|
Dean St. Ledger
Born:
July 15, 1931 in Monmouth, Illinois
I would like to
begin by expressing my sympathy to Dean’s wife Nancy, to their children
Aileen, Raymond, and Kevin, to all of Dean’s siblings, Paul, Helen,
Anita, Don, and Bernard, their spouses and their children, and to his
brothers-in-law Chuck and Keith. Many of them cannot be here in person
but I know they are here in spirit. I suspect that Dean
himself would not be very happy to hear people talking about him. He was
very unassuming and quiet. Yet behind that modest and shy façade was a
very intelligent person with incredible construction skills and
practical knowledge. In addition, Dean had a great sense of humor,
kindness, human understanding and “people smarts.” Dean liked people and
they trusted and loved him.
Even after five
children and more than 60 years of marriage Dean was still completely
infatuated with his bride. Once, when I visited him in the nursing home
in his declining months, he pointed to a picture of Nancy as a young
woman and, with a gleam in his eye, asked me proudly if she wasn’t
“quite a looker.” Nancy and Dean
always had a welcoming home especially at holidays, when their family
and friends often gathered for festive feasts. Dean had a sweet tooth
and especially enjoyed the desserts Nancy prepared, including homemade
pies and ice cream. My wife Anne and I were privileged to share many
dessert fests in their home, especially on the Fourth of July when we
all watched the town firework display from their backyard. Although Dean and I
were both employed at Monmouth College, I came to know knew him less
through the college and more through Nancy, who taught piano to all
three of our children. We also saw each other in church for years. Every
Sunday my family would be up in the choir loft so we could sing in the
choir. Nancy would play the organ and Dean would sit quietly in the
front pew at the east end of the choir loft. He didn’t sing. In fact,
one story is that as a schoolboy he was once told by a teacher not to
sing because he sounded like a frog, but he was always there in church
with Nancy and that was enough for him. Right after Mass, he would leave
while Nancy was still playing the organ, only so he could get the car
and park it right in front of the church to pick her up. He once told his
son David that his purpose in life was helping people. His daughter
Aileen told me about an incident which took place a very long time ago
when Dean and Nancy came to visit her in Chicago and they we went to see
a show, probably Phantom of the Opera. A young African American woman
had gotten a flat in the parking garage and no one would help her.
Dean just jumped out and took over and changed the tire.
The woman and her two friends were absolutely astounded. They
kept thanking him over and over.
He said something to the effect that was just what people should
do. Dean also helped
people in other ways. Building projects big and small were his special
talent. Over the years Dean completed a lot of home improvement projects
for the Sienkewicz family and for many others in and around Monmouth.
One of the last projects I think he completed was the My Little Library
at our house. So any time someone takes a book from that library, Dean
is still helping others. Dean’s carpentry
skills as well as his love for Nancy and his children make me think of
St. Joseph the carpenter who, throughout his life, modestly cared for
his wife Mary and her son Jesus. St. Joseph didn’t look for praise or
attention. He just did what he knew needed to be done. Perhaps St.
Joseph served as a model for Dean who spent his life, like Joseph,
modestly caring for his family and helping others. I’d like to think
that Dean is now up in heaven and comparing notes with St. Joseph. May he rest in
peace. |