While standing in line at Czelusniak Funeral Home during the wake for Peter Kocot, I could not help but think of the time he helped me out.
As the caretaker at that time, I was working on one of the gardens at St. Mary’s Cemetery in Leeds when I heard a crash. Looking around, I saw a limb about 12 to 14 inches in diameter lying in one of the roads leading into the cemetery. It had dropped from one of the huge locust trees that were in front of the cemetery.
I knew that shortly there would be a procession coming for a burial that would be using that road. I jumped on our tractor and dragged the limb with a rope out of the way. Sure enough, about 10 minutes later came that line of cars going into the cemetery. I couldn’t get out of my mind the mayhem that would have been caused if that limb had fallen onto the hearse with the body.
After the burial was over, I looked up a number for the Massachusetts Department of Transportation to have them remove the two locust trees, because they were on state property. I got the runaround with numerous numbers to call, but no one was interested in my dilemma.
Weeks went by, and I was attending Polish night at the Elks home when I ran into Peter Kocot. I told him the whole story about the limb episode, he wrote something in his pad and said “thanks.” This was on a Tuesday night, and the following Monday, a truck with a bucket, a bucket loader, and a huge open truck were at the cemetery. About 2 in the afternoon, both trees were down and gone. Now, that’s Peter Kocot for you.
As you go on your final journey my friend, it’s the good Lord’s gain, and your family’s and friends’ pain. Rest in peace, Peter.
Bernard Bachand
Haydenville