Monday was an extraordinary day of celebrating the life of Vern Chase. It was a beautiful day: chilly, but very sunny. The day began with 10:30 am mass at Our Lady of Rosary Church in Edmonds, WA, just north of Seattle. The church has beautiful horizontal stained glass windows around the rim at the ceiling. The windows are in shades of blue and white that Clark thought looked like airplanes, and birds, and water. Vern was in the Navy for 2 years and spent his career in the airline industry, so the windows seemed very appropriate.
Before the mass started, Vern and Barb’s older son, Tom Chase of Mechanicsburg, PA, spoke first. He spoke of Vern’s love of travel and of his grandchildren and family. Daughter Jeanne Chase Tiscareno also spoke of how Vern considered taking Jeanne’s son to piano lessons as the highlight of his week. Vern was very active in service to the Edmonds community.
Here is a photo of Tom:

Tom Chase

Tom’s family: Toni Tommy Mimi
Mimi just entered Annapolis this Fall. Both of her parents had careers in the Navy. So she is the 3rd generation to be in the Navy.

Appropriately, red, white, and blue flowers were on the altar.
After the mass graveside ceremonies followed at Holyrood Cemetery in Shoreline, WA.

Vern and Barb’s 4 teenage grandsons were the pall bearers. Barb is on the left in the broad brim hat walking with daughter Jeanne and son-in-law, Bob Tiscareno.
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A representative from the Navy played Taps.

Navy representatives about to fold the flag.

Barbara, foreground, watched as they folded the flag. Facing are daughter Jeanne Tiscareno in the middle, her sons Bobby on her right and Danny on her left. Far left is Tom Chase and far right is Tommy Chase.

Cadet Mimi Chase watches as her grandmother is presented with the flag. Mimi’s name tag says, “Chase 22”. ’22 is the year she will graduate from the Naval Academy.

The reception was held at the Nile Country Club on the golf course across the street from the cemetery.

Daughter Jeanne Chase Tiscareno and husband Bob Tiscareno at the reception.
The food was a delicious buffet of salads with hot dishes of vegetables, salmon, and chicken. Barb Chase told me that Jeanne did the arrangements for the lunch.

Barb standing with her oldest sister Jeanne, Sr. Miriam Daniel, seated on the left, and her youngest sister Jinny on the right.

Barb’s sister Jinny Fahey, Barb’s brother Dan Fahey, Bob Tiscareno
Vern and Barb’s younger son, Dave, was an excellent MC for the lunch. Unfortunately, I didn’t get a photo of him.

Granddaughter Abby Chase, daughter of Dave and Coleen, sang Danny Boy. Her brother Cam accompanied her on what looked like a cardboard box. It was a cajón, a box-shaped percussion instrument originally from Peru. Abby had a gorgeous voice and her performance was very moving. She is a student at the University of Toronto.

Barb surrounded by some of her relatives
Front row: sister Jeanne Fahey (Sister Miriam Daniel) , Barb Chase, niece Cheryl Creagh (daughter of Barb’s late brother Dick Fahey).
2nd row: Daughter Jeanne Tiscareno, niece Barbara (Horton) Linn, sister Jinny Fahey, sister Trish (Fahey) Turner, niece Mimi (Horton) Pratt, sister Anne (Fahey) Sheaf.
3rd row: nephew Joe Sheaf, brother-in-law Tom Turner, brother-in-law Joe Sheaf, brother Dan Fahey, son Tom Chase.
Note: Barbara Linn and Mimi Pratt are the daughters of BarbaraChase’s sister Kathleen (Fahey) Horton and the late Phil Horton of Rossmoor, CA. Phil died just a month or two ago, so Katy was unable to attend the events in Edmonds. Katy was a senior when Barb and I were Freshmen in high school.

Barb and Vern surrounded by their grandchildren about year 2010.
Barb Chase, Danny and Bobby Tiscareno (Jeanne’s), Mimi Chase (Tom’s), Abby Chase (Dave’s), Vern, Tommy Chase (Tom’s), Cam Chase (Dave’s)
The world needs more Vern Chases!
Barbara