Buckley remembered at funeral

SHARON — Family, friends, and associates turned out to honor and remember a life that began a century ago when James L. Buckley was born to a renowned family of Sharon.

The Requiem Mass was held at St. Bernard’s Church in Sharon on Thursday, August 24, filling the historic space to capacity.

“He was a good man,” said Maureen Bozell, Buckley’s niece, as she arrived for the service, adding that in fact, that summation is the ultimate testament to a fulfilled, purposed century of life.

“He was a good neighbor,” said Sharon resident Tom Trowbridge, remembering his neighborly qualities.

The funeral for the conservative politician and U.S. Senator representing New York would mark the end of an important political era represented by one prominent family.

“To know another person is a great asset in our lives,” said the Rev. Francis Fador who had been invited by the Buckley family to serve as co-celebrant for the funeral service. He recalled that Buckley’s qualities of character made him a genuine, deep listener.

“He sat and he listened,” Fador said. “He had a profound ability to do that,” he added remembering fondly and emotionally long hours passed in conversation.

A commitment to truth was another quality of character that defined Buckley, Fador said, asking and answering, “What is the truth? Not always what you want it to be.”

“Jim lived it. The truth was always first and foremost in his life,” Fador said, adding that his Catholic faith was a bulwark for his life, that he intentionally integrated his faith into his politics as U.S. Senator from New York and in his service as a judge in the U.S. Court of Appeals in Washington, D.C.

That integration had been so successfully realized, Buckley was invited to speak on Oct. 31, 2015, at the University of Connecticut School of Law on the subject of “Religion and Politics.”

Speaking of the taking of an Oath of Office, Fador said “We ask God to bear witness to our promises in the expectation that He will hold us accountable.”

“Jim was soft-spoken, a gentlemen’s gentleman with a deep faith, who related with people.

“Thank you for your friendship; thank you for your love,” Fador concluded over the casket.

Daughter Priscilla Buckley delivered remarks of remembrance on behalf of her family. She was one of six children born to Buckley and their mother, Ann.

“We never saw him, but we knew he loved us,” she quipped, adding, “like God.” She continued that he loved time spent in the country and that money was of no importance to him.

“He was a bedrock Catholic,” she said, maintaining cordial relationships even when confronted with opposing views.

She recalled that Sen. Daniel P. Moynihan, having defeated Buckley for his U.S. Senate seat in 1976, had described Buckley as “a man of good quality.”

“He never raised his voice,” his daughter remembered, praising him for his empathy and his appreciation for small kindnesses. As the years went on, he never complained, and he told his family often that he loved them.

As more years passed, she recalled that he relished the repeated visits from former colleagues, former law clerks, and his many friends.

Deirdre Broderick performed at the funeral as organist and solo vocalist, offering a sung 23rd Psalm and another solo on the “Ave Maria.”

Love had been a simple central theme of the service and the remarks, love of people and love of country, the funeral recessional hymn appropriately being “America the Beautiful.”