Tender, loving care

Posted on November 16, 2011

Nam Van Nguyen checks one of the refurbished memorials at the priests' burial section to ensure that is it properly aligned with the adjacent marker at the section south of the main outdoor altar at Calvary Catholic Cemetery.

With the accuracy of a model builder and brute force, Nam Van Nquyen wrestled the corner of one of the 800-pound granite headstones a final one-eighth inch toward perfection.

Calvary Catholic Cemetery employees, Nam Van Nguyen, Jorge Cruz and Fred Furchi, complete alignment of one of the grave markers in the priests' burial section south of the outdoor altar.

Led by Calvary Catholic Cemetery’s grounds director, Robert Sabo, Nguyen, Fred Furchi and Jorge Cruz zeroed in on the final 14 refinished grave markers they were reinstalling. Today’s efforts are part of the refurbishing of all of the priests’ burial sites at Calvary that included refinishing of the cross-shaped bronze grave markers and reinstallation on blocks of blue silk granite.

The cemetery’s director, Father Ralph Argentino, refers to these extra efforts as tender, loving care that, in addition to the spiritual needs, is part of the Church’s responsibility to the deceased.

This attention to detail at Calvary Catholic Cemetery doesn’t stop here, Furchi explained. When he spots a grave markers that might have settled over time, Furchi makes time to re-level it. He believes this standard of care and dedication are what sets Calvary apart.