[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 97 (Thursday, June 27, 1996)]
[Senate]
[Pages S7069-S7070]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         MY MOTHER, ALBA LEAHY

  Mr. LEAHY. Mr. President, 12 years ago, I stood on the Senate floor 
to give the most difficult speech I have ever given. I gave a eulogy to 
my father and a remembrance of his life. Today is also such a difficult 
time as I remember my mother, Alba Leahy, and her life which ended last 
month.
  It was an ending not really expected because while she was aging, she 
was of a family where so many lived well into their 90's, but it 
appeared that she was more ready to leave than we were ready to have 
her go.
  So as I stand on the floor of the Senate today, I remember a trip 
with my mother just a matter of weeks before she died. It was one of 
those beautiful clear days in Vermont when our State moves from winter 
to spring, and even though there was snow on the ground, the sky was a 
bright blue and the warm Sun caused the snow to drip from the trees and 
the brook to run in and out through the ice beside our home.
  My mother and I had driven to our farmhouse in Middlesex, VT. It was 
the same farmhouse that she and my father bought back when I was only 
17 years old. We talked of the hundreds of friends my parents had for 
meals and conversation and companionship at that farm. We talked about 
how my wife, Marcelle, and I had our first date at that farm and our 
honeymoon there and how eventually the farm became Marcelle's and mine.

  I still remember sitting in that living room, the mountains in the 
distance, and the Sun coming through the windows behind where my mother 
was sitting, Sun that glowed on her white hair. Then we talked, as we 
had occasionally during the past year, of death and dying, and I 
promised to give this eulogy as I had for my father when that time 
came, and she quickly said, ``Don't make it sad. I have had a very good 
life except that I miss your father.''
  So as I prepared for today, the memories came back of the mother I 
knew who read to me, who stayed awake all night to care for me when I 
nearly died of pneumonia as a child, who baked me cookies to bring back 
to college, who stood with my father at my wedding, the christening of 
our children, through election nights, and as I took the oath of office 
in the Senate.
  I thought of the number of times she would go to functions with me in 
Vermont, especially after my father died. Both of them enjoyed going to 
such events with me.
  So at the funeral in Vermont last month, friends and family joined us 
at St. Augustine's Church in Montpelier, the church where my parents 
had been married 60 years ago. We spoke of the many generations that 
were connected that day, from her Italian immigrant parents, my 
grandparents, who came to this great country with nothing but the faith 
in our Nation and their own skills, to the children and the 
grandchildren and the great grandchildren surviving her today.
  Throughout it all, we talked of the total love of Alba and Howard 
Leahy and how she had mourned him since he died even as she continued 
the love they both had for their children and their children's 
children.
  Her physician, Dr. David Butsch, told us of the influence she had had 
on him and his wife and their children and how she was one of those 
special people one often meets only once in a lifetime.
  Her granddaughter, Theresa Leahy, told how she always turned to her 
grandmother for advice and encouragement--and it was always there for 
her even to the last day of her life. As Theresa stood on the altar and 
faced that congregation, it was so obvious the special bond they had.
  Her grandson, Kevin Leahy, said, ``My grandmother defined her life by 
the people who shared it with her. It was family; it was relationships; 
it was her friends and the friends she made into family that defined 
her, and it was through the stories she would tell of the people that 
meant so much to her that Grandma showed how much she loved so many 
people.''
  Marcelle and I had talked with her just a few hours before she died 
as we were actually making plans for our next time together, plans for 
just a few days later.
  My brother John and his wife Jane, had seen her just a few days 
before. And my sister Mary, who gave so much of herself in caring for 
our mother after Dad died, was with her at the end, as she had been 
every time Mother had needed her.
  When we left the funeral, and returned to the farm in Middlesex where 
my mother and I had talked of the day I would give this eulogy, it was 
to celebrate her life.
  Her grandchildren, Theresa, Kevin, Alicia, and Mark, together with 
Kevin's wife, Christianna, Alicia's husband, Rob were there and we were 
joined by Mark's wife, Kristine, by phone. Mother's older sister, Enes 
and sister Anne, husband, Matt, and brother Louis and wife Myrth joined 
John, Jane, Mary, and Marcelle and me as we remembered with joy her 
life. She would have been so pleased as she saw all the people who came 
through the house representing friendships going back more than 50 
years straight through to the present.
  Stories were told of the years my parents owned and ran the Waterbury 
Record newspaper, how they founded and ran the Leahy Press until 
selling it upon retirement, of their early courtship, life at 136 State 
Street and Three Dover Road, Mom's volunteer stint as a State House 
guide after Dad died, her caring for us all with love and ``good

[[Page S7070]]

butter and eggs'' and a smile that lit the room.
  And as we laughed and cried, remembered boisterously and loved 
silently, Kevin's words as he finished his eulogy in the church, came 
to me:

       We are not sad today. No matter how much we may hurt, no 
     matter how much we miss you, we are happy about and grateful 
     for everything you showed us and for bringing so many of us 
     together with your stories, your laughter, and your love.

  Today, I remember with joy with the life of my mother.
  I ask unanimous consent that two articles from the Times-Argus, in 
Vermont, be printed in the Record, and yield the floor.
  There being no objection, the articles were ordered to be printed in 
the Record, as follows:

                             Alba Z. Leahy

       Montpelier.--Alba Zambon Leahy, 86, died May 5, 1996, in 
     Central Vermont Hospital in Berlin.
       Born in South Ryegate on Aug. 21, 1909, she was the 
     daughter of Peter and Vincenza Zambon, and attended schools 
     in Vermont and New Hampshire.
       On June 1, 1936, she was married to Howard Francis Leahy in 
     St. Augustine Church in Montpelier. They owned and operated 
     the Waterbury Record, a weekly newspaper, and Leahy Press in 
     Montpelier. Their interest in Leahy Press was sold when they 
     retired in the 1970s. During retirement, Mrs. Leahy was a 
     volunteer guide at the Vermont State House, an active 
     parishioner of St. Augustine Church and a member of Vermont 
     Federation of Women's Clubs of Vermont in Montpelier.
       Survivors include one daughter, Mary Leahy of Marshfield; 
     two sons, John Leahy of Clayton, N.Y., and Sen. Patrick Leahy 
     of Middlesex; several grandchildren and great-grandchildren; 
     one brother, Louis Zambon of Ohio; two sisters, Enes Zambon 
     of Shelburne and Anna Donovan of West Yarmouth, Mass.
       Mr. Leahy died in Feb. 7, 1984. Two brothers, Severino 
     Zambon and John Zambon, are also deceased.
       A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Wednesday at 
     11 a.m. in St. Augustine Church. Burial will be in Green 
     Mount Cemetery.
       Calling hours will be held Tuesday from 7 to 9 p.m. at 
     Guare & Sons Funeral Home, 30 School St., Montpelier.
       Memorial contributions may be made to: Sisters of Mercy 
     Retirement Fund, 100 Mansfield Ave., Burlington, VT 05401.
                                                                    ____


                            Alba Leahy Rites

       Montpelier.--A con-celebrated funeral Mass for Alba Zambon 
     Leahy who died May 5, 1996 in Central Vermont Medical Center 
     in Berlin, was offered Wednesday at 11 a.m. in St. Augustine 
     Church. Con-celebrants were the Most Rev. Moses Anderson 
     S.S.E., the Rev. Bernard E. Guadreau, pastor of the church; 
     the Rev. Rick Danielson, parochial vicar of the church; the 
     Rev. Charles Davignon, the Rev. Marcel Rainville, S.S.E.; and 
     Deacons Regis Cummings and Dan Pudvah. The Rev. Jay C. Haskin 
     was the principle celebrant.
       Organist Dr. William Tortolano, provided accompaniment for 
     soloist Martha Tortolano, who sang ``All Creatures of Our God 
     and King,'' ``Ave Maria,'' ``Agnes Dei,'' ``Panis 
     Angelious,'' ``I Love You Truly'' and ``Hymn of Joy.''
       Scriptures were read by Sister Rose Rowan. Offertory gifts 
     were brought to the altar by Theresa Leahy and Alicia Leahy 
     Wheeler. Reflections were offered by Dr. David Butsch, 
     Theresa Leahy and Kevin Leahy.
       Bearers were Kevin Leahy, Mark Leahy, Robert Zambon, Carl 
     Zambon, Rob Wheeler, J. Wallace Malley Jr., and Tim Heney. 
     Ushers were Fred Bertrand, Tom Ford and Paul H. Guare.
       Burial was in Green Mount Cemetery in Montpelier where 
     committal prayers were offered by Father Gaudreau, Father 
     Haskin and Father Davignon.

  Mr. LEAHY. Mr. President, I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. WELLSTONE. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order 
for the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

                          ____________________