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EULOGIES FROM THE FUNERAL MASS OF CHRISTIAN BURIAL FOR ANN O'CONNELL
LONG
______
HON. JOHN B. LARSON
of connecticut
in the house of representatives
Monday, July 26, 2021
Mr. LARSON of Connecticut. Madam Speaker, on Saturday July 17, 2021, I had the honor of attending the funeral service for a dear friend and remarkable woman, Ann O'Connell Long. Below are the eulogies made by her three loving children Deirdre, Maura, and Michael, as well as her great friend Suzanna Nolan. I was touched by these remarks and wish to include them in the Record for her beloved husband Michael Long and their family.
Remarks by Deirdre Long Absolonne
When I think of our mom, I think of faith, family, work, quiet strength, beauty, and good humor. Mom's faith was strong, but quiet. She didn't talk about it a lot--she simply lived it.
She grew up in Parkville with two pairs of shoes, and the support of a community that populated the rest of her life. She had happy memories of her childhood, including vacations at Indian Neck, during which, ever the planner, she would lay out her bathing suit and towel before going to bed each night. When the other children would ask what she was doing, she would explain that she was getting things ready for the morning.
She chose to stay close to her mom and attend Saint Francis School of Nursing, one step in her lifelong relationship with Saint Francis. While there, she met our dad, who became her best friend and partner of 52 years. She loved to joke that he married her for her money and she claimed at least some credit for making Mike Long a Democrat.
She stayed home with us when we were babies and, on my fifth day of first grade, she resumed work full time. Nursing was her vocation. Off she went at 7 am each day to help her family and the sick. She came home every night and put a balanced dinner on the table (a feat that now, as a working mom, I see as nothing short of miraculous). Every week for all those years, with the help of only her family, she cleaned our home top to bottom (usually while singing). She earned degrees and promotions along the way, while always making her family feel that she had plenty of time for us.
I am so fortunate that my relationship with Mom was uncomplicated. It was comfortable, joyful, and good. She was steadfast, understanding, occasionally mischievous, and always just plain fun to be with. She really listened. And she was always open to new experiences, perspectives, and people.
She enjoyed gathering with family and friends, and I know she treasured her time with each of you. She liked design magazines, good books, cute dogs, babies, massages, making lists on index cards, and simple pleasures like sitting by the fire, in the yard, or on the beach. As everyone who has ever set foot in her home (or the home of someone she helped) knows, she made everything beautiful. True to form, she spent her final months helping all of us to be ready for this morning.
Perhaps most importantly, over all the years and through all of life's ups and downs, she joked and laughed, early often and easily.
Remarks by Maura Long Sheehan
When I think of my mom, I see her smiling face with that twinkle in her eye and it makes me smile too. She was warm and loving, often laughing, and had a no-nonsense way of making things happen.
When I think back to my childhood, I remember Mom singing along to John Denver when she was cleaning the house, baking chocolate chip cookies for our Cape Cod vacations, and highlighting textbooks while studying in bed at night. It wasn't until I was much older that I realized how impressive it was that she earned her bachelor's degree while raising three young children and earned her master's degree while working and raising three teenagers.
As a child, I had no idea who I was dealing with. As an adult, I realize how special she was. When I think about Mom's life and accomplishments, it amazes me that she did it all with such generosity, gratitude, and grace.
I know many of you here felt her generosity first-hand, whether it was kind words at just the right time, a homemade loaf of Irish bread, or a helping hand with your home improvements. At some point a few years ago I realized that whenever Mom showed up for a visit, after she breezed in with a smile, always bearing gifts of some sort, she would look me in the eye and ask ``what can I do to help you?'' Having a mother like that was a true gift.
As for gratitude, Mom found the beauty in everything around her and she knew how to have fun. She was full of joy and always seemed to have time to relax and make new friends. She made everyone feel special and she made it look easy. Sometimes when I would call her and ask what she was doing, she would laugh, tell me she had her feet curled up on the sheepskin and that she was busy, ``cultivating gratitude''. She laughed, but it worked.
Mom's grace, and her genuine kindness, were evident her entire life. She was a gracious hostess, and she truly enjoyed entertaining small groups of friends for lunch or dinner, having all her children and grandchildren under one roof every summer on Martha's Vineyard, and hosting extended family for tenderloin dinner (with those incredible mushrooms) each Christmas season.
Her grace, dignity, and strength were on full display this past year as she continued to warmly welcome friends and family for laughter-filled visits while quietly, through her example, preparing all of us for what was to come.
Remarks by Michael B. Long
When I think of Mom the first thing that comes to mind is laughter and the second is the things she taught me. I recall in particular a couple of sayings she would use and tell me that Grammy O had taught her. One is, ``A place for everything and everything in its place,'' the other, ``If ye can't say anything nice don't say anything at all.''
One thing I learned at an early age was to look again. A fly on the wall at 4 Maple Court in the mid 70's might have heard something like this:
``Mom! There's no more bologna!'' ``Look in the meat drawer.''
``I already did!''
``Look again.''
``Okay.''
(pause)
``I found it!''
I also learned that if I wasn't throwing up or didn't have a fever, I wasn't sick. ``Get up. You're going to school.''
If I ever complained about someone else doing a substandard job, she'd chime in with, ``if you want something done right, do it yourself.''
She had a great sense of humor, and all we needed to get each other in hysterics was a word or two, or just an eyebrow raise.
And when I commented on some accolade she'd received or something clever she'd done, she'd graciously accept the compliment. And then, a second or two later she'd say, ``They don't pay me for my looks, you know!''
Her kind spirit was always evident, and the aura of positivity she radiated was irrepressible. Two instances in particular come to mind:
When we visited Grammy O at Saint Mary Home and walked in the front door, Mom was all smiles. She greeted all the residents in the lobby as well as each person we encountered on the way to Gram's room, and their faces would just light up. Those small acts of kindness make people's days, and for her it was a matter of course, like eating or breathing.
Another was when she visited California in 2003 to meet her newest grandchild. A couple of friends met me at the house before we went to a concert at the Hollywood Bowl. We hung out for an hour or so and had a nice little visit. On the way to the show, both of my friends remarked about her aura of positivity and kindness, and how much they'd enjoyed spending time with her.
Finally, she remarked on many occasions when we were on vacation, that she always tried to leave the place she was staying nicer than when she arrived.
Mom left this place nicer than when she arrived.
Remarks by Suzanne Nolan
Ann and I met in 2005 when I began work at St. Francis Hospital as Director of Spiritual Care. As a new administrator, I was so very fortunate that she took me under her wing; I know so many of you also received from her an embrace of sincere interest and genuine care for your well-being.
Ann asked me to speak today about her time at St. Francis. The factual parts of that are well known. Her personal impact on her colleagues and staff was also remarkable. To try to honor her legacy there, I talked to many people who worked with her.
So now I ask you to imagine a shimmering Waterford vase filled with a beautiful bouquet of flowers, each flower a phrase describing Ann as a nurse and nurse leader:
--Incredibly strong woman
--Could see the gift in someone, help that person to see it, and help them to nurture it
--Wonderful and supportive, especially in challenging moments (this person told of a night years ago when she had to transfer a heart transplant patient to Yale; Ann was the night supervisor and helped every step of the way)
--Consummate professional
--Incredibly dedicated
--Capable, competent
--Respected nurse leader
--One person described her approach through a Maya Angelou quote: ``if you don't like something, change it. If you can't change it, change your attitude.''
--Honest when you messed up, and then helped you to create the plan to go forward
--Helped her staff feel secure in their important roles even as the corporate model was increasing in the hospital
--Special in so many ways
--Persistent and tough; did the very challenging work of bringing Continuing Care and Utilization and Social Services together into the Case Management Department then became the Director of that Department
--Over the top in her generosity
--She and Mike opened their home to provide a place for a staff member's wedding
--A wise mentor
--Gentle sense of humor
--Poked fun at herself
--Ultimate hostess
--A kind person, just so very kind
And Ann, of course, throughout her working life, relished being a loving wife, a beloved mother and grandmother.
I believe God gave Ann extraordinary gifts in her ability to love and to care deeply for others. Her trust in God, her deep faith, enabled her to embrace these gifts and enrich so many lives thus giving glory to God. We in this church, and so many others, have been privileged to know Ann and to be blessed by her presence. We miss her so much, and we are so grateful to her.
May you find comfort in these words of safe passages:
``Rest assured that in her dying, in her flight through darkness toward a new light, Ann held you in her arms and carried your closeness with her. And when she arrived at God, your image was imprinted on her joy-filled soul.''
____________________
SOURCE: Congressional Record Vol. 167, No. 130
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