Fr. Frank Howard Memorial Page

Rev. Frank Howard
July 28, 1927 ~ September 25, 2020
 Rector of Trinity Church, Tariffville from 1975-1999 
O God, who by the glorious resurrection of your Son Jesus Christ destroyed death, and brought life and immortality to light: Grant that your servant Frank, being raised with him, may know the strength of his presence, and rejoice in his eternal glory; who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Due to the Covid-19 restrictions, the funeral will be private.
However you can watch the service on the Trinity Website or on the Trinity Facebook page

Memories

From a former Senior Warden

 My memories of Frank will last forever.
Frank Inspired many people including myself . It was because of his dedication to serving  Our Lord  I dedicated my life to serving our Lord. My memories will last forever and I will see him again.
I came to Trinity in 1978 and Frank welcomed us with open arms. He always said can we pray together Just like when Our Lord welcomed Frank to heaven. I will never forget his gentle spirit when he asked John Bald and myself to serve Trinity church as Senior Wardens and Junior warden. He was always very convincing and a gentle spirit you could not say no to! It was gentle way as he always said “PERHAPS”.
I remember the many healing retreats as he taught us to believe that when we are praying pray that the healing has been completed. It was also the times that we were introduced to the Archbishop Josiah Ferron from Kaduna . That relationship continues today as we bring Healing and Love to Jesus in Nigeria
Now for more memories:

1. When Frank was not sure of something he would never say no just on word “Perhaps”
2. The new year’s eve parties at his house – the temperature was always about 100 degrees
3. My time with Frank and Joyce “The Queen Mother” in Aruba were wonderful and stay with me
4. During a Christmas pageant that at my daughters  Frank’s direction she spread “Angel Dust” over the church
5. At annual meeting and any special occasions there was always food including sweets.We always said don’t get between Frank and the food

As we say good by for now but we all be together to share more stories.
In closing as Frank would say
“ PERHAPS PERHAPS PERHAPS”
“PERHAPS TO WE MEET Again
In his love
Jim Lawson 

From a former Sunday School Director

Remembering the many Christmas pageants Fr Howard and I put together during the 12 years I was Director of Christian Education. Especially one particular year that he was unable to be there and we had live animals parading down the aisle! Just ask Jim Lawson who was last in line!

Sue Thomas

From a former Assistant 

As a young man of 25, fresh out of seminary and with little life experience, Frank gave me first parish job.  In many ways, it was a labour of love for him.  With Frank, there was a "proper" way to do and say things as a priest.  I remember how shortly after arriving, he took me out to purchase my first work suits appropriate for a leafy New England parish and taught me how to polish my shoes.  My frankness proved a challenge for him.  Yet, he was extraordinarily patient with me, reminding me often that 'you catch more flies with honey than with vinegar'.  I realise now that he adapted to me too.  There were a number of times when he gave me a task and even encouraged my directness.  

One of my favourite activities of the week was going for breakfast after the Wednesday morning service.  Frank always liked to drive.  I think the real reason was so that he could control the windows.  When someone sneezed or coughed, the windows came down immediately with the resulting gust of wind blowing through the car.  I'm not sure why Pat Joy or Penny Miner didn't ever don a scarf for the journey.  The damage to their hair styles was always very funny.  

It's been many years since I departed Tariffville.  But Frank has often been in my thoughts wherever my adventures have led me.  He has been a bench mark for me to think through decisions and responses to others.  My experiences of who he was as a priest has inspired both moderation and calculated risk in the way I proceed.  Frank's ministry of gentleness and quiet determination has enabled me to thrive.  For this, I am profoundly grateful for the privilege of having served with him.  

Greg Bakker
​

You are encouraged to add your own memories of Fr. Howard in the comments below. 

From a Former Junior Warden
A good friend of mine often talks about the "golden thread" that holds all of us together in our spiritual life.  She often thanks God for weaving us together with this golden thread.  If that is so, Fr. Howard was the spindle that directed the weaving at Trinity.

I met Frank at a time when my little family was in crisis.  New to town, actually new to the state, I called the church because I had no one else to reach out to at the time.  Fr. Howard paid my family a pastoral visit which was both awkward and touching.  He  seemed shy but determined to find out what he could do.  I remember him patting my hand and he assured me that he would pray for our situation.  Before long things seemed to smooth out in my life and he introduced me to other women of Trinity.  Within months I rediscovered my childhood faith but with a huge dose of the Holy Spirit. I believe Frank's visit and subsequent prayers are what launched me into this Christian adventure. 

If's nearly impossible to separate Frank from the people and experiences that manifest God in this church.  Frank was always the facilitator but never sought to be front and center.  He invited speakers, organized retreats, invited folks to bible studies and lunches.  Every bible study, faith alive, alpha, Cursillo, vestry retreat, parish retreat was Frank's working model of person to person evangelism. Honestly, he rarely shared his own faith story, but tilled the ground so that all of us, the sprouting Christians, would tell out own stories to each other.  Frank preferred to fan the flames and let the fire grow. 

I am at a loss to find a way to fully describe the gentle power of Fr. Howard's ministry.  It was about his faith, his faithfulness to prayer, his conviction that God is a God of Love and that,"The Best is Yet to Come".  He often spoke of the thin veil that separates us from the realm of God.  How can I be sad when I know that Frank is finally, eternally home again?  Thank you for your faith and witness, Fr. Howard.
In Christ~
Kathy Sutton