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FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. — Well, if you’re reading this, I’ve finally gone home — to be with family and friends and to finally meet a brother I never had the chance to know, as he was called home before I was born. No more emails, no more worrying about what to say in a homily, no more doctor’s appointments or remembering which pills to take — though I am grateful for their care that added to my years. And while I hate to leave behind the people and places I’ve loved, I trust that the same God who has walked with me all these years is walking me home now.

I was born on May 20, 1942, in Gloversville to John and Frances Noone, who gave me a foundation of faith, humor and resilience that carried me through life. As a boy, I admired my parish priest and saw in him a way of life that resonated with me. I took it as a calling. On Dec. 17, 1966 at the Altar of the Chair in St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome, I was ordained a priest — and for the rest of my life, I had the privilege of serving in ways I could never have imagined. I was a parish priest, a hospital chaplain, a campus minister — both at home and overseas — and I had the joy of helping build and support a secondary school in Haiti. In my retirement, I traveled extensively, making parish appeals on behalf of Unbound, supporting projects in 17 countries.

Along the way, I found joy in skiing in the winter, tennis in the summer, and music. I explored most of Europe, ventured a bit into Russia, China, Thailand and Japan, and took six unforgettable trips to New Zealand — a country unmatched in its beauty. I had a sense of humor, enjoyed crafting meaningful homilies, and loved meeting interesting people — each person bringing their own story, their own wisdom. I am especially grateful to Hideki Morooka for his friendship and for all the many small ways in which he enriched my life.

Looking back on my years in ministry, I can honestly say that being a priest has been one of the most meaningful ways to live a life. Each day brought a firsthand experience of grace. I entered the seminary because I believed God was calling me to the priesthood — that it was His plan for my life. I still believe that. But with the wisdom of years, I’ve come to understand that ministry isn’t simply what a priest does; it’s what God does for others through him — and for him through others.

I hope I’ve left behind more love than regret, more laughter than tears, and more faith than doubt. If you want to honor my memory, don’t send flowers — just take the time to notice grace at work in your own life, be kind to the people around you, and, if you think of it, say a prayer that I made it home.

The Funeral Masses were to be held at St Ann Catholic Church in Fayetteville, N.C., on June 24 at 6 p.m. and at Christ Our Light Catholic Church in Loudonville on June 27 at 10 a.m.

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