mari$ all
Eulogy for
Brother Fe
l
ix Matthia
Russell
(July 23, 1934 - August 17, 1987)
Francis Felix Russell entered St. Joseph's Novitiate in Tyngsboro, Massachusetts
in 1953
.
He completed his Scholasticate at Marist College in Poughkeepsie, New
York. Brother Felix served as a teacher at Mount Saint Michael Academy in Bronx,
New York; Our Lady of Lourdes High School, Poughkeepsie, New York; and as
school treasurer at Marist High School, Chicago, Illinois and Central Catholic High
, Lawrence, Massachusetts. Between 1971 and 1979, Felix was assistant
provincial treasurer. More recently, he served as business manager for the Marist
Missionary Sisters. He died at Massachusetts General Hospital in August 1987
after a brief illness. Printed below is an excerpt from
Brother John Malich's eulogy delivered at Mount Saint Michael Chapel, Bronx,
New York.
In many ways Felix's life was the Brothers. As a young boy he came to Mount
Saint Michael as a boarder, and spent his "growing-up" years with and among the
Brothers. This experience ultimately led to his love for this particular family and his
entrance into the novitiate. And he brought all of this love, and that special energy
and fire which was uniquely Felix, to his commitment.
Because he loved the Brotherhood so, he could point to things within the family
that he felt needed to be looked at, changed, adjusted-always from his
perspective. He could argue, rave, and rant, but always out of a deep love for who
we all are.
Felix was always there when needed, to show a gentle concern for the sick, to
attend every funeral of a Brother or Brother's parent
--
no matter the distance.
Yet always in Felix's life there was a hunger, a yearning for "something" --
something better than was now present to him. Maybe it would be that next
community he joined, or perhaps that particular title or position or role he attained:
then everything would be great. This yearning always made him seem to me to be
waiting for that "something" that was just around the bend, that something which
finally would complete him, and make everything whole.
It is consoling for us this morning to know in our faith that Felix has finally arrived
home, that all his yearning has been so wonderfully and unimaginably fulfilled. We
rejoice for you, Felix, that you are finally at peace. We ask you to remember all of
us still on the journey.