching the “Three Stooges” to your grandchildren. Nyuk Nyuk Nyuk !

Then a sequence of events in a relatively short time span truly defined dad. He came home from school and his Godfather told him to get up to the hospital. When he got there he found out that his dad had passed away. He was told he was over come by “gas” at the mill but we believe that he probably had a heart attack. I am sure this devastated him.

As things were heating up over in Europe, dad’s sister came over from what was then know as Czechoslovakia only able to speak in Slovak. I am sure it was difficult to truly be able to meet your sister for the first time.

And then World War II hit with a fury. The United States was not thrust into it until that fateful day of December 7th, 1941. How this must have shocked everyone including dad at the time. Dad decided he wanted to fly so he chose the Navy. So he enlisted and said goodbye to his sister and headed off to Great Lakes, IL for his basic training. Unfortunately his vision was not up to Navy standards at the time for flying so he choose “aviation ordinance”. He was one of the first aboard a brand new ship called the “USS Lexington” named after the one that was sunk in the Battle Of The Coral Sea.

He told us stories of tragedy that he witnessed first hand along with triumphs. But the one that has always stuck with me was this. His bunk on the ship was stationed by #3 propeller – a noisy place to be sure. He was not sure why he was moved but a week latter it was very apparent. At night a Japanese torpedo plane managed to get thru the anti aircraft fire and drop a torpedo that did hit the “Lex” – right at #3 propeller. If dad’s bunk had been there, I would not be standing here telling you this. God is so good !

A rich treasure that dad showed us a couple of years ago was a diary he kept during his time on the ship. One of the nuggets that I found in there was the crew knew about the bomb ahead of time but there was no way they could tell the outside world. His diary was done in precise detail and dad’s handwriting was outstanding. We also found out that while his ship was being repaired for a month he had shore leave and went home to see his sister.

One of dad’s jobs was to change out the 16mm movie cameras in the wings of the planes that he serviced. Some of the cameras were deemed “not repairable” but dad and a few of his buddies had a great idea. They fixed a few and took some movies of themselves aboard the ship. Well we have been blessed to get them transferred to video tape – how many people have home movies like this ?

Dad was honorably discharged from the Navy in December of 1945. He was looking to pursue a career in forestry at Penn State but changed his mind and went to Edinboro State Teacher’s College. And he studied to become an art teacher. And what a art teacher he became.

There was nothing he could not do with art. Weather it came to pottery, paintings, drawings, or crafts he was the master at it. It was said that dad was a perfectionist. No that wasn’t true. He invented it !!. I am sure he is up in heaven right now decorating trees for Christmas, making his popsicle stick sled ornaments and painting them, and putting on the icicles on trees one at a time.

To watch him teach was a pure joy. I will never forget the time when I was around 15 or 16 that dad asked me if I wanted to go to school with him that day (I had off) and said sure. He had such a command of the classroom. Dad was able to get their attention without getting loud or resorting to a lot of trickery. You wanted to learn when you were in a class of his. And he adapted his teaching to the age level he was with. I can see why he always received the highest marks possible from his principles.

Dad made a lot of friends during his teaching days. He spent the bulk of his career in the Baldwin-Whitehall School District and had rich memories of his time there. Most of his teacher friends lovingly called him “pops”.

As most of you know dad and mom grew up in the same church. Dad did not remember this but I believe before the war started both he and mom went Christmas Caroling. It ended up they both sat next to each other in the back seat of the car they were in. Mom has no trouble remembering this but dad did not (wonder why ?) Looking at pictures of them (back in the day as my children say) they both would have easily won contests for their looks (as of course their handsome offspring uh huh !) . Dad had a lot of jet black hair and was very skinny. Mom had beautiful hair and looked very nice. Mat Damon and Brad Pitt – eat your heart out !

The story of their engagement is told from two different viewpoints. Mom told me that dad proposed to her while they were sitting on a couch while visiting a friends house while dad doesn’t remember that. He said that had a nice time and when he went over to see mom the next day at her house, her brother and sisters were congratulating him on his engagement ! They were married on August 11th , 1954 at church.

And then someone came along on July 16th, 1958. He was blessed to come into a world of parents who loved and cared for him without question.

Dad was always there for me growing up acting as a father, brother, and friend. There was not a thing that he would not do for me from taking me to ballgames, seeing movies, building a pool in the back yard, to just being there for me. We did so much together and when he could not be with me it would make me sad when I was little. Not to say that I did not enjoy my time with mom – especially when we would go to downtown Pittsburgh and shop – that was fun ! And she enjoyed going to games as well –having her hot dog with mustard before we even sat down !

I gained my love of sports from dad. We went to games at Forbes Field (yes I am at that old), the first game at Three Rivers, the first night game ever of the World Series, the first game at PNC park, and countless Steeler games during the ‘70’s. One of the neatest experiences was at a Pirates game we sat on the 300 level in the outfield and needed to use the men’s room. We had to walk behind the private boxes to get to the restroom and we saw a man with white hair smoking a big cigar by the railing. He came up to us and I instantly recognized him – Art Rooney Sr. ! Wow! ! He asked me if I was enjoying the baseball game and I said yes and offered dad a cigar. That was a great moment and I was so thankful to be able to share that with dad.

One of the most touching memories I had was when I was about 7 or 8 years old. As a child I had asthma and was sick a lot of the time. One time this turned in pneumonia and I remember distinctly being on dad’s shoulders in the ER – what a comforting thought. I felt so safe and secure.

As time went on dad was unfortunately a frequent “guest” of UPMC Presbyterian hospital. He did it all though with his usual grit and of course his wit. But last year the tables were turned when mom was in the hospital. Dad was so lost without her and really needed my help. It was such a blessing to be there for him and know that I was truly helping him out.

One of the best gifts I ever received was when I was about 16 or 17 years old. Both mom and dad quite smoking. That was such a blessing as I strongly believe that they would both have passed away years ago. Plus the added bonus of not being around second hand smoke did wonders for my health.

Dad’s service to Christ’s bride on this earth was unquestioned. It seemed that every time the doors were open that dad was there – from baking to making kolbaz & hurkera to pumpkin painting to arts & crafts and serving in numerous positions during his lifetime including chief elder up until February of this year. He was active at denominational meetings outside of the church and his opinions were always highly regarded. It was so moving to see and hear him speak at the 90th anniversary celebration of the church – what a proud moment that was for our family.

I would be remiss not to mention dad’s sense of humor.. He valued laughter and being in an upbeat mood. That is why the glass has always been half full in my life. Here are some things that I hope bring a smile to your face:

Remember when dad would were “jingle bells” on his shoes at Christmas service ?
Or that “Santa” tie that lit up ?
How about dad’s “homemade” pumpkin ice cream ?
Or how he would pronounce “guerrillmo” as “giddy amo” ?
How about his “Saville der dago” saying ?
Or how he was obsessed with the Gordon Lightfoot song “The Wreck Of The Edmund Fitzgerald’ ?
How he talked Will and Victoria into believing that a giant summer squash was a dinosaur egg ?Or when he made those big bubbles ?
When he would slam his gold club into the ground after a bad shot and shared a few choice adjectives ?
Why he carried seven rain ponchos in his golf bag ?
Him saying “oh c’mom” ?

I recent shared with some of my friends and co-workers that I wish they could have met dad. And they told me they already have – they know me.

Dad would not want us to be downcast but to celebrate his life. When you go downstairs for the lunch, make sure you eat well, browse the tables that reflect dad’s life, and above all laugh and enjoy yourself !

Here is a poem I would like to share:

Please look at this poem as the purpose being Jesus Christ and the voyage as life as a Christian, eternal life is the final outcome.VoyageThink of life as a voyage.

The truest liver of the truest life is like a voyager who, as he sails, is not indifferent to all the beauty of the sea around him. The morning and the evening sun, the moonlight and the starlight, the endless change of the vast water that he floats on, the passing back and forth of other ships between him and the sky, the incidents and company on his own vessel – all these are pleasant to him; but their pleasure is borne up by and woven in with his interest in the purpose for which he undertook the voyage. That lies beyond and that lies under the voyage all the while. He is not sailing just for the sake of sailing. He would never have undertaken the voyage for his own sake. Another man, who has no purpose beyond the voyage, is vexed and uneasy. He is so afraid of not getting the best out of it that he loses its best. The spots and imperfections in its pleasure worry him. Those are the differences of the ways in which men live. One man forgets his own life in the purposes for which his life is lived, and he is the man whose life grows richest and brightest. Another man is always thinking about himself, and so never gets beyond himself into those purposes of living out of which all the fullness of personal life may flow back to him.

Phillips Brooks

I would like to close with two scriptures.2 Timothy 4:7 (New International Version)

“7I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.”

James 1:27 (New International Version)

“27Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.”

One of the last things I told dad on Monday before we left was that I would do my best to look after mom. I would ask that you all join with me in doing so.

Dad – you are indeed “Home Free”