Tuesday SOL 7/19/16 - Remembering My Mom

Today would have been my Mom's 98th birthday, but she went to Heaven when she was only 70 years old, but I'm sure her and Dad are having a great celebration.

My Mom had a hard life, although she never complained or expected anything to be easy.  Her mother died when she was 33, leaving Mom (the oldest) at 14, a 12 year old brother and 4 year old sister.  Mom didn't have a choice in those years, she became the "Mom", housekeeper, cook, caregiver.  She had to drop out of school and only completed the 6th grade.  I think this is when she learned to be the nurturing and caring woman that she grew up to be.

Mom was a hard worker all of her life.  In addition to taking caring of her siblings and her Dad, she worked at a hat shop.  After marrying my Dad, she continued to work her nurturing as she raised my brother and me.  When we were in school, she became the cook at the elementary school, where in addition to cooking, she loved caring for the kids.

Mom always had a garden and canned and froze the vegetables.  This week when we were shopping I spotted some pickled beets and immediately thought back to those delicious beets she canned each year.  I picked up the jar and wondered if they would be the same (not exactly), but it was a wonderful memory.

She also helped out working for the contractor that my Dad worked for.  She sanded, stained and varnished the cabinets and woodwork before they were installed.

Even though her life was tough, her faith was strong and she showed God's love in everything she did and to everyone she met.

She was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1984, had a mastectomy, chemo and radiation and beat it until two years later when she developed cancer again and struggled for the next 3 years, but never said a word about how bad she felt.  She accepted this as just another day in her life.  When I put together our family history album, I came across the journals she kept.  She wrote about how she felt, but never complained about it.  It was just a fact.

I think about how she cared for us and my kids and so many of their neighbors and friends and especially my Dad.  She is my idol and I thank God for every day that I spent with her.  Even after 27 years I still have so many memories of my Mom.  She was a special lady who taught me so much.  I love you Mom and wish you a Happy, happy birthday in Heaven!

Mom & Dad on their wedding day April 10, 1943

Comments

  1. AnonymousJuly 19, 2016 at 9:01 AM

    Such a special post about someone so special. I am sure she is having a great celebration with your dad! And so important for you to keep telling her story.

    ReplyDelete
  2. AnonymousJuly 19, 2016 at 10:15 AM

    A beautiful post about a special woman in your life. Sounds like she pass on all of her good qualities to you.

    ReplyDelete
  3. MichelleJuly 20, 2016 at 2:35 PM

    I thank you for sharing her story because with the brain filling up with new memories, we tend to forget the old. And you are right, we can't forget the people who made us who we are today. I only have loving memories of Grandma, so caring, so loving, so soft, so kind. And that smile. I will never forget her smile. Just what Grandmas are made of, right? :) Thank you for the smiles and the tears. Love you Mom.

    ReplyDelete

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