Love overflows for shrine’s unofficial doorkeeper
For seven years, Tom Turner spent nearly every day holding the door open for members of the St. Anthony Shrine community in downtown Boston, offering warm greetings. When the homeless man died at the age of 57, the friars held a special funeral Mass.
Since its founding in 2003, the St. Anthony’s Lazarus Ministry has provided more than 170 free funerals for homeless people who die alone or without known next-of-kin. In rare cases, the ministry will provide services for deceased homeless whose families are also in extreme poverty.
“All of us deserve a homecoming,” said Friar Barry Langley. “Whether we had lots of friends or didn’t have lots of friends, whether we lived in a really great place or we lived on the streets.”
Turner’s friends from the shrine and the homeless community filed into the pews yesterday, wiping away tears and singing hymns.
“He was everybody’s friend,” said Nellie Shamshack of Boston. “A nice person, never bothered nobody.”
St. Anthony employees remember Turner’s face as the first they would see in the morning.
“Every single morning he was outside of the shrine,” said Ariana Green, a donor services manager at the shrine. “He greeted every single staff member.”
“He had this presence about him that glowed,” said Langley, noting that Turner never asked for money, but always offered kind words.
His brother, Christopher Turner, 43, of Whitman, said he and his family fell on hard times several years ago.
“We used to lead a very different life than we have now,” he said, noting that Tom worked in the hotel industry before becoming homeless.
Turner said that when his brother Tom started spending time around the shrine, “it brought out the best side of him.” He said Tom passed away on a train en route from Boston to Whitman on March 22, and the family is still waiting for word on the cause of death from a medical examiner.
The Lazarus Ministry provides services for the homeless with the assistance of Dolan and Casper funeral homes. The deceased is ensured a grave space and modest grave marker. On occasion, clothing and flowers are also provided.
“Even in your dying days and after your death, we’re going to treat you with a dignity that you deserve, and give you what every person should have,” Langley said.
Christopher Turner said his brother would have loved the funeral Mass.
“This would have meant the world to him,” he said. “The people here were like a second family to him.”