Sunday, June 26, 2022
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Eulogy for John de Saint Phalle As the sign outside attests, St. Patrick’s Church was built in 1928, the same year my father, John Marie Samuel de Saint Phalle was born. This is truly a special place, one that has played an important role in our family’s history, dating back to 1957 when we became parishioners. I made my first holy communion and served as an altar boy here. My sisters Za and Fal and my brother Jacques also made their first communions here as well. In the early 1960s my brother Charlie and my sister Anni were baptized here. Over that decade Monsignor Blake was often an invited guest for the amazing Sunday luncheons prepared by Mama and Nana at our home in Armonk. My father loved discussing spiritual matters with him on long walks with all of us afterwards. In 1974 our beloved Nana had her funeral mass celebrated here. In 1997 our beloved mother Joannie had her funeral mass celebrated here. In 2000 my brother Charlie married Cindy here. Their daughters Clai and Charlotte were both baptized here. And here we are today celebrating the life of my father and the 94 years he was upon this earth. He was a man of deep faith and he firmly believed in an afterlife and a judgement day. I sincerely hope that he is in heaven even as we sit here mourning him. But his spirit lives on, in the hearts and the souls of his 20 living descendants. Andre Za Fal Jacques Charlie Anni Chris Kara Robbie AJ Nick Clai Charlotte Otis Arianna Ava Owen Ellie Malcom Mai These 20 descendants and their beloved spouses, Donald, Paul, Joni, Bob, Veronica, Cindy, Yael, Jennifer, Tara, Nicole, Yuka, along with my father’s 2nd wife of over 45 years Meryl, are a living testament to the impact of John de Saint Phalle on this world. As my brother Charlie reminded me the other day, Dad had a deep love for horses and dogs, that carries on with all of his kids. And he also had a wicked sense of humor that was a blessing and a gift that he gave to all of us. I’d like to close with an excerpt from a song by the late great songwriter, John Prine- You know that old trees just grow stronger And old rivers grow wilder every day Old people just grow lonesome Waiting for someone to say, "Hello in there, hello" So if you're walking down the street sometime And spot some hollow ancient eyes Please don't just pass 'em by and stare As if you didn't care, say, "Hello in there, hello" So Dad, hello in there, and now sadly, it’s time to say goodbye. May you rest in peace. (submitted by his eldest child, Andre)
