Memorial Service for Samuel Robert O'Brien

On behalf of the Central Schwenkfelder Church, deepest sympathy is extended to Beverly and her children: daughter Karen and husband Eric , Son David and wife Nancy, and Sam’s beloved grandchildren: Ben and wife Jessica, Alex and wife Caitlin, Sarah and Becca and Sam’s great grandchildren Nettie and Nora.

It is at times like this that we, as people of faith in the Lord Jesus, turn to God’s word to find comfort and strength.  Our help comes from the Lord, as Psalm 121 teaches.

This Psalm has long been one of my favorites.  It says: “I lift up my eyes to the mountains, where does my help come from?”  This is a song of ascents; a hymn sung while Israelites went to the tabernacle/temple to worship. 

For those in Biblical times, the mountains represented trouble and obstacles.  In a pedestrian society, the hills surrounding Jerusalem were challenging to navigate and they also were the home of thieves.  You took your life into your own hands if you had to travel over the hills.  The answer to such obstacles is God.  That’s why the Psalmist wrote: “My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.” 

This Psalm contains one of the greatest messages from the Bible, that is the foundation of the gospel:  God graciously gives His help to fallen human beings, especially those who ask for it.  He wants us to come to Him.  He is mindful that we are “dust.”  The Lord condescends to His children.  He is a refuge and strength; a very present help in time of trouble (Psalm 46:1). 

The same God who made the universe is concerned about you!  That’s why He sent His Son Jesus to this earth so long ago.  Jesus said in Matthew 11:28:

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." 

Coming to Jesus is an act of faith.  When we refrain from doing so, we rob ourselves of peace and the learning experience that adversity can teach us.  Life was not meant to be lived alone on our own, isolated from God.  We sing the words to that old hymn: “Oh what peace we often forfeit; oh what needless pain we bear; all because we do not carry; everything to God in prayer!”

What is unique about Christianity, from all of the other religions in the world is that we believe that God works on our behalf.  He is our help.  Jesus described the Holy Spirit as our “Helper,” and “the Spirit of truth.” God continues to be about help.  It is times like this that God wants us to ask for His help.

The second scene is part of a dialog in the upper room, shortly before Jesus would go to the cross.  Here, Christ is preparing His disciples for His departure.  He talked about His Father’s house and how His disciples would live there one day.  These comments come at the point of their discouragement over His leaving them.  In a brief time from his statements, Jesus would go to the cross and die as the sacrifice for our sin. 

But he would assure them that he was going to prepare a place for them and would return and receive them.  And that through Jesus, the way to the Father is known.  He would state those powerful words in John 14:6:

“I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

The Christian lives in this world knowing that his real home is not of this world.  Rather God has prepared a place for him.  The apostle Paul stated in 2 Corinthians 5:1:

“For we know that if the earthly tent which is our house is torn down, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.” 

And, that when we are “…absent from the body,” we are “…at home with the Lord.”  This is good news for the Christian, especially when he finds himself in a world where there is so much death, war, and bloodshed. 

Lastly, you can access this gift if you want it enough.  How do we access this gift of life after death?  It is not through being a good person or being religious for the sake of religion. Human nature always grades on a curve, yet God’s standards are irrefutable and perfect. 

We can never be good enough.  Only Jesus was good enough.  It is through Him that the gifts of repentance and faith come.  Jesus preached at the outset of His ministry in Mark 1:14: “The time has come," he said. "The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news!"  

Repentance means to turn, a change of heart and mind.  It is implied in the act of confession; asking God to forgive you for your sins and offenses done to Him and to others. 

The other act is faith.  Faith is not just believing that there is a God but embracing Him; following Him; becoming a disciple of Jesus. So, there is urgency for you to repent of your sins and place your trust in Jesus Christ, in order to possess heaven as your home. 

Consider that God reached out to you in the gift of His Son, so that you could be reconciled to Him.  How could you not respond to such a gracious invitation?  Jesus said: “Come to Me, all who are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28) 

We are also here to celebrate the life of Sam O'Brien. Sam was a unique man and many people loved and appreciated him for who he was. At first, Sam’s quiet demeanor may lead you to believe he was rough but what emerged was a gentle man who was able to talk to anyone. He was genuinely interested in others. He knew everyone’s name at Dock Woods.

He grew up in an affluent area but was raised humbly. Sam and his younger brother Bill, were known as Sammy and Billy by their mother, Sarah. Sam’s parents were Irish immigrants. Therefore Sam was a no nonsense type of man. They both came from the county Donegal and came to America separately been met here in Philadelphia where there was a large Irish community .

Sam was destined for the construction industry. Bill, his brother, was an electrician. Sam, became an electrical engineer while attending night school at Villanova University. Sam and Bill joined together to build Bill’s house. Both brothers were hardworking, practical and mechanically minded.

Sam met the love of his life, Beverly, while attending a local Presbyterian Church. They were blessed with a marriage of over 60 years, an exceptional feat by any standard. As a husband, Sam was a good provider always putting his wife Beverly in front of himself; looking to her needs before his own.

When it came time to sell the home and move to Dock Woods, Sam did not want to go.

And he certainly did not like being in nursing care. When he was housed at the Willows, he made the comment: “Get Me Out of here. They’re all old here.” When Bev came home from the hospital, Sam had her up and walking in no time.

He loved to travel with his wife and family. Trips that were especially favorites were Alaska, the Canadian Rockies, Arizona, Arkansas, and Tennessee. Bev and Sam also made the trip to Ireland.

Sam had a beloved recliner in his home. Sam inherited it from his father in law. And so it lived two life times. His son David said that it needed to be burned.

Sam loved his children and grandchildren and great grandchildren. Sam was a precious father. He supported his children in any and every activity that they ever did . He was a band-dad to Karen and attended many recitals and competitions .

He coached David’s baseball teams from the time that he was 13 through the time that he was 19. As a father, Sam was a supportive disciplinarian. He had high expectations and he was proud of both Karen and David. He loved his family, and demonstrated his love in generosity and guidance.

Although he was set against David buying a motorcycle, he eventually came around and helped David work on it. And he was especially aggravated when David came home from an auction with a 1972 Grand Torino. It was David’s first car. It was said that that car brought the value of the home down.

Regarding his train collection, he would invite many people over to see it set up at around Christmas time. He had an HO set that was in the basement. But the Lionel set was set up around the Christmas tree .

Sam loved to stay busy. In the summertime he would work extensively in his garden. In the winter, he could be found working in the wood shop or setting up his trains. He loved woodworking and thus he would build things like end tables and bookcases, desks and even a tree house.

And he loved the game of baseball. He played in an adult softball league both indoor and outdoor. One teammate remembers the following:

“I started in the middle of the 2014 season. Sam was a manager. He tried me at different positions. When i asked him if i could keep a position he said i am being tried out at different positions because i stink at every position he gave me. I was devastated until a former teamate told me he was just giviing me a hard time. That was Sam. He was a great friend to me. Afterwards i would sometimes would play a joke on him. I will miss him dearly and will see him in heaven.”

As a professional, Sam worked for the CertainTeed Company for over 30 years He also worked for Habitat for Humanity on a part time basis. And then once he was retired, he would still serve on the weekends, building homes for the less fortunate.

Sam also liked to fish . He once took his grandson Ben fishing while in Ocean City, New Jersey. They wanted to fish the Bay but there was not enough people to make that trip. As a result, they signed up for the ocean trip, for deep sea fishing.

Ben was not into it. When he got upon the boat, he got sick and then quickly went to sleep. There was money put in a pot for those who would catch the biggest catch . And so before the day was done, ben awoke from his nap and fished for 10 minutes only to catch the largest fish on the trip and won the prize money. At this, Sam just shook his head

But Sam knew what it was like to be lucky as well. CertainTeed had a golf outing every year. And so Sam, not being a golfer, Would simply ride around in the cart and visit his friends and be a support.

After much ribbing, Sam got out and teed off on a par 3, only to hit a hole in one . His friends went crazy cheering him . He just nonchalantly put the club back in the back in the cart.

Sam enjoyed his card club with Beverly. There were many people that were a part of it and they played Pinochle for over 60 years. Among the friends that he had were the Millers, Jack Bowman, the Emery’s, and several others.

Sam was a leader. Although quiet, his leadership skills stood out by example. He invested in others the importance of being A provider. Loving your family and putting them first period working hard. And placing Jesus Christ in His church first

He believed in putting others before himself. Because his father coached baseball for those many years, David then followed his example and coached soccer soccer for over 30 years. Both men gave back to their community.

Sam O'Brien would like to be remembered as a loving husband, a devoted father, a precious grandfather and great grandfather. He was a man of strong faith principle and service. He will be fondly remembered and missed.

And as you grieve him today, remember Jesus words in Matthew 11:28-30

Matthew 11:28–30 ESV

28 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”