Funeral of Leander Steinlage, July 22, 2002

Father Owen's Homilies

Homily for the Funeral of Leander Steinlage at St. Patrick’s, Corning, July 22, 2002

Carol, to you and to your whole family I extend to you the promise of prayers and sympathy from all here present, from those who cannot be here and from all who hear of the death of Leander. To confront a death in the family is one thing; to confront sudden dearth is yet another. To confront sudden and violent death is yet another and far heavier burden to carry. And yet, you all are not alone. Yes, you all have your private moments when the questions arise and the “if only…” thoughts come into consciousness. Let them pass on through the mind. Stay only with the thoughts of gratitude that you all, and many of us were gifted to share in the life of Lee.

Leander took me all over this country when at Sudbeck family reunions. He told me of his trips from Phoenix, to D.C., through the streets of New York City, to Milwaukee to Dallas and then home. But I have something more tangible than memories. One Sunday morning after Mass, he gave me a gift. The gift is an all-purpose tool manufactured by the Gerber Company. It is a Swiss Army knife gone wild! In this little holster there are knives, saws, several kinds of screwdrivers, a ruler, plies, wire cutter. This tool does everything but stand on its head and whistle “Dixie.” Leander had already worn out at least one of these.

To us he was known as “Leander” or, most often, “Lee.” To his trucker friends and particularly “Truckers for Troops” during the Gulf War he was known as “Snoopy.” He was a person who gave each Christmas, unique gifts to his children. Each has a Gerber tool. Lee loved to sing and dance. Perhaps generous to a fault and willing to take a risk, he seldom refused a hitchhiker.

But there are problems in this life of ours and especially in the lives of some and even a Gerber will not help in solving. Burdens become overwhelming. Solutions, some very undramatic and some very dramatic, come to mind. Some solutions are characteristic of a person and some are not. Some are shocking and some are not. All are mysterious.

The great tool that is a safety net that saves us from despair is that Love is stronger than death. The tool we employ is our belief in the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. The resurrection of Jesus pulled the stinger right out of death. Death has no more final power over any of us. The Good News is that we are going to live forever. Our first reading told us, “The souls of the just (and Lee was a just man) are in the hands of God. They are at peace.’ Rest is what Lee sought and now he rests in peace. Jesus tells us in the Gospel, “ I will not reject anyone who comes to me...the will of the one who sent me is that I should not lose anything of what he gave me but that I should raise it up on the last day.”

We, in faith, look to that time when we will all be together with Lee, when every tear will be wiped away. Then we will not have any questions. We will have only to be glad and to be at peace.