Our parish priest was a very arrogant and aloof man … he was interested in only those with deep pockets and ignored those families who had been there since the church was founded in 1955 … the date is emblazoned in my memory because my grandmother was the first to be buried from there. We had had some very kind and loving priests at St. Ann’s but this guy was not among them. When my father, who had given much more in proportion to his income than he ever should have, died, Father fought me at every turn regarding his funeral. Dad was a fine tenor who sang on Armed Forces radio. He loathed the horrendous choir at the church … as did any who had ears. I told Fr. that we would not be using the choir. Rather, the Music Director at neighbouring St. Lucy’s would be playing the organ and singing. He was my best friend and had been in my father’s house every day for over thirty years. Fr. carried on to the point where I asked if he thought Michael would be playing “Rock Around the Clock.” I told Fr. that Michael would also be doing the eulogy. He continued to sputter and stumble stating that he would be doing it. I suggested that since he had never once spoken to anyone in my family in all the years that he was Rector that he was hardly up to the task and that if he persisted in blocking OUR funeral that we would take it to St. Lucy’s and afterward I would come back to finish what he was starting. At that, he acquiesed and we held as fine a funeral as one would want. The following Sunday, my mother wanted to go to church as she had for the 67 years before. As we sat in the pew that she and my father had occupied for thirty years, she was certain that, at long last, Fr. would check to see how she was doing. I was not so optimistic. Sadly, she was mistaken. That was the last Sunday my Mother went to church and she lived another seventeen years. But I have gotten ahead of this tale. A few years after my dad died, Mom & I were driving past the church. We had just heard that Fr. was having a by-pass. I said that we should send a card to him. Shocked, Mom said, “What would it say?” I said, “It would say, ‘Hope to see you soon.’ — Bryce” She nearly fell out of the car laughing. Then, she lectured me on its inappropriateness. She was a much better woman than I will ever be.