BY JACQUIE RATH
For Jim Verity of East Rockaway, the need to leave something substantial for his family consumed a good part of the last ten years of his life. Over those years Jim penned his memoirs, which according to his daughter Eileen were intended as his "legacy".
On March 15th of last year, after he had finished the final edits on his writing, Jim stepped out of his modest home to prepare the lawn for the spring season, as he did each year. This was to be an exciting spring for him and his wife Ceil as they were slated to celebrate their 35th wedding anniversary in May.
The next day he confided in Ceil that he felt an uncomfortable weight on his chest. He sought doctors attention, and was admitted to St. Francis Hospital where he passed away two weeks later.
The close knit family was suddenly left without their husband, father, and confidant. For them, his memoirs captured in his book, "Meant To Be" which he only finished days before his death, would offer them solace at their time of grief and throughout the days to come. When asked how reading the pages her father wrote affects her, Eileen stated "it is as if he is still guiding me now."
His wife and children decided that the chronicle of his life should be published so his message of faith, love, and tolerance could be shared with others.
Jim, was a Passionist priest and served in the ministry for 28 years before he chose to marry and have a family. He was an extremely spiritual man and throughout his entire life Jim maintained a very close relationship with God. This relationship is detailed in his writing which conveys a common theme - everything that happens in life happens for a reason.
In the forward section of his book, Jim stated "I don't believe that people walk in and out of our lives purposelessly. Nor do I believe that the events, planned and unplanned, which fashion our lives happen completely without rhyme or reason." It is from this belief that the title was born, and on March 3, of this year, Jim's book was published.
The family used private funds to publish the book through Authorhouse.com. The book is a combination of family album and spiritual journey.
It begins in Brooklyn where Jim was born and details his family's move to Laurelton, Queens during the depression. Those who have read the book say that he paints such a vivid picture with his words, that you actually feel like you are there with his family as they go about their lives.
The story takes you through his decision making process to enter the priesthood and later through his thought process to leave his vocation. It is written as a very personal and honest discussion of two very difficult and life altering decisions.
Jim's accomplishments with the youth of the Catholic faith are chronicled in great detail in the book. According to Eileen, the accomplishment he was most proud of was "the founding of St. Gabriel's retreat house on Shelter Island." The retreat house provided refuge from a cold world for many inner city youth.
In addition to his work with the young members of the church, Jim served as interfaith pastoral caregiver to residents in senior housing across the island. Through his dedication the lives of many seniors were brightened during what was to be their final days. Through the pages of his book, Jim shares the many insights he gained while in that position, not the least of which, is how to die with grace.
Jim's words allow the reader to share many intimate thoughts, and lets the reader in to share some wonderful private moments. These milestones for the Veritys include Jim's proposal to Ceil, the births of their three daughters, and the adoption of their son from Vietnam. They are moments that he credits with transforming not only a man, but an entire family.
The Verity family considers 'Meant to Be' a piece of Jim that will live on forever. At Herald press time, seventy copies of 'Meant to Be' had already been sold, which means it will now become available on other websites like Barnes and Noble and Amazon.To ensure that the work he did while he was alive will continue to make the world a better place, his family has arranged for a portion of the book's proceeds to be donated to the Passionist retirement community.
