Eric E. Peck Funeral Homily
How grateful we are that for a season, Eric Edward Peck was ours. He was our beloved family member, our cherished friend, our kind and loyal co-worker. For a while he marked his place at our dinner table, on the golf course, in the volleyball and lacrosse bleachers, beside the ocean waters that he loved so much.
And yet, even as we give thanks today for the wonder of his life and give gratitude to God for him, we wrestle with a question that wells up in the hearts of all who loved Eric - And that question is why? Why did this happen?
It's natural to ask this question – and we ask it because we treasured Eric. We did not expect his season with us to be so short.
Maybe we are told that this great grief - that has attached to it a beloved name and face – is part of the human condition, evidence of a flawed universe, a world radically broken and incomplete. And there is an element of truth to this – for Eric, like all of us, was a human being, with a mortal body. But in this explanation we find precious little comfort. What we really need right now is not so much an explanation, some kind of definitive answer to as to 'why' – but a way to make it through. Comfort today and in the days to come. Assurance that the love that bound us to Eric in this life is a love that will keep us close in the next.
Thanks be to God for the good news of Jesus Christ. For the Gospel takes on death, looks at it straight on, and does not try to make sense of a loss too deep for words. Instead, the Gospel offers us the grace, the strength, the peace we need to make it to the other side of grief. For the Gospel gives us the firm and certain hope that God has prepared an eternal home for us – that nothing can separate us from the love of God in Jesus Christ. Nothing. This is the good news we need right now. This is the source of our comfort and peace.
No, the Gospel does not bring an explanation of death, but instead - a surprise announcement of resurrection, the unexpected gift of hope – the light of grace. Our God does not let death have the last word. Through Christ, love triumphs, grace abounds, life continues with the everlasting God.
And so we know that Eric Peck continues in life with our loving God. The love that bound us to Eric in this life does indeed keep us close in the next.
Eric may have died unexpectedly, but he did not die unprepared. He lived his life to the fullest. It was so evident that he knew the love of God in his heart - because he shared love so generously with others throughout his life.
Eric grew up in Normal, Illinois, the son of Sherman and Trudy Peck. He had two sisters, Pam and Cathy, and a brother, Kyle. A little known fact about the Pecks – Sherman and Trudy named each of their children so that the first letters of their first names spelled out their last name. Pam, Eric, Cathy, Kyle - Peck. When they lined up for photos, they would always say, 'get in your Pecking order.' ! They must have been such a fun group. They were also faithful Christian people - Eric's parents raised him and his siblings in the Lutheran church. They gave him a strong foundation in the faith and he grew up assured of God's love for him. Eric attended church regularly with his family and even served as president of his church youth group as a young man.
In 1992, Eric met the love of his life – Holly St. John. Eric and Holly worked together at MCI and were introduced by mutual friends Dave and Suzy Feldman. Holly says that she married Eric because he made her laugh. Eric had such a wonderful sense of humor – he loved to make people laugh and had the rare talent of being able to make up a good joke on the fly. He smiled so much that when Holly's parents met him, they nicknamed him "Smiley." When it turned out that this smiling guy with the great sense of humor was also a gourmet cook, Holly says that sealed the deal. Well – and one more thing. When Holly met Eric, she was so impressed that a 28-year-old bachelor belonged to King of Glory Lutheran Church here in Dallas, and attended church faithfully every week. Somewhat unusual for a young single guy. She knew he was a man of faith, a person of deep spirituality. They were married in Maui, Hawaii, in 1994, and enjoyed 16 years together. That beginning in Maui was reflective of Eric's lifelong love of the beach – especially Destin, FL, where they spent many family vacations – what wonderful memories, Holly, Austin and Danielle – you must have of those trips together.
Eric was a loyal, kind and loving husband, devoted to Holly, and their children, Austin and Danielle. He treasured his family – both Danielle and Austin say that Eric was a great father. Danielle says he always made sure that everyone in their house was happy and safe. He was present for his children and so supportive – always there to help with homework, ever-present at Danielle's volleyball games and Austin's lacrosse games. Everyone who knew Eric knew he was an outstanding golfer – he truly loved the game and played all the time – in fact one of his favorite places was the golf course – so it is a testament to his great love and devotion to his children that he would leave the course, even if he was on the 16th hole – to attend one of his children's games. Eric loved golf, but he loved people more than anything.
Eric was also very hardworking – when not on the golf course, a typical weekend found him around the house, tackling some project or another. Holly says he would never let her call 'the guy' to do a project – he always said he was 'the guy.'
Eric was also a highly valued and respected employee of Cisco Systems for 12 years. After his death, Holly received a phone call from John Chambers, CEO of Cisco. He expressed his sadness at the news of Eric's death and told her that the Peck family would always be a part of the Cisco family – he asked about Austin and Danielle by name and told Holly that if she ever needed anything, she shouldn't hesitate to call him personally. What a testament to Eric's work ethic – those who were fortunate enough to work with him held Eric in such high esteem.
Certainly there were things that Eric wanted to do on this earth that he did not have the time to do. Yet he leaves a tremendous legacy. You, Austin and Danielle, are that legacy – a living legacy. When I asked your mother, Holly, to describe your father, she said that he was loyal, responsible, patient, value-centered, hardworking, persistent, and passionate. Austin and Danielle, these qualities are present in you, I am certain of it. There is something of your father in each of you, and that heritage is a blessing. I know that the gifts he nurtured in each one of you will continue to grow throughout your life. And as he looks down on you from the arms of God, your father will be so very proud.
As faithful as it is for us to let Eric go, it is mighty difficult. The tears come from way deep down because the love of someone like Eric is felt through and through. Yet as the Gospel of John says, "Do not let your hearts be troubled. Do not be afraid." God is with Eric. God is with us. And one day, God will reunite us around a heavenly dinner table where I am certain Eric will be serving up something good. There will be no more tears, no more grief. We will gather together and there will be singing and rejoicing and jokes, volleyball and lacrosse and golf, and there Eric will be in the middle of it all, golf shoes on, a club in one hand and a spatula in the other, and we'll know that this is heaven.
Glory be to God for the promise of such great love.
Amen.
Minister, Holly Gotelli, Suncreek Methodist Church