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Soldier's funeral was not a 'function'
Pittsburgh Tribune-Review ^ | July 24, 2005 | Eric Heyl

Posted on 07/24/2005 5:08:22 AM PDT by baystaterebel

Grief doesn't diminish their anger. Relatives of the late Marine Staff Sgt. Joseph Goodrich are upset over what they consider to be Pennsylvania Lt. Gov. Catherine Baker Knoll's cynical intrusion on their mourning.

Goodrich, 32, of Westwood, had many roles in life: husband, son, police officer, handyman, landscaper, Central Catholic High School wrestler, altar boy.

He died July 10 in a mortar attack in Hit, Iraq. Friends and relatives packed St. John Evangelical Lutheran Church in Carnegie on Tuesday for the infantry unit leader's funeral.

Knoll was among those in attendance.

Rhonda Goodrich, 38, of Indiana County, the fallen soldier's sister-in-law, said Knoll slipped into a pew next to his aunt, Linda Kubiak of Bethel Park. Through Goodrich, Kubiak declined to comment.

Rhonda Goodrich said Knoll, 74, of McKees Rocks, began chatting with Kubiak during the communion service.

"When (Knoll) found out (Kubiak) was Joe's aunt, she handed her a business card and told her she attends 90 percent of these 'functions' across the state," Rhonda Goodrich said.

"This was not a 'function,' " she continued, fairly spitting out the words. "A function is a dinner

(Excerpt) Read more at pittsburghlive.com ...


TOPICS: News/Current Events; US: Pennsylvania
KEYWORDS: catherineknoll
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To: baystaterebel

To bad somebody didn't drag this sorry *itch out by the hair...


61 posted on 07/24/2005 12:08:25 PM PDT by Axenolith (Got Au? Ag?)
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To: Axenolith
Last two paragraphs in the story...

Rhonda Goodrich remains angry, but she is grateful for one thing.

"I'm glad she didn't sit down next to me and say those things," Goodrich said. "I would have smacked her on the spot."

62 posted on 07/24/2005 3:07:52 PM PDT by tgslTakoma
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To: baystaterebel

The Secretary of Defense needs to inform the two Senators from PA that all military contracts involving businesses in PA are now under review and could be terminated.


63 posted on 07/24/2005 3:12:42 PM PDT by CWOJackson
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To: Mrs Mark

You consider crashing a funeral to be "visiting with family"?

I don't want some wacko politician inviting herself to any of MY family's funerals.


64 posted on 07/24/2005 3:15:48 PM PDT by Politicalmom (Just one more reason to hate the government....)
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To: visualops

Catholic masses and Lutheran services have much in common, sometimes. Heck, I'm a convert to Catholicism and I often joke with my husband that the only thing I miss about being Lutheran is kneeling for Communion.

Well, that and the potluck :D


65 posted on 07/24/2005 3:17:27 PM PDT by Eepsy
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To: Eepsy

Do you mean kneeling to receive communion?
In our parish some of the "strict traditionalists" (for lack of a better term), kneel to receive communion.
If you attend the Tridentine Latin Mass, communion is at the rail, and one is kneeling to receive.
Here we have a pot luck dinner after Latin Mass (twice a month).
I see no reason why you couldn't perhaps start a monthly pot luck dinner, perhaps in conjunction with a ministry or KoC or some such. It's a great way to meet people, and would be a great way to welcome new parishioners.


66 posted on 07/24/2005 3:41:52 PM PDT by visualops (www.visualops.com)
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To: Eva

Was being the operative word- given what he started, I wouldn't have thought that of Lutherans. Thanks for the info.


67 posted on 07/24/2005 3:47:25 PM PDT by visualops (www.visualops.com)
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To: Mrs Mark

>>I would cut the old Rat some slack on this one. Visiting with 90% of the families who lost someone in the war is admirable. Sure she said something that may of been ungracious in an awkward situation, a more polite response may of served everyone better.
<<

What she said wasn't merely ungracious and awkward. It was vile, calculated, and self-serving. And she wasn't there out of "respect."

There was nothing admirable about it. She was there to use a funeral for her political advantage.

These people are lower than maggots.


68 posted on 07/24/2005 3:52:01 PM PDT by SerpentDove (Mmmm...me...)
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To: maggief
Separated at birth....?




69 posted on 07/24/2005 3:56:38 PM PDT by Joe 6-pack (Que me amat, amet et canem meum.)
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To: Politicalmom
I don't want some wacko politician inviting herself to any of MY family's funerals.

The Lieutenant Governor showing up just for a few private words with the family, representing the state in saying thanks for the sacrifice made in a war, does not seem that bad. Looks like this clown went over the top.

70 posted on 07/24/2005 6:04:23 PM PDT by Mark was here (My tag line was about to be censored.)
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To: wildwood

This woman Knoll is a NATIONAL TREASURE----virtually EVERY single detail about her trespassing on this funeral service
is expressive of EVERYTHING that's wrong with Democrats and the Democrat "mindset". FIRST of all, SINCE WHEN does state government have an official position on the Iraq war or ANY war?? Dud the Governor who appointed her, or her own electorate,elect EITHER of them with a 100% majority? Any why would a Lieutenant Governor be the peripatetic emmisary, or "Bad Will Ambassador", as it were , to officially put her and her state government's 2 cents in, especially at a FUNERAL service?? Oh, excuse me, she didn't consider it a funeral, but, completely tellingly, described it as a "function", which TELLS ALL.
Democrats do not acknowledge funerals as private sites and occasions of grief, but rather as OPPORTUNITIES to ply their trade and put forth their agendas. You have to admit it, they just keep topping themselves. If you saw this in a movie, the writers would be accused of distortion.


71 posted on 07/24/2005 8:37:08 PM PDT by willyboyishere
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To: tgslTakoma

We might need a trip to Harrisburg.


72 posted on 07/25/2005 5:07:24 AM PDT by bmwcyle (We broke Pink's code and found a terrorist message.)
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