Guy Ciarrocchi: In our Father’s house, there is a room for them
In a simple pine casket, followed by ten children, 30 grandchildren, and countless nieces, nephews, friends, with a choir of school children whose lives she touched singing hymns, Barbara Brass Henkels was laid to rest at St. Alphonsus Church. A life so well lived — 93 years of love, joy and selflessness.
The matriarch of the Henkels family, carrying on her duties as mother, “Grammy,” education entrepreneur and the embodiment of stewardship — giving unceasingly of time, treasure, and talent.
Sixteen years earlier, her husband Paul passed away. If you knew him as the CEO of Henkels & McCoy, you only knew part of the story. If you knew him as the dedicated Chairman of the REACH Alliance (Road to Educational Achievement through Choice)—leading a bi-partisan, multi-denominational (non-denominational) coalition of advocates for school choice, you’d only know part of the story. Yes, we should all pay tribute for his steady, selfless leadership as the driving force to bring about the 2001 enactment of the Education Tax Credit programs. Today, it has grown to over $600 Million and serves tens of thousands of students of all faiths (and no faith) from poor and working class families from Erie to South Philly. But there is so much more.
In addition to raising ten children, Barbara was not only devoted to her Roman Catholic faith; she was an active leader in the faith. The Archbishop of Philadelphia called upon her to co-chair the Rosary Congress — bringing thousands of students, teachers and families to the Cathedral for prayer, song and faith. Barbara and her co-chair — the late Roseanita Coffey, another force of nature — organized this faithful devotion for hundreds of schools across our five counties.
Passionate believers in the Catholic faith and in the importance and value of a solid education, Paul and Barbara co-founded the Regina academies — independent Catholic schools, which also spurred others to help recreate that model. After the enactment of the Pennsylvania Education Tax Credit, the Henkels Family Foundation donated scholarships to countless children — plus all that they gave directly to K-12 schools, colleges and BLOCS (Business Leaders Organized for Catholic Schools). Plus, they even funded a flutist chair for the Philadelphia Orchestra.
That they could both be loving parents of ten children speaks to their faith, love — and patience. That they could invest their time, treasure and talent — lobbying for legislation, establishing schools and donating so much to so many scholarship organizations and schools — to ensure that education was available to literally tens of thousands who they never met and those that will benefit for generations, speaks to their hearts, and dedication to their faith in action.
That Barbara continued to do all those things for sixteen years after Paul’s passing, while being a “Grammy” to 30 children spread across numerous states, makes her a role model in love, faith and selflessness. You would often find Barbara at one of the Regina schools or other schools that she supported, when not rushing across Montgomery County or to Rhode Island to see a grandchild in a sport or show.
To be a devoted parent is a gift; to do it ten times is amazing. To be a loving grandparent is a blessing; to do it 30 times is incomprehensible. To be able to also devote your heart and talents to tens of thousands of other children, and to set them up for life with love, faith and education is humbling and inspiring for the rest of us.
Over the years, I’ve attended dozens of funerals. I’m at an age where I’ve been there for so many, old and too young, classmates, parents of friends, and family. Whether you attend out of duty or love, if you’re like me, you may find yourself reaching for a handkerchief.
When my family and I attended the Gaudreau brothers funeral last summer, I was jarred when dozens and dozens of strong, athletic men in black suits processed into the church with somber or even “vacant” stares—underscoring the tragedy of John and Matthew’s very untimely deaths.
When the simple pine casket was walked up the aisle at St. Alphonsus, followed by a similarly lengthy procession—ten children and their spouses and 30 grandchildren, for a brief second I felt a tear. But, it quickly turned to a smile.
Love of family. Service to children. Devotion to God. A life very well-lived. I’m not sure I ever smiled before at a funeral.
In John 14, Jesus tells his disciples: “My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you?”
I have no doubt that there was a room there for Paul. And now, he’s joined by his loving partner and wife for eternity.
Guy Ciarrocchi is Senior Fellow with the Commonwealth Foundation. He served on the Board of the REACH Alliance, chaired by the late Paul Henkels, for eight years. He writes for Broad + Liberty and RealClear Pennsylvania. Follow Guy at @PaSuburbsGuy.