See special editor’s note below regarding the horrific May 22, 2011 Joplin, Missouri F-5 tornado...

 A compilation of thoughts authored by Charles A.”Chuck” Fisher and edited by Josephine Tighe...

Charles was long associated (beginning when he was in high school) with Frank Newcomer, Jr. @ D. W. Newcomer’s Sons Funeral Homes, and also with Freeman Mortuary. For many years he was associated with Alvah K. Mettler @ the Mettler Family Mortuary in Garden Grove, California. Al Mettler was a great inspiration for Charles because he was such a  genuine friend and he encouraged Charles as he pursued his professional career in funeral service across many years! Charles was also involved with film production and entertainment enterprises, and he was also in partnership with his Mother and other family, and with many others before (semi) retiring.

                               “Love Has No Ending”                                              Grief is a process which goes on night and day, and it takes time because the mind lets in only the amount of reality it can bear. It is deeply personal, for every man’s or woman’s grief is unique in its particulars. The only experience of life that is in any way comparable to grieving is that of being in love. Love consumes the lover, dominates his or her every moment. So it is with grief!

Although you cannot penetrate the mystery of life and death, you will be increasingly aware that you and your loved one came from God, you belong to God, and that you will go to God. Love is the most important thing in the world and love has no ending. At the time of death this loving part of us does not die but in some way continues with God...                                                                          Published in 1970 by © C.A.Fisher

Charles A. “Chuck” Fisher

To Contact Charles via e-mail, double click:

 Charles@CharlesFisher.net

“BRIEF   INDEED  IS   OUR   TIME  FOR  LOVING”

A son of God fears neither life nor death, because his spiritual life is founded on a sense of Divine filiation. So, he says to himself:  God is my Father and He is the author of all good; He is all goodness. But, you and I, do we really act as sons of God?   (The Forge,  987)  Opus Dei

                             “The Midnight Hour”
The midnight hour, the darkest hour,
That human grief may know.
Sends forth its hurried summons,
Ask me to come, I go!

I know not when the bell will toll,
I know not where the blow may fall,
I only know that I must go
In answer to the call.

Perhaps a friend, perhaps unknown,
It is fate that turns the wheel,
The tangled skein of human life
Winds slowly on the reel.

And I!   I am the undertaker,
“Cold-blooded,”  you’ll hear them say;
Trained to the shock and chill of death,
With a heart that’s cold and gray.

Trained…That’s what they call it,
For how little they know the rest;
I am human, and I know the sorrow,
That throbs in the aching breast.
                           L. B. Lee © 1927                                                                                     Published by C. A. Fisher © 1970                                                                                    

D. W. Newcomer’s Sons

Kansas City, Missouri

“Throughout my life, I have been really blessed to have many people who have helped form me into the individual I am today. In addition to my immediate and late family, I must acknowledge many individuals who cared enough about me to stand with  me and  even when life was filled with some extreme difficulties. In humble gratitude, I thankfully acknowledge these wonderful friends...

Frank Newcomer, Jr., Dr. Hubert L. Eaton, James P. McGilley, Frederick E. Llewellyn, *Alvah K. Mettler, Larry Freeman, Charlie Fisher, Luke and Mary Ryan, William H. “Bill” Pierce,  Most Rev. Charles H. Helmsing, Roger Cardinal Mahony,  Roger and Nancy Schwieters, Winnie Pearson, Gary Blomberg, John Ernst, John E. Young,  J. Stephen McElduff,  Dick Kenworthy, Sister Ida Nieberle, OSF, Sister Annie Hilger, OSF,  George W.  Sr. and Evelyn N. Ryan, Zeno C. Sr. and Wanda Yates, Zeno C. Jr. and Helen Yates, Miller Nichols, Eric Nelson, Ralph and Thelma Glasscock, Rev. Msgr. Arthur M. Tighe, Ron R. Graves, John deMille, William Peter Blatty,  Joseph R. Fisher,  Marion M. and Josephine Brancato, Roy E. Disney, Rev. Edward W. Potts,  Dr. Ralph and Joyce Peck,  Pete, Chip, and David W. Newcomer,  Frank and Lorene Todd, Arthur C. Sickles, Marge Abraham, Tom and Shirley Lavery, Charles and Geniene Kuehn, Chuck and Charlene Stapleton, and my two “Best Friends,” Rev. Fr. Chrysostom Ah Maung, and the venerable Daniel Harwood Winter...

To each one of you,  I am truly, and forever, most grateful!         May God bless you always.  My love and prayers always,”                                                                                                Charles A. Fisher.

Special Tribute Honoring...

Forest Lawn Memorial-Parks & Mortuaries

Great Entrance Gates into

The Funeral...one passing thought....

“Ever since the beginning of civilization, the custom of caring for the deceased, honoring a life passed, and supporting those who mourn has been at the core of our humanity. From the beginning of time, funeral service rituals were truly for the living, giving those left behind an opportunity to grieve, accept the loss, and find solace, comfort, and consolation. Even today, it is an important part of the healing process.

Deciding how you would like to remember and honor your loved one is really a personal choice. With so many options available, you can customize a fitting tribute that reflects the life and passions of your loved one. Today, funeral and memorial services can be as varied as the individual they represent...”

Forest Lawn Memorial-Park Glendale, California

www.ForestLawn.com

www.HubertEaton.com

“Death is part of the cycle of life, but many fear dealing with it. Remembering those we've loved through funerals, memorial services, and cemeteries, gives us an opportunity to celebrate every life as well as reinforce who we are.”                                              

John F. Llewellyn, President & CEO

Forest Lawn Memorial-Parks & Mortuaries

About Charles A.“Chuck” Fisher  

by Josephine Tighe

Charles A. Fisher  is a graduate of the Dallas (Texas) Institute of Mortuary Science & Gupton Jones, where he earned his  degree    in Mortuary Applied Sciences. He has been involved in and is an advocate for the funeral service/undertaking profession for over 51 years. He served in the U. S. Navy aboard a destroyer escort ship. Charles was married to Mary Katherine Nichols and together they were blessed with one son and they named him Mark Eaton Charles Fisher. Mary and Mark-Eaton passed away as the result of an automobile accident in Canada where they were on vacation and visitng Mary’s family. (Chuck also lost his Mother in another vehicle accident in 1998).   He eventually moved to California where he became associated with the Mettler Family Mortuary, and where he no longer had to do any strenuous lifting, as this was the major source of his ongoing chronic lower back problems that had resulted in multiple lower back spinal discs being surgically removed while he resided in the Midwest. (At that time he practically had to learn to walk again because of major injury to his lower back spinal region). Gratefully, Chuck has regained his health! He was also a close personal friend and creative and theological collaborator with his mentor, the late Dr. Hubert L. Eaton, the founder of Forest Lawn Memorial-Parks & Mortuaries in Glendale, CA. Chuck also has researched and completed numerous writings relating to death and grieving, and his writings have been featured in national funeral professional journals. Chuck is a strong witness for his Roman Catholic Faith! He loves his Church and he has sponsored numerous people coming into his faith across many years. He is active in Opus Dei, a Roman Catholic institution founded by Saint Josemaria Escriva. He especially likes to spend time in Adoration in the Presence of the Blessed Sacrament. Chuck spends some of his time with a Roman Catholic Trappist Religious Community in the Missouri Ozarks where he is deeply engaged in prayer and solitude and where he continues his research and writings on Catholic Spirituality for lay persons and research and writings on death and grieving...and Redemption.  He can be contacted at the e-mail address shown above.

Dr. Hubert L. Eaton

Founder of Forest Lawn Memorial-Parks & Mortuaries Glendale, California

Charles A. Fisher was a very close personal friend and advisor  to Dr. Hubert L. Eaton for many years and up until the time when Dr. Eaton passed away in 1966. Charles said: “Dr. Eaton established the ‘Memorial-Park’ cemetery concept and perhaps did more to emphasize the beauty, dignity, and spirituality of cemeteries than anyone, anywhere, and as evidenced by  his beautiful   “The Builder’s Creed”   forever engraved in granite on a stately wall in the Courtyard of the Christus Church of the Recessional in Forest Lawn Memorial-Park in Glendale, California.

Dr. Eaton brought about an abiding sense of dignity and beauty based on his own very deep and authentic and most devout Christian convictions that were always reflected in his own values and beliefs. Charles and Dr. Eaton shared much in common: both are Missourians with strong Christian beliefs and both are American patriots! Charles is the author of the poem: “Joy & Eternity” that Dr. Eaton especially liked very much. He framed this poem for his Forest Lawn office in Glendale!

The First Easter...

The Resurrection of Jesus Christ has much in common with the general resurrection; even the transformation of His body and of His bodily life is of the same kind as that which awaits the blessed in their resurrection. But the following peculiarities must be noted:
•Christ's Resurrection is necessarily a glorious one; it implies not merely the reunion of body and soul, but also the glorification of the body.
•Christ's body was to know no corruption, but rose again soon after death, when sufficient time had elapsed to leave no doubt as to the reality of His death.
•Christ was the first to rise unto life immortal; those raised before Him died again (Colossians 1:18; 1 Corinthians 15:20).
•As the Divine power which raised Christ from the grave was His own power, He rose from the dead by His own power (John 2:19; 10:17-18).
•Since the Resurrection had been promised as the main proof of Christ's Divine mission, it has a greater dogmatic importance than any other fact. "If Christ be not risen again, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain" (1 Corinthians 15:14).

LaVierge aux Anges (‘The Virgin with Angels’ or ‘The Song of the Angels’) by William Bouguereau, 1881, oil on canvas.

The Permanent Gallery in

Forest Lawn Glendale, CA

Charles was quite honored to be asked by Dr. Eaton’s family to recite his poem at Dr. Eaton’s funeral service in 1966 in The Hall of the Crucifixion and Resurrection in Forest Lawn in Glendale. His epitaph reads: ‘I believe, most of all, in a Christ that smiles and loves you and me.’ Dr. Eaton always desired to share the great art of the world with visitors to Forest Lawn and he procured art from throughout the world now on display in The Permanent Gallery and throughout each of the Forest Lawn Memorial-Parks. (Charles also considered Mr. Frederick Llewellyn, Dr. Eaton’s nephew, a close personal friend. Mr. Llewellyn became the CEO of Forest Lawn Memorial-Parks & Mortuaries when his uncle Hubert passed away). Charles said: “Both of these fine gentlemen enriched and enlightened my life, and I am forever blessed, and I am most grateful  to God to have known both of them across many years. And I do so miss both of them!” ...May they both “Requiescat in Pace.”

Christ Crucified for our sins...

The Holy Sepulcher and

The Resurrection of Christ

...Charles A. Fisher

“A TRIBUTE TO THE  DOG”...‘OLD DRUM’...in  Warrensburg,  Missouri...George Graham Vest

“Gentlemen of the Jury: The best friend a man has in the world may turn against him and become his enemy. His son or daughter that he has reared with loving care may prove ungrateful. Those who are nearest and dearest to us, those whom we trust with our happiness and our good name may become traitors to their faith. The money that a man has, he may lose. It flies away from him, perhaps when he needs it most. A man's reputation may be sacrificed in a moment of ill-considered action. The people who are prone to fall on their knees to do us honor when success is with us, may be the first to throw the stone of malice when failure settles its cloud upon our heads.

Editors Note: Charles A. Fisher was seriously injured and nearly lost his life in his home in the tornado that struck Joplin, Missouri on May 22, 2011.  His two story home was completely destroyed.    He is still recovering from his injuries!   *(As of January 13, 2012)

US Mail: Charles A. Fisher, PO Box 2072, Joplin, MO 64803-2072

Information on this site has been co-authored and edited by © Charles A. Fisher and Josephine Tighe.           There are some family privacy matters that will not be provided in relation to this site!