CODONI

Posted by Cathy Gowdy on Friday, June 26, 2009 at 05:39:14 :

Marin Journal
Thursday, March 11, 1915
Page 5

Tribute to G. A. Codoni

On February the 27th, on Saturday at eleven a.m. Joe Codoni passed from pain and suffering, into that better land where “God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes, and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain for the former things have passed away.”

When I looked upon the calm quiet face of my dead friend, I though what a benediction these words are and what a comfort they must have been to him.

I have known Joe Codoni for some forty years and have known only good of him. He was a born gentleman, courteous and kind to all those with whom he came in contact, firm in his convictions of right and wrong and not afraid to express them.

Born in Switzerland, a schoolteacher by profession, he came to this country at an early age to become an American citizen of the highest type.

The funeral rites were performed by the Masons of which order he was an honored member. This noble order descended from the Knights of the Temple, committed his body to the earth, his soul to angel hands to be carried to the new Jerusalem. The grand funeral service of the order was read in clear brave tones by the chaplain.

The Rev. Dr. White, a devoted friend of Joe Codoni, spoke in warm terms of the deceased.

At the home of the Masonic quartette, Messrs. Augustine, Sawyer, Vanderlip and Hoover sang, with richly moderated voices, the Masonic anthem, O Why do You Weep? He is not Dead – He has Fallen Asleep. At the grave they sang Bishop Newman’s beautiful hymn, “Lead Kindly Light.”

As I stood in the grave yard among my grey-haired companions and remembered my dead friends who were taking their rest close beside me, I wrapped my cloak about me and walked with slow and reverent step because I knew I was treading on holy ground.
P. J. Shafter