Samuel T. Magna, nee Major, the adopted son of Helen and Tom Magna, passed away suddenly on February 12, just short of his 67th birthday. He leaves behind an older sister, Pat (Magna) Hardy, brother-in-law Tom and four nieces, Lisa, Lanie, Leslie and Liz.

His is the classic story of a shy, sensitive, sweet youngster who, as a newly enrolled student, eventually joined a group of Jr. High Schoolers experimenting with alcohol and drugs. Professional counseling might have helped, but his parents refused to believe "he was that bad." They were convinced he would get better on his own, but Sam's addiction to alcohol, and then crack, systematically plagued him throughout most of his adult life. Little by little, he lost his house, truck, boat, job, driver's license, teeth and all of his friends, with the exception of those who suffered the same problems as he.

Sam was fascinated by words, numbers, equations, outer space and extraterrestrial beings. He was a good photographer and could have become a fine artist. He loved fishing and the few tranquil times he visited Black Lake in Onaway, Michigan, but all in all, he never realized his full potential, or the good person he really was.

His mother once placed an ad in search of a bride for Sam, to no avail. He lost interest after a first date resulted with the girl's parents joyfully explaining they had already purchased their burial plot, and would gladly reserve a spot for him!

Sam spiraled after his mother died in 1998, but despite a strained relationship with his invalid father, he ably cared for him, until his death in 2007. The following years were spent living on an annuity and social security, during which his bike was his only mode of transportation. He made a few trips to the grocery store, but many to the neighborhood liquor store, sometimes as many as four trips a day. Whenever sober, usually after hospital stays due to falls, Sam tried hard to stop drinking, but loneliness can be as deadly a curse as addiction, and it was definitely a contributing factor to his failed attempts at sobriety and to his eventual heart attack.

As his family and closest friend, Lise B.-his only real friend-watched Sam's memory rapidly decline, it was clear it wouldn't be long before his dementia would force him into a group home or institution, exiling him from his own home and his trusted dog, Shadow. Thankfully, that painful day never materialized.

Despite all the difficulties of his life, Sam's devotion to the Blessed Mother Mary was constant. He firmly believed she would be with him when his life came to an end, and our solace comes in knowing he was right.

"As the eagle freed from its cage soars to its native heights, so the soul freed from the home of heavy flesh will rise and return unto its Father's house, naked and unafraid." ~Dr. Ernest Holmes