Tom Menino’s journey begins and ends at Most Precious Blood Parish in his native Hyde Park, the church where he was baptized as a youth and where his family and friends will celebrate his life in a funeral mass Monday.
The former Boston mayor passed away Thursday at the age of 71.
But he spent the past three decades worshiping here at West Roxbury’s St. John Chrysostom Parish, where he wasn’t just Boston’s beloved mayor, but like family for its parishioners.
"Mayor Menino was the most loving, giving person you’d ever want to meet, know or love," parishioner Denise Sullivan said.
"It was a shock to us this morning I don’t think we thought he was going to go that fast but thank God he did and he’s a peace," said parishioner Pat Leger.
These parishioners know there will be a void inside the sanctuary this Sunday, when Tom is no longer there to worship alongside them and share stories with them after mass.
"He was very warm and friendly with the people as they walked in and walked out it wasn’t business it was just friends," pastoral assistant Sister Maureen Taffe said.
Massachusetts
The latest news from around the state
And now they will hold on to the memories they have of him, especially the ones that made them laugh.
"I would always crack up because I wasn’t from Boston, and he’d always say to me did you get your passport to come to Boston? And you know I just loved him," Sullivan said.
