Memorial mass honors Facey’s memory

The Mount Carmel Cathedral Diocese held a memorial mass last July 17 to honor the late Jerold “Jerry” Facey, who was an active member of the community and who also founded Facey Farms in Papago.

One of Facey’s friends, Juan “Pan” Guerrero, gave a eulogy at the memorial. Rev. Fr. Fran Hezel, S.J. from the Archdiocese of Agaña, presided over the mass, assisted by Rev. Deacon Tony Yarobwemal. The Ave Maria Choir also sang a variety of hymns, songs, in English and Palauan.

Guerrero started off his eulogy with a message from Facey’s son, John Paul Facey. “We wish we can be there for this mass, we miss him very much and it is really special to know that he really had good friends and family that come together to say goodbye.”

Guerrero stated that he woke up on July 4 to the news that he needed to write a eulogy for Facey, which prompted a lot of self-questionings about how he would write this eulogy about someone whom he loves, someone whom he considered a brother, and a true friend that “any man can ever ask for.”

“Today is a special day for Jerry. We are here to pray for him and honor him, honor him in our life and in our memories,” said Guerrero. “So where do I start? What is a eulogy? I actually googled the meaning and laughed at the irony of having to write something in praise of a special person after they have died.”

Guerrero said that he and Facey actually talked about it before and that he was able to convince his brother, Rep. Joseph “Lee Pan” Guerrero (R-Saipan), to sponsor a House resolution honoring Facey last Dec. 15, 2014. The resolution, H.R. 18-70, honored Facey “for his outstanding services to the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, most especially the citizens of the Commonwealth.”

The resolution states that Facey was a familiar fixture in the islands’ volunteer groups as he was a member of the American Red Cross-NMI Chapter, Veterans of Foreign Wars Office, as well as a board member of the Northern Marianas College Foundation.

Guerrero said that John Paul Facey had asked him to accept the resolution on behalf of the Facey family, and he later showed John Paul Facey pictures and videos of the presentation.

“After he moved to Arizona several years ago, I asked him many times, “Jerry, why do you have to leave Saipan?’ I can hear his voice in my head, telling me that he had to go for his health, to be close to good medical services,” said Guerrero.

Guerrero added that every time Jerry Facey planned a trip to Saipan, he would call Guerrero to set aside some time to meet with him for breakfast. “On his last trip to Saipan in December last year, we met at Herman’s Tan Marikita. He would always wear his favorite Hawaiian print shirt. I told him many times that either his shirt is getting too small or he is getting too big,” said Guerrero.

“I remember his last word to me. He said that he wanted to spend his remaining days with his family, with his children and grandchildren,” said Guerrero. “…My kids knew him always as Uncle Jerry, and they loved him dearly. How do we say goodbye to someone that we love? But goodbye we must. Goodbye, my friend. Yes, we will always love you and you will continue to live in our hearts. You have a special place with us always.”

Another close friend of Jerry Facey, Wolf Mojica, said his first impression of Facey was that he was a go-getter, a man of action. “I met Jerry through a mutual friend when they joined a group of people who were sailing up to Pagan,” said Mojica. “We hashed together, worked on Tagaman and XTERRA together. But the most memorable time we had was during the Annual Great Bike Ride Across Iowa and the all-you-can-eat spaghetti dinners.”

Mojica and Facey also participated in a delegation that went to Hiroshima on Aug. 6, 1995. “Jerry was an integral part of the CNMI Red Cross. He was an invaluable part of Tagaman and XTERRA as logistical support. And he did that out of the goodness of his heart. He was a true friend and a wonderful human being,” said Mojica.

Facey is survived by his wife Irene, and children John Paul, Jerene and Jeanette.