There's certainly a lot of confusion on this thread.
Every Parish I have ever had anything to do with asked a small stipend if you wanted a person's name remembered at Mass. It goes into the Parish general fund, to defray the expenses of operating the building. And if you tell 'em you can't afford it, they say fine ... and you go on the calendar anyway. And you're right, the calendar can be booked 'way into the future in some places. It's OK, the names can be farmed out to retired priests, or monasteries, or wherever.
'when you bring the money, we'll arrange for the Masses.'
I've never heard that, nor have I ever heard OF it from actual, practicing Catholics. IF your deacon actually did that, he was wrong.
Sounds like he was a prudent business man... Cash and Carry.
If you go into the "religion for sale" business, you have to make sure you get the most for the least. Why should he have tied up a limited resource without some surety?
the RCC could do well with more men like this one!