What can you say about your Mom who dies? She was finally free of her pain..she always wanted to be with my father,(the only man she ever loved)..she lived a long life..87 years! It's hard to put into words how much your Mother means to you and how empty you feel when she is gone. My sister and brother both said how much she worked...which was true. She came to live with me in 2008 after selling her condo. She would go to my sister's in Fl every Christmas and would stay with her until March. This year was the first year she was unable to make that trip. In 2010, after her sister Marie died, my brother and sister-in-law came to live in Santa Fe. Mom had some really fun times playing cards with Charlie...she loved games! When she was in the skilled nursing facility she realized she would not be able to make the trip to Saranac to see her friends who she missed terribly. When we told her Dad had died I think that was the final straw. She was not able to do what she wanted to do and I think she gave up. We had many great happy times while she lived with us..but we also had many great happy times when she lived with Dad at Charlie's Inn. We had our moments..we laughed..we cried..we had our occasional disagreements..but we loved one another. She was a part of everything that meant the most to me...family..traditions...love. She was a wonderful Mom...she was a wonderful friend. There was no one else quite like her in my life. I will miss her forever.
We (my sisters and myself ) had been going from Santa Fe to ABQ on a daily basis and staying with our mother who was admitted into a nursing home after 3 emergency hospital visits. She became increasingly worse in health due to age (and we propose nursing hospitals procedures "or not") so we brought her home to be with us. We brought in HOSPIS to help (who were great!). My sister was supposed to go to my fathers to visit and help him when we became aware that my mother may not live through the week that she would be gone, and consequently stayed home. My mother did go on to be with the Lord on October 12th. Just 2 weeks after my father. How's that for timing. She was in constant pain and although I will miss her she is in a better place. My mother was the glue to our family. She gave us the fortitude to prevail no matter what the circumstances were and a strong work ethic along with daily love and guidance. She provided for us not only by always keeping and working at a job as a accountant, But also by always going the extra mile by typing envelopes, sewing, ironing or whatever evening and weekend jobs when could get for additional money. There’s a lot more to say however, I'll stop with this. Living near her for the past 3 years has allowed me to be part of her family again since my leaving home at the age of 14. We kept in touch over the years, but God blessed me with the last three by being with her. I miss her but only until some day I’m with her again.
Such a shock that Mom is not here anymore. I came to Santa Fe to spend time with her while Joyce went to NY to help Dad. I’m so thankful I did have this time with her. She had so much pain and suffering in her life and I know that now that she is in a better place, she will finally be free from all the suffering.
Mom invested so much of herself for family and friends. Growing up Mom was always working and when she wasn’t working, she was usually cooking for a gang or making a gift for someone. Mom had musical ability I never inherited—she could play many instruments and could play a song just by hearing it. I have so many gifts made by Mom around my house that I will be reminded of her love, abilities, and generosity by just walking through any room.
Mom shared so many memories with me, her grandchildren, and her great grandchildren. She went to school events, swim meets, and soccer games (not easy for her to do these last few years), but she was always a good sport about it. Mom would drive with me from Florida to South Carolina to be with family for Christmas. One memory that really shows her spunk and daring is a trip to Maui with my daughter and me for Tara’s graduation. Mom survived the "Road to Hana," road beyond Hana, up to Haleakala National Park to see the full moon and stayed at the top of Haleakala all night to see the sunrise the next morning—all that in 24 hours with no complaints.
I treasure Mom’s love and all the memories through the years—I will miss her so much.
