A Few Thoughts about My Mom I’d Like to Share
My mom was the kindest most thoughtful person I have ever known although not very surprising since her mother Violet, her sisters Edna, Violet and Betty were like that too
My mom always seemed to know what you needed and would buy and give that to you when you needed it the most
My mom was the greatest friend and most trusted confidant you could ever ask for - I always valued her opinion before every big decision I made my entire life
My mom cared deeply for her friends – including her friend Frances who she had known since grade school, all her neighbors on Jarvis Avenue who she has known for at least 30 years, some 50 years, the Whitney family for over 50 years … I know there are so many more to add on this list
My mom was devoted to her family
• As a young child, she always waited for her sister Violet to march on by in the NYC St Patrick’s Day parade no matter how cold it was
• She was devoted to my father for 38 years until he left us in 1988
• Over the years, she loved going out with her sister Edna and her friends on their weekly escapades
• She loved visiting her niece Virginia, her nephew Robert and their families and seeing her nephew Johnny in the neighborhood
• She loved getting visits from her niece Edna and her family. Although she felt unprepared at times since some were surprise visits, she welcomed them anyway
• She greatly appreciated the things Carol’s dear friend Bob did for her over the years and considered him family
• For me, when I came home from college with my dirty laundry, I always had clean laundry 5 hours later no matter what time I came home … I never had to ask
• I always had a home to come back to and a meal to eat whether or not I was still living at home or just visiting … I never had to ask
• This list can easily go on for at least another hour
My mom lived each day by following simple values such as “Treat others how you would like to be treated”, “Never judge anyone until you get to know them”, “Work hard and good things will follow” and “Never put yourself first”
Of all the things in life, my mom loved being a grandparent the most and she was pretty darn good at it
Last Tuesday morning at Throggs Neck Extended Care, she was not doing very well and made it clear to her doctor she did not want to go back into the hospital
Despite suffering from respiratory distress, she fought to hang on long enough for my sister Carol to arrive so she could be with her family one last time
My mom left this world, even until her last few minutes, showing the same dignity and devotion she had shown her entire life
Now I’d like to say Thank You mom for teaching Carol, Ellen and I these lessons on how to live life and also how to die
I love you mom, we love you mom
Mommy, we promise to get along and stand united as a family, I know that is what you would want, we will all miss you terribly and hope things are going great and that you are catching up with your sisters, daddy, and friends that have passed. We love you mommy and will forever be in our hearts. May you rest in peace knowing we are okay and will honor you in everything we do. We love you so much.
