Last week, we bade farewell to Robert (Bob) “Pop” Butterfield with a solemn rosary, funeral mass and cemetery interment. He almost made it to the half birthday of his 91st year. It was a joy to celebrate him and almost the entire family turned up in Albuquerque, New Mexico, (not an easy trek for some!) to pray for his soul and support our mother/mother-in-law/grandmother and his wife of 67 years. All seven children, 15 of 16 grandchildren and a couple great-grandchildren descended on the family home and Pop would have loved every second of it! He was always such a social guy, interacting with everyone that crossed his path from the hostess and busboy in Garcia’s to the valet parking his car at Trombino’s. His favorite thing to tell individuals in any service industry: “you’re doing a good job."
Bob was Mr. Positive…he loved to hear about victories and joy…and he thought everyone had an interesting story to tell. He was naturally curious; he and Jeanette truly traveled the globe later in life, visiting Asia, Europe and the Caribbean on cruises and tours, always bringing back tales of individuals they’d encountered on their journeys. He was an amazing listener.
A deep love of books was an attribute that I shared with my father-in-law. I think we first bonded when he learned that I, too, was an avid reader. He introduced me to several fiction authors and we would often talk about what each other was currently reading. Last year I shared with him that one of my goals for 2023 was to read the Bible in a year. He in turn mentioned the Word on Fire Bible that he was studying. A month later, he mailed his copy of the book to me. In January, I began reading the volume in January during my morning quiet time and I treasure the handwritten note (pictured below) that he included in the package; it is the last personal correspondence I received from him.
Bob passed down his intense love of music to many of his children and especially to my husband, John. They both love(d) multiple genres, as well as Broadway musicals and operas. It was difficult to witness his loss of hearing in later years when music no longer filled their home. (Only to be replaced by Fox News, Mom’s favorite!) 😂
But his greatest gift to his family was prayer. I remember Pop saying to us, “You know, I pray for each of you every day” and I thought, yeah, yeah, yeah. Of course you do, all parents do. But in the last few years of his life, I bore witness to him walking circles around the living room after everyone had turned in for the night, actually praying those prayers. If he came to visit us here in Dallas, he said those prayers. If we were visiting them in Albuquerque, he said those prayers. Even on our last visit this past January, when his hip was too painful for him to walk any distance at all, he stayed up late, sitting in his office, saying those prayers.
As his large family filled the pews in the Our Lady of the Annunciation parish, and we recited our prayers for him, I couldn’t help but think how appropriate it was for all of us to be there. We were the recipients of his nightly intercessions for decades, how wonderful for us to send him on his way to heaven with our own prayers.
One final thought on this great man…if you were a son, daughter, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, niece, nephew, or grandchlld of Bob Butterfield’s, you’d heard him tell you at least once in your life that “you’re really something special.” But Pop, YOU are the one that was indeed, a true, special gift from God to your family and so many who encountered you. May you be welcomed into the presence of our heavenly father and please don’t forget about those of us still on earth. We still need you to be our prayer warrior in heaven. ❤️
