“John Fauria gets to do the fun things.”

Those are just some of the many words which have been printed about Oakdale Lion, John Fauria, in our pages. The story, “Lions Donation of Laptops Benefit Oakdale Senior Center,” penned by Editor, Marg Jackson in June of 2022. The photo accompanying the story, a beaming Fauria presenting a laptop to the Gladys Lemmons Senior Center.

As I type this there is no easy way to pen the sentence which inspired this piece. My brain is still processing something which feels as if I’m mistaken, yet no matter how many I reach out to confirming this, the facts still remain.

John Fauria is no longer physically with us. As we await the details of the family’s plans for the community, this sudden loss has honestly hit me in an indescribable way. It just doesn’t seem real.

For the record and with complete candor I was not a personal friend of John or his family.

Side note: for the English teacher or journalism major reading this piece, if it’s okay with you I’m going to step away from AP style for a minute and refer to him as “John” versus the proper training of using last names. This is personal and as a personal piece it just feels best to refer to the person I knew; that was “John.”

While we were not friends or contemporaries in any way, John was one of the handful of smiling Lion faces I was able to spend time with on the semi-regular. I say it all the time, the benefit of being the local paper is we have front row seats to all the good stuff in this community and if you know the Oakdale Lions then you too know the “good stuff.”

Wrapping my mind around this sudden loss this past weekend conjured up many thoughts, as well as emotions. Emotions including tears over the phone as a friend close to the family confirmed yes, it was “THE” John Fauria and no, I was not confused. The details of his passing are not my story to tell, it was however sudden and shocking for his family as well as all who knew him.

I still struggle as I write this out of complete respect and appreciation to his family and friends who I have no doubt loved him dearly. The John I knew was kind, selfless, hands on and not afraid to show up and work. Always with a smile and a “how ya doin’ Teresa?”, John was quite simply a stand-up guy.

Death is a funny thing and no matter how we think we’ll be at handling such news, nothing makes it easy. The difference however between dealing with death as a result of illness versus the trauma of sudden death is multifold.

Death from disease often times leaves us with opportunity to create last minute memories, share things we’ve perhaps held back on saying and love on our loved one in a way which may bring us a bit more peace when they finally rest. There’s still nothing easy about the loss yet we are often left with the mindset of “a good fight,” “resting easy,” or “no longer in pain.”

Sudden death robs us of all of this. Take into account the age of the person (i.e.: not yet a “senior”) and it makes it even more difficult.

Oh sure, I know that AARP and several restaurants and shops want to celebrate us with “specials” at 55, but losing life pre the age of 80 is just really hard to swallow.

Yes I know it happens and yes I know there’s no way to know, but man it just doesn’t ever seem to get easier.

So as I thought about John, my front seat privilege and the void which will now be left, I thought about his family: his wife, his children, his close knit circle and what words this six degree of separation girl might have for them.

Truthfully there just aren’t any, yet somehow I’ve made it this far in this column space so I’d best come up with something.

The first words I come up with are, “I’m sorry” which are quickly followed by “Thank you.”

Dear Fauria family and friends: I am sorry that you are feeling this pain at a time which could not have been foreseen or possibly predicted. I’m sorry for your pain, confusion and the loss I have no doubt you are feeling in each moment of these days since last Friday evening. That being said, Thank you. Thank you for sharing this genuine, kind soul with our community. Thank you for supporting his giving heart which went on to touch many lives and through his service will continue to. His impact on our community is not only acknowledged but admired. His giving was not for nothing and what I know for sure is giving of oneself sometimes not only comes at the expense of the individual but the family as well. Thank you for sharing him.

A void will forever be felt by the passing of John. He was no doubt one of my favorites in the Yellow Vest crew.

His passing has served as a stark, yet unfortunate, reminder to live our days fully, not to hold our words of love and kindness and to always be present for others.

God Bless you all and thank you, John, for leaving us all with this lesson; you will be missed.

Teresa Hammond is a staff reporter for The Oakdale Leader, The Riverbank News and The Escalon Times. She may be reached at thammond@oakdaleleader.com or by calling 209-847-3021.