“Give thanks to the Lord for He is good; His love endures forever.” These words of the Psalmist express the sentiments of our hearts as we offer and celebrate the funeral Mass of Ed Broom. We want to thank God for the GIFT, truly great GIFT that he was for so many people in the 88 years of the life that God gave to him.
All who knew him remember him with extreme gratitude for who he was and for all that he gave to so many. Probably the best summary of what he gave was the Gospel that we just heard on the greatest commandment which is to love fully and totally with all our heart.
THANKS. As we thank God for the gift of Ed Broom, we would also like to express our sincere gratitude for all of you who have come to be with us in this greatest of all prayers, the prayer of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. Priests, seminarians, friends, grandchildren, children, relatives, friends, the students and teachers of Mount Royal Academy, the choir, the pastor Fr. Biron and so many others—to all of you we would like to express our most sincere thanks. Some have come from Florida, California, and other distant regions; once again a heartfelt THANKS!!!
ATTITUDE OF GRATITUDE. Let us offer God a sincere “Attitude of gratitude” for the gift of Ed Broom. We thank God for so many people that he touched in such a powerful way. So many lives were touched, improved, enlightened, invigorated, lightened, and transformed by the person, the presence, the goodness, the joy and the spirituality of Ed Broom. Let us briefly list a few of the marvelous attributes that he lived and exemplified in those wonderful 88 years.
1. He really believed in hard work. As a child and teen, warm memories surface of how much time and effort he put into his work. Moving from one job to another, from one promotion to the next, he really believed in the ethic of work. “No pain, no gain” applies to the many long hours he worked. When traveling across the country he always had two wonderful traveling companions: God and his wife Joan. If three is the number of perfection, then there you have it! If it were not for his hard work, his saving, his efficiency, many of us sons and daughters would never have been able to complete our University education without huge loans and debt; for this we say thanks, a million thanks Ed Broom, beloved Dad and husband!
2. Not only was he a hard and efficient worker, but he was a true and loyal friend wherever he moved or went. Easy-going, joyful, a born story-teller, a keen practical intellect, and an expansive and winning sense of humor, those who had contact with him, almost off the bat, felt at ease with him. In a world in which true friends are hard to find, he taught us that cultivating friends is key. Jesus Himself said to the Apostles: “I call you friends.” Our prayer and desire right now, and this is really why we are here, is that he will be with the Lord Jesus in heaven and that they will be the best of friends for all eternity!
3. Everyone who knew Ed well are keenly aware of the canny gift that he had of giving advice and counsel, sometimes on difficult topics. In business, among friends, to the young and old, but especially among his loved ones he would always be willing to give practical words of advice that helped immensely. Many years ago, he spent time and effort to give generous advice to the Oblates of the Virgin Mary. In fact, a few weeks ago, speaking to the pioneer and founder of the American Province, Father Vincenzo Antolini, he praised the sound and useful advice that Ed Broom gave to him. Every time I would mention my Dad, Ed Broom, to Fr. Antolini, his eyes would light up remembering his sound advice and warm friendship. Often, his siblings would seek him out to help make important decisions that would help them the rest of their lives.
4. We would truly be remiss if we did not mention one of his strong areas and it is EDUCATION, and when I say “education” I mean solid, well-rounded, orthodox education, most especially CATHOLIC EDUCATION. All of these higher-learning institutions owe huge debts to Ed Broom, economically, morally and spiritually, and intellectually: Magdalen College (now Northeastern), St. Thomas More, Ave Maria, and most especially the Mount Royal Academy. Possibly they would not even be in existence today if it were not for the generous efforts of Ed Broom. I myself am eternally grateful for my loving Dad’s generosity in paying for my four years at Villanova University; I just had to pay for the books. I am sure that Mike at Dartmouth and my other siblings are equally grateful for Dad’s helping us economically in our studies—for this a heartfelt thanks! Furthermore, Ed Broom was chosen to be on the advisory board of the Cardinal Newman Society, a wonderful institution whose purpose is the promotion of solid and orthodox CATHOLIC, and I mean real “Catholic” education for our young, who are in the words of Pope Saint John Paul II the future of the world and society.
5. Now we are arriving at even more important areas of his many gifts and it is in the context of the family; indeed, I sincerely believe that his charism as a man of the family was a supreme, noble and admirable quality that God gave to him. The Lord blessed him with 38 grandchildren; he was able to see Maryanne Rose—Jim Broom’s youngest, who was born just about a month ago. He loved children and fought especially for their education. However, his greatest love for children was his family members, among whom were his grandchildren. He paid for some of their higher education; he talked to them, advised them, encouraged them, joked with them, but especially he loved them as part of his extended family.
6. Of paramount importance to all nine of us, the seven natural children and the two foster children who indeed were his children, was his role as Father. With tears of sorrow, because he has left us physically, but of joy, because we trust in God’s infinite mercy and heavenly promise, we all have many, and I say many warm memories of our loving Dad. It would be impossible to enumerate the many gifts he had as FATHER. I will just mention a few of his most salient gifts as a father, in a world where there are so many “Drop-out Dads!” — Dads who jump ship and abandon the struggle when things get tough. Dad loved one liners and here is one that he would quote from the famous Green Bay Packers football coach Vince Lombardi: “When the going gets tough, the tough get going.” Let us give the list, which of course is not exhaustive:
a) An admirable quality about Dad was this very simple truth: PRESENCE and availability. In short, when home from work, Dad was present there, always available for his children. At any time and place he was there present and available to all of us despite those hard work days. For this, thanks Dad!
b) MEAL TIME. One of his favorite times were MEAL TIMES. In a world in which so many families are so busy that they never have time for each other, Dad, if not traveling, was always there for meal time. First, because his wife was a good cook, second because he did have a good appetite and did like to eat, but most important was that he simply liked to be with his kids and wife. Politics, economics, social events, current events, school activities, morality, spirituality and simple good humor—were the many topics that would surface during our meal together. A message to families that he would send would be this: “Pray together, but also have meals together and enjoy each other’s company and get to know the treasure of each individual person.
c) One of the fondest memories we all have of Dad was his incredible gift of being able to enter into the lives of his children by simply playing with us. I will mention a few that are among the fondest memories, with respect to the simple, but all important activity of PLAY! When small he would give us piggy-back rides, as well as wheel-barrow rides; wrestling with us and racing with us also! Almost any sport that we would undertake, was game for him, if we were willing to play it: football, basketball, baseball, tennis, bowling, poker, and other board-games. However, I would have to admit, and some of my other siblings would have to admit, that probably my favorite when I was a teen was right after dinner our PING PONG matches. Dad would play either singles or doubles and saw most of his kids surpass him, but he was a good sport and enjoyed that company of his kids more than the result of winning or losing! He had a saying when he would be winning me in points: “You have just cracked, cracked, right down the middle, you’re cracked!!!” This really angered me and he probably got more points due to this irritation—a good psychological trick.
d) Earlier we mentioned his canny gift of giving advice to many people. However, the best and most precious advice was to his children, whom he loved, and he always desired the “best” for them. His advice was clear, morally upright, practical, and imbued with God’s spirit. This gift of counsel is from the spirit and a result of really trying to live out his marriage vocation. How thankful all of his children are for the many times he gave us good advice. May parents recognize the importance of the gift of their children and the importance of bonding with them, giving them advice and loving them.
e) WORK AGAIN. Not only was his work ethic outside the house most impressive, but his work ethic in the family was exemplary and contagious. He was highly talented and believed in forming his children in being well-balanced and well-rounded, but he gave the example by his own life. Barber, cook, repairer, grass-cutter, carpenter, dish-washer, diaper-changer, cleaner of whatever had to be cleaned, tree-cutter—all of these he would do around the house. He really believed in serving as Jesus said: “The Son of man has not come to be served, but to serve and give his life in ransom for many.” Or as Saint Paul expresses it: “There is more joy in giving than in receiving.” Saint Mother Teresa of Calcutta put it concisely: “Let us give until it hurts!” Dad worked hard and by his example wanted us to learn the value of earning our bread by the sweat of our brows.” (Gen. chapter 3)
f) All of the above activities were motivated by his trying to live out the Gospel: “Love one another as I have loved you…” and “No greater love than to lay down one’s life for his friends.” All of the Broom family were definitely convinced of his great love he had for each and every one of us.
g) NO COMPLAINTS. A very admirable quality of Ed Broom, our beloved Dad, was his strength in his sufferings. Despite his declining health, his many falls in the last two years, never would he complain, but rather thank all who helped him in any way or in any time. Also he had serious back problems for many years and never uttered any complaints. In other words, he understood the value of the cross that leads to the glory of the Resurrection. As Venerable Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen expressed it: “No cross, no glory; no Good Friday, no Easter Sunday.” For this Dad, we thank you.
7. HUSBAND. Of course one of the most admirable gifts, better expressed, “vocation” that he lived to the full was that of being a loving, strong, noble, faithful husband. With Joan, he was married for more than 62 years, 9 children, 37 grandchildren, and several great-grandchildren – 6 in total and three on the way. For many years with Joan, whenever on a traveling trip, they went together. After God, his beloved wife was number one! In unity there is strength! Their common goal was to get to heaven and their greatest desire was to be a bridge by which their children could get to heaven. Being together united in God was their life. Their life was intermingled with the love of God and the love of their children and their labor to form their children well, a well-rounded education, but especially the moral, spiritual and Catholic education that they strived to instill in all of them. What did they do together? Talk, share meals, work, discern, vacation, laugh and weep, rejoice and suffer—all were a common task done in the mutual bond of the love of the Holy Spirit. To the end, Joan complimented him on his gratitude, courtesy, intelligence, hard-work, integrity, honesty, purity, and model as husband and father. My words are very poor and limited but his wife would affirm without any hesitation that God gave her the BEST HUSBAND!!!
8. MAN OF GOD. Ed Broom had a deep faith. He was gifted with 12 years of solid Catholic education. Sunday Mass was the heart of his faith. Every night before retiring he would pray the Memorare with his wife. Meals were always blessed. The Rosary he prayed regularly. In Church he was an altar server, commentator, lector, usher. He taught Confirmation. He was President of the Serra Club that promotes vocations to the priesthood, as well as a member of the Knights of Columbus. He and his wife Joan were Third Order Franciscans. However, the best way that he preached his faith was by the way that he lived out his faith as you have heard in all of the earlier points.
9. MODEL DEATH. His death came about quickly! He died on October 1st, the feast of St. Therese, and the first Saturday of the month—dedicated to Our Lady. Shortly before he died he went to confession, received the Anointing of the Sick, and the last meal that he consumed was receiving Holy Communion—the Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of Jesus Christ. Who gave him his last Holy Communion? His wife Joan! Jesus consoles us with these comforting words: ““I am the bread of life, whoever eats my body and drinks my blood will have everlasting life and I will raise him up on the last day.” (Jn. 6—Bread of Life discourse)
10. OUR LADY. Ed Broom was given a special gift by Saint Mother Teresa of Calcutta more than 30 years ago, the day after my ordination to the priesthood—a miraculous medal. Ed wore this till the very end. He also wore his Scapular in which was sown the miraculous medal. Therefore, over his heart when he died were the images and memories of Our Lady whom he truly loved. And this is our closing thought and prayer: we would like to pray for Ed’s eternal salvation, and we beg all of you to pray for him and to continue to pray for his eternal salvation and to entrust him now, tomorrow and always to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. Friend, companion, fellow-worker, uncle, grandpa, Dad, and husband, we all love you and hope to see you one day forever in the loving embrace of the Eternal Father. Amen.
Father Ed Broom, OMV, is Associate Pastor of St. Peter Chanel Church in Hawaiian Gardens, California. He is a member of the Oblates of the Virgin Mary and was ordained by Saint John Paul II on May 25, 1986. Fr. Ed teaches Catholic Ignatian Marian Spirituality through articles, podcasts, a radio show, retreats and spiritual direction.
