• Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
Catholic Review

Catholic Review

Inspiring the Archdiocese of Baltimore

Menu
  • Home
  • News
        • Local News
        • World News
        • Vatican News
        • Obituaries
        • Featured Video
        • En Español
        • Sports News
        • Official Clergy Assignments
        • Schools News
  • Commentary
        • Contributors
          • Question Corner
          • George Weigel
          • Elizabeth Scalia
          • Michael R. Heinlein
          • Effie Caldarola
          • Guest Commentary
        • CR Columnists
          • Archbishop William E. Lori
          • Rita Buettner
          • Christopher Gunty
          • George Matysek Jr.
          • Mark Viviano
          • Father Joseph Breighner
          • Father Collin Poston
          • Robyn Barberry
          • Hanael Bianchi
          • Amen Columns
  • Entertainment
        • Events
        • Movie & Television Reviews
        • Arts & Culture
        • Books
        • Recipes
  • About Us
        • Contact Us
        • Our History
        • Meet Our Staff
        • Photos to own
        • Books/CDs/Prayer Cards
        • CR Media platforms
        • Electronic Edition
  • Advertising
  • Shop
        • Purchase Photos
        • Books/CDs/Prayer Cards
        • Magazine Subscriptions
        • Archdiocesan Directory
  • CR Radio
        • CR Radio
        • Protagonistas de Fe
  • News Tips
  • Subscribe

It’s all about Georgie

October 31, 2021
By Rita Buettner
Catholic Review
Filed Under: Commentary, Open Window

Share
Share on Facebook
Share
Share this
Pin
Pin this
Share
Share on LinkedIn

My nephew Georgie is never far from my mind, but especially at this time of year.

It was eight years ago when Georgie passed away in utero just a few weeks before we were planning to meet him. I still remember where I was when I heard the news. It was Halloween, and we had a whole evening of trick-or-treating ahead of us.

Each year, as we move into All Saints’ Day and then All Souls’ Day, Georgie is there—oh-so-close at every turn, never far from my thoughts.

During the month of November, we pray for souls. Around here, we also tell stories about the people we love who have passed away. My husband makes our boys laugh at tales of his grandfather—and others they’ll never know this side of heaven. It’s beautiful and wonderful and a gift to keep our loved ones’ memories alive.

With Georgie, you might think I wouldn’t have much to remember. But I have been thinking that I do have memories of Georgie’s short life on earth—and I treasure them.

I remember the day I discovered Treasa and George were expecting a baby. My sons and I met them for a spontaneous lunch out, and I saw that Treasa had a piece of cotton and a piece of tape on her arm, right where you have blood drawn. I noticed it right away, and I was so excited. I knew it had to be early days, and they weren’t telling people yet. But I felt sure there was a baby on the way.

A few weeks later, Treasa and I went shopping together, and I saw her admiring a rocking chair, sitting on a ledge. Mmm-hmm, I thought. “Let me get that down for you so you can try it out,” I said, knowing she shouldn’t lift anything. Our eyes met, and she knew I knew—but, of course, I wouldn’t ask. Because it was her news to share. But I knew she was having a baby.

When she and George started sharing their news, we were all so excited. Treasa and I laughed together about how I had already known. I loved that I had known almost from the start.

Treasa called me the night they found out Georgie was a boy, and she told us his beautiful name. My little preschooler—who was only 3—was in the room, and he took the phone from me and said sweetly as if his cousin could hear him, “Hi, Georgie.” And maybe he did hear.

We talked about Baby Georgie all the time. My boys were excited that they would have a little boy cousin, and we couldn’t wait to meet him. They loved hearing that when Aunt Treasa played the piano, Georgie tried to dance inside of her.

Treasa and Georgie (in utero) were with me when I presented our offer on our house directly to the owner, standing and chatting with him in what is now our driveway. We settled on the house just in time for me to throw a shower for Georgie—a joyful celebration, even though we had a huge plumbing issue right before the party started. The Roto-Rooter man arrived just as our guests were pulling up.

I prayed fervently for Georgie while he was alive. Since he passed away, I have asked him to pray for other intentions—for babies who are sick, for difficult pregnancies, for mothers who are grieving, and for challenges that are specific to my family.

I tell our boys they have a special friend in heaven, a saint few people know about. We know we can ask Georgie to whisper our intentions right into Jesus’ ear.

We will be praying for many people this November, but my mind will return again and again to Georgie. He might have had a short life by earthly standards, but he has had an extraordinary impact on mine. And I am thankful for the memories I have.

You might also be interested in:

Heaven is not so far away

Georgie’s Story: Choosing life when the prognosis is death

Copyright © 2021 Catholic Review Media

Print Print

Share
Share on Facebook
Share
Share this
Pin
Pin this
Share
Share on LinkedIn

Primary Sidebar

Rita Buettner

View all posts from this author

| Recent Commentary |

Asking for human life and dignity protections in the ‘One Big Beautiful Bill Act’

Stained glass window depicting a dove and some of the apostles with flames over their heads

Come, Holy Spirit: A Pentecost Reflection

The Acts of the Apostles and ‘The Amazing Race’

A pope for our time

Communicate hope with gentleness

| Recent Local News |

Franciscan Sister Francis Anita Rizzo, who served in Baltimore for 18 years, dies at 95

Hundreds gather at Rebuilt Conference 2025 to ‘imagine what’s possible’ in parish ministry

Radio Interview: Dominican sister at Mount de Sales shares faith journey from astrophysics to religious life

Mount de Sales Dominican sister shares journey after pursuing science, finding faith 

Words spell success for archdiocesan students

| Catholic Review Radio |

CatholicReview · Catholic Review Radio

Footer

Our Vision

Real Life. Real Faith. 

Catholic Review Media communicates the Gospel and its impact on people’s lives in the Archdiocese of Baltimore and beyond.

Our Mission

Catholic Review Media provides intergenerational communications that inform, teach, inspire and engage Catholics and all of good will in the mission of Christ through diverse forms of media.

Contact

Catholic Review
320 Cathedral Street
Baltimore, MD 21201
443-524-3150
mail@CatholicReview.org

 

Social Media

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Recent

  • Parishes will pay $80 million in Buffalo Diocese’s $150 million bankruptcy settlement
  • Papal diplomats must always defend poor, religious freedom, pope says
  • Franciscan Sister Francis Anita Rizzo, who served in Baltimore for 18 years, dies at 95
  • ‘No tengan miedo de hacer lo que El Señor quiere para nosotros’
  • On a day of ‘national tragedy,’ Austria mourns 9 victims of high school shooting
  • Hundreds gather at Rebuilt Conference 2025 to ‘imagine what’s possible’ in parish ministry
  • Fathers of the Church: The Greek (or Eastern) Fathers
  • In move called a ‘dark day’ for residents, N.Y. Senate passes assisted suicide law
  • Pope Leo’s core identity is Augustinian, say religious

Search

Membership

Catholic Media Assocation

Maryland-Delaware-DC Press Association

The Associated Church Press

© 2025 CATHOLIC REVIEW MEDIA, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

en Englishes Spanish
en en