Jacques Corneille Peridans' Obituary
Rest In Peace
Jacques was born in 1934 in Brussels, Belgium, the middle child of François and Angéline. He had two older sisters, Yvonne and Liliane, and two younger sisters, Monique and Nicole. Monique is still living in their native Belgium. His was a modest upbringing, which instilled in him the values of entrepreneurialism and economy, temperance and tenacity.
He was proud of several things in his life, amongst them: his wife, Aimée, his adventurous migration to the United States in pursuit of the American Dream, his decision to settle in the Washington DC area, his own business in graphic arts, his restaurant, La Chaumière, his children, Dominique and Michèle, and his grandchildren, Olivia and Ethan, and several dear friends.
He married Aimée Antoinette Buntinckx in May of 1958, the year of the World’s Fair in Brussels. Not long thereafter, he left for the shores of the Newer World. Aimée moved back in with her parents, while Jacques sought to determine if this crazy adventure could indeed become a reality, a life for the two of them. It was New York City, he was 24 years of age, with little money in his pocket, no English in his lexicon, and no job awaiting him. What he surely had was courage. After 6 months, staying at the YMCA, he determined that this could, in fact, be their life. Aimée rejoined him.
They worked and worked and worked. Dedication bore fruit. An opportunity arose, and they moved to Washington DC, where they raised two children, making use of the bon sens with which they had been raised. He was very proud of his Belgian heritage, but soon became a proud citizen of the Unites States of America, forfeiting his Belgian citizenship in the process. To him, this made sense: take root and blossom where you actually are, in so many words, Jacques would say.
Jacques was most comfortable using his hands. A largely self-taught carpenter and electrician and plumber and plasterer and… Later in life, of course, he would become unable to use those hands, leaving him to struggle to find new purpose.
Which brings us to faith, whereby deepest purpose is discovered. Jacques had faith, his own. Is not faith deeply personal? Jacques had simple faith. Is not faith, in the end, very simple? A gift that grants an abiding sense of being held and somehow guided by God and translates into trust. His last chapter of challenging frailty would invite this trust. Only God knows what occurred in his heart. What did occur bore one very particular fruit: reconciliation. Jacques was pained by discord. He always sought reconciliation. He will continue to do so in our midst…
Eternal rest grant unto Jacques, O Lord,
and let perpetual light shine upon him.
May the souls of all the faithful departed,
through the mercy of God, rest in peace.
Amen
A funeral will be celebrated on Saturday, December 7 at 11:00 AM
Holy Family Catholic Church
Davidsonville, MD
What’s your fondest memory of Jacques?
What’s a lesson you learned from Jacques?
Share a story where Jacques' kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Jacques you’ll never forget.
How did Jacques make you smile?