PEORIA — With hymn and prayer, the community laid George Shadid to rest Wednesday.
The former police officer, sheriff and state senator was remembered for his kindness, his honesty and his humor at a morning funeral Mass at St. Sharbel Catholic Church.
His son, James Shadid, chief U.S. district judge for the Central District of Illinois, remembered a father who always put family first.
At times, that meant young Jim and George Jr. grabbing their baseball mitts right after school and running to the bus stop where the young cop would alight at the end of his work shift. Meeting their dad, the boys would play catch with him all the way home.
And for 64 years, family also meant his beloved wife, Lorraine. The two wed and overcame doubts from each other's churches and families to the match, Jim Shadid said, describing the vibrant and lively relationship of a couple who loved each other — and a mom who held her own with a husband sometimes larger than life.
To laughter, the younger Shadid recounted how Lorraine kept a small police figurine on a windowsill in the home, signalling her happiness — with it facing inward — or her quibbles with George when it faced outward, and who could deflate any of his anger with a cutting question, "Who's afraid of the big, bad wolf?"
Those were just two of the happy memories shared at the service.
Chorbishop Faouzi Elia poked gentle fun at Shadid's personality, labeling him at the outset of the memorial as "quiet, peaceful, not arguing with anyone."
The longtime public servant and first Lebanese-American to serve in the state Senate, of course, actually possessed a booming voice, was always forthright, and never shied from a dispute in a life in which, Elia said, he "tried to promote equality, justice, freedom and human rights."
A man of bipartisan friendships and work product — his very first campaign for office, as a Democrat, was run by a Republican — Shadid still had a sense of humor about political differences.
"If I go to heaven, I will see all the people of Illinois," Elia related Shadid having joked once. "If I don't go to heaven, I will see some Republicans."
The laughter at that crossed party lines in the church.
"He could die without regret because he lived his life doing his best," his son said, calling him "a good man who used the gifts God gave him to help others."
Indeed, that was the crux of his work at any point in his adult life.
"He loved being a police officer — to help people. He loved being sheriff — to help people. He loved being a state senator — to help people," his son said.
Quoting retired Peoria Police Chief John Stenson, whom the elder Shadid helped recruit onto the police force, the younger Shadid summed up his father's legacy thusly:
"The Lord didn't shortchange George Shadid, and George Shadid didn't shortchange the Lord."
Chris Kaergard can be reached at ckaergard@pjstar.com or 686-3255. Follow him on Twitter @ChrisKaergard.