We are all born
To a world of change,
Though we may never know why
We grow, and learn, despair, rejoice
Wonder, and laugh and cry.
And the days fly by.


And some look back
With a little more
Than regret and a wistful sigh,
Or worry their way toward the future.
Or do their best to deny
That the days fly by.

Each moment in time
Is a gift that comes
And goes in the blink of an eye
We question, as always,
The meaning of life,
And to live is the only reply.

So I celebrate you in the here and now
May you live as well as life will allow
And may your spirits be ever high
So they, too, fly
As the days fly by.


GOODBYE DEAR FRIEND

Mr. Richard Wehner's Eulogy for Chris Tackes
October 29, 1998


� � � The book of Sirach tells us that.................A faithful friend is beyond price, no sum can balance his worth. A faithful friend is a sturdy shelter; he who finds one finds a treasure.

� � � This is not the way it is supposed to be ........ It is not right that the athletic director of a high school should have to stand in front of a young man's teammates and eulogize one of the school's athletes. It is not right that a teacher should stand before parents, relatives, classmates and friends and eulogize a student.

� � � All the young people here today I want you to know that I hurt like you hurt. I have sat in the darkness of my room and the school chapel, I have walked the streets of my neighborhood late at night and wept like you have. My thoughts have been your thoughts. I have asked the same questions that many of you have. I was Chris' religion teacher his parents sent Chris to SLUH and entrusted him to my care, "Please take care of our son, he is one of our most prized possessions, teach him, love him, be kind to our son, help him to get to know God." I have thought to myself where did I go wrong? What did I miss? What could I have done? Did he need me and I was indifferent? How could I have missed so much pain in one of my boys. The questions we ask ourselves are not fair questions, for there are no answers and you and I must stop mentally beating ourselves up over the Whys.......of Chris' actions. Chris does not want us to suffer.

� � �Our faith is deeply challenged at moments like this, and yet I am so grateful for my faith at times like this. I am sure of one thing -- God is with us this morning in this church. His love is all around us and all we have to do is to reach out and accept it in our hearts . You see our faith is a great gift.

� � � It has been said that to love and be loved is the greatest happiness of our existence. Chris had this figured out at such a young age; he knew this as a sophomore in high school. Chris was truely loved by God, as Fr. Sheridan said the other day to the sophomore class and Monday evening in our rosary service that Chris is being held in the arms of God, surrounded by Gods infinite love and mercy. Chris truely loved and cared for people, he worried about people's feelings, and knew at such a young age how fragile people were. Because of this he was loved by many people. All of us here in one way or the other have been touched by Chris' infectious smile and those laughing eyes.

� � � Chris lived his life full throttle. It was here at Little Flower where he was nurtured and cared for; he enjoyed growing up in this parish and cared alot for his grade school friends. He followed his good friend from grade school Ross Taylor to SLUH where he remarked he was finally on a winning sports team. Chris was so proud to be a Jr. Bill. He had a tremendous amount of pride whenever he pulled on that blue and white football jersey, skated out onto the ice with our hockey team or took the field as a member of the baseball team. He was part of our family --- the SLUH family. Chris was a very social person he wanted to meet and get to know everybody and if there was a party expect to see Chris there. His friends have told me that on some nights he set out talk to and to meet as many people as possible.

� � � He loved to play hockey if it wasn't at SLUH it was in his room. By the way, Mrs. McMahon, there is a hole in his bedroom wall that is covered up by a poster. The hole is the result of a little one on one hockey shootout between Chris and Ross. Chris loved his mom; he worried about her and always bragged about her cooking. Chris was a great food critic. He looked forward to those special half day lunches when his Dad would pick him up from school and they'd go out to eat and talk and just to be together. He cared deeply for his stepparents and grandparents and the impact and positive influence they had on his life.

� � � Aimee, you were the consumate big sister. He was so proud of your athletic and academic accomplishments. He really looked up to you, Aimee, and all your hardwork in racquetball, lacrosse and, especially being named the Post Dispatch Scholar-Athlete at Nerinx Hall. He always commented to his friends how proud he was and how lucky he was to have you as a role model and big sister.

� � �He was looking so forward to turning 16 and how he needed to get a 3.0 to get his drivers license. He saw his report card on Saturday. He made the 3.0 and one of his highest grades was in one of his toughest subjects - Chinese. Because of the way he lived his life we wonder and ask ourselves why? Why was Chris' last act on earth so contrary and hurtful to us when the rest of his life was one of caring and giving.

� � � Exactly one week ago, about this time Chris walked into my classroom for the last time. What we talked about that morning and what he heard that day is startling. He heard about the story of Jesus bringing Lazarus back to life. He heard Jesus telling Lazaurs' sisters that "He is the resurrection and the life and whoever believes in him, even if they die, will live and everyone who believes in him will never die." And we talked about the human element of Jesus because as Jesus approached the tomb of Lazarus that day scripture tells us that Jesus wept. He wept because Jesus loved Lazarus and missed him for they were good friends.

� � � Mr. Tackes what a great last day you spent with your son. Chris and his father spent the day along with the other members of the SLUH B-football team at St. Matthew's parish on the near north side, doing community service work. Father and son working together side by side helping people who were less fortunate. Chris' last day a beautiful Saturday; he gave to the service of the poor, his last day on earth was one of living the Jesuit and SLUH motto of being a "MAN FOR OTHERS." That night father and son attended the Blues game. In that game one of his favorite players Al MacInnis a defenseman just like Chris was-------- scored the winning goal.

� � � If Chris could call out to us this morning he would want us to be kind to one another, supportive, to seek out the weak in society and to reach out to them. He would want us to learn from his mistake, he would tell us to live -- -----that life is sacred, a true gift. He would say to all the parents out there take care of your sons and daughters tell them that you love them, and to hold them a little bit tighter when you tell them good night this evening. He would tell his friends talk to your parents, confide in them, and if you really want to honor me then don't ever allow this to happen again. He would tell his friends to close ranks and draw closer to each other to reach out to people and don't be so critical. He would remind all of us of how tough it is to grow up in these troubled times, and I know he would tell all the young people here today it is time to quit talking about our faith and to take action; to make the Kingdom of God here on earth a reality.

� � � And so Christopher we bid you farewell. We love you. I never got the chance to say good-bye......and so my friend may the angels lead you into paradise, may the martyrs come to welcome you to the holy city, the new and eternal Jerusalem.

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