Sue Pinto

Sue Pinto:
memorial for
terrorist victim

By Frank Ancona

WINSTON-SALEM, North Carolina—On Oct. 13 we conducted a memorial service at St. Patrick’s church in Staten Island, New York, for my sister, Sue Pinto, who died in the World Trade Center attack Sept. 11.

To give you an idea of the impact one special person can have on the lives of others, more than 400 people attended Sue’s memorial in a church that seats only 300. People were in the choir loft and standing all around the church and out through the vestibule and entrance.

People who hadn’t worked with Sue for years turned up. Family members, many of whom I hadn’t seen since my teen years, came from miles around to support our family. Even a couple of former neighbors came from our old neighborhood in Brooklyn. My parents moved from there more than 15 years ago.

Sue’s boys, Nick, 14, and Joe, 11, were supported by their friends. Some of Joe’s friends asked their priest if they could serve as altar boys for the service because of their friendship with Joe and their love for Sue. Members of Nick’s high school football team attended wearing their jerseys over shirts and ties. They postponed the start of their game to attend the service and support Nick.

But the great thing about the service was the message of hope in our Savior, the resurrected Jesus. The monsignor who performed the service reminded the boys and the audience that not only would Sue live on in our hearts and memories, but we will see her again at Christ’s return.

I spoke from Jeremiah 29:11-12, which tells us that God has plans for us, plans for our good and not for harm, that we know nothing about yet. I also spoke about the promise of the return of Jesus Christ in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18. One day with a shout and the sound of a trumpet, those who died in Christ will rise up to meet him in the air, and we who are alive in Christ will rise next, join them and dwell with him forever.

On Tuesday, Oct. 16, people came to my sister’s door to tell us that a final identification was made on Sue’s body. She was found Sept. 18, but was conclusively identified only the weekend of the memorial. God was merciful and heard our prayers for closure. At their recommendation, Sue’s remains were cremated. Her ashes were interred Oct. 25 in a cemetery near where her boys can come to visit.

We still need to pray for the thousands of other families who may never have remains to bury or closure because there is no body. We need to pray for the well-being of the heroes of the New York Police Department, the New York Fire Department, the emergency medical technicians and others who tried to help since that tragic day.

Please continue to pray for my family’s healing. My mom and sisters flew down to Florida. Mom says she just wants some time to cry and sort all of this out.

As I mentioned in my eulogy, nothing would make Sue more unhappy than if you weren’t there to see her again or meet her for the first time. It’s time we all turned to God in humble repentance. He wants to throw his arms around you if you’ll just turn to him, no questions asked.

If you haven’t already, please tell him how sorry you are for the way your life has been without him. Ask him to fill your life with his leadership, his promises and his joy. Tell him you need him more now than ever before. Joel 2:32 tells us that those who call on his name will be saved. Then we shall all dwell together with him.

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