My Brother Anthony

[Quietfire]

My baby brother died yesterday.

One moment he was helping a friend (cause that was just him, always doing for someone else) and the next he fell forward and that was it.

 

My heart is literally ripped in half.  I have no words.

But I am asking the biggest favor in the world.

 

My brother was baptized Catholic, but was never confirmed, never received first communion.

 

Father Bill came to the hospital yesterday, thank God, since there was no priest on duty and no one could be reached.  I called my parish and he came right down...said those waiting for confession could wait.

 

My brother respected my choice to be Catholic and, in his own way, was so proud of me for my firm conviction.

 

He will receive a Catholic funeral although it is too early to give any info.

 

I am asking for fervent prayers for the repose of his soul. 

 

It means so much to me right now if I know that prayers are being said for him

 

My real name is Roberta, I don't care that you all know this.  I am married, so my last name is different.  It's him that I pray for now and always.

You have no idea what he meant to me.  I could not even begin to explain that.

 

My brothers name is Anthony Marullo.

He was 48 years old.

 

Please, pray for him.

 

[dUSt]

I'll pray for him at mass today.

[darcy15]

I am so sorry for your loss

I will pray for your brother

[Immanuel]

I will be praying for him. I'm so sorry for your loss :pray:

[bernadette d]

Prayers for Anthony and for you.

[totustuus20]

I will be praying for him, and for you.

[PhuturePriest]

I'm very sorry for your loss. I will pray for him, and for you. May the peace of God which surpasses all understanding guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

[brandelynmarie]

:amen: *hugs* :console:

[Oremus Pro Invicem]

I will keep your brother Anthony in my prayers.  

 

Prayers for your family as well. 

 

 

http://youtu.be/sg69IFWas4w

[IgnatiusofLoyola]

I'm so sorry to hear this, Quietfire. Know you have my prayers, both for your brother and for you.

[truthfinder]

My condolences. I prayed for you and your brother at Mass today. 

[Nihil Obstat]

May the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.

Prayers for you and your family too, Roberta.

Edited December 21, 2014 by Nihil Obstat

[Quietfire]

I tried to post a picture of him, but I can't figure out how, plus Im barely able to see right now since I wear contacts and they are fogged over from crying.

 

His facebook page is Tony Marullo, though he was barely on but there is a nice picture of him there if anyone wants to smack it on here.

 

Thank you for the prayers and condolences.  This is just the beginning.

 

[Gabriela]

Is this him, Quietfire?

 

Edited December 22, 2014 by Gabriela

[Quietfire]

Yes Gabriela, that's him.  Thank you so very much for doing that.  He didn't have an extensive FB profile since he barely used it.  I use FB for games (that's why I have no pics of me on mine), but ended up putting in my real name because everyone kept telling me they were having problems finding me.  We are not a 'social media' type family.  Phatmass is the first social anything that I ever did online after I got my first computer and as many of you know, it was to learn the faith I was baptized in and find out if Catholism had any truth to it.  At the time I was a practicing Presbyterian.

 

He was, in his faith, were I was when I started this journey, if not farther along.  I know that he was a good Catholic, but he simply never received his first communion or said the profession of faith.  I know that he was a better person than me, and I'm not saying that simply because he was my brother and because I miss him.  I'm saying it because it's true. 

 

When my father passed away last year, he had already made his final arrangements.  We had discussed it extensively for several years so the process that one goes through when a loved ones dies was made much simpler because he and I had everything in place.  I was allowed to grieve without the 'incovenience' of planning a funeral.  My dad was very sick though and in the end, spent months wasting away.  I was with him for his last 6 weeks here and had that time to talk to him and prepare myself for what lay ahead.  My time with him was precious.  After his death I worked on a online memorial for him and it helped me get through my grief. 

 

I do not have that 'luxury' with Tony.  Without going into detail right now, because it is still so raw, just know that it is so much worse.  We are currently living with him, since we sold our house and are waiting for our new home to be built. 

So everywhere I look, I see him.

Right now I am sitting in his office, using his desk, which I have been using for 6 months after he graciously allowed me to take this space for privacy.

 

I hope later, with permission, to tell the story of his life, as best I can.  He was an amazing person, brother and friend.  The lives he touched are immense.  The struggles he had in life and overcame would amaze and shock most people, at least those who didn't know him. 

 

He was my hero.  He may have been a year younger than me, but I looked up to him.