MAY ALL FIND COMFORT IN THE MEDICINE OF LAUGHTER.
The following prayer was given by Brother Raymond L. Fitz, S.M., University of Dayton president, at the funeral of Erma Bombeck ’49.
For Erma, who in baptism was given the pledge of eternal life, that she now be admitted to the company of the servants, we pray to the Lord. Our response to these intercessions is Lord, hear our prayer.
For Erma who ate the body of Christ, the bread of life, that she may be raised up on the last day, we pray to the Lord.
For Erma’s family: Bill, Betsy, Matt, Andy and Erma’s mother, and all of us who are Erma’s friends, may we be consoled in our grief by the Lord who wept at the death of his friend Lazarus, we pray to the Lord.
Erma deeply loved her faith and her church, and she had a wonderful gift of bringing together all God’s people. May we continue to bring the gift of acceptance, reconciliation and love to one another, we pray to the Lord.
Erma taught us to understand the pain of a child — the abused or those suffering the pain of serious illness. May we grow in our appreciation of the gift of children and pledge to build families and communities that care for children, we pray to the Lord.
Erma taught us to appreciate the vocation of motherhood, to appreciate our own mothers and to be better mothers. May the Lord strengthen mothers with love and good humor as they have their vocation, we pray to the Lord.
Erma helped us to understand the plight of women in our society and she gave her energy to change this situation. May God bless all who work for justice — give them strength and courage, and Erma’s humor, we pray to the Lord.
Erma’s love and acceptance gave her insight on all of life’s situations — the profound and simple — affairs of the heart and the dressing room at Loehmann’s. May all of us, especially those who suffer, find comfort in the medicine of laughter, we pray to the Lord.
Let us now take a moment of silence to lift up our own prayer from within our heart. We pray to the Lord.
Erma Bombeck Collection 