My mother's wishes were to be cremated and for others not to mourn her. In lieu of a traditional funeral and viewing, our family will be having a private celebration of life in Clearwater Beach in late July. However, Cathy was always a fan of engaging with others online. She was constantly reading news sites, blogs, participating in forums, buying & selling on ebay, and even corresponding with others across the globe via postcrossing.com. So we feel it is fitting to have a memorial online for our mother for others to visit and engage with. No doubt she would have enjoyed browsing the site, reading and leaving comments and viewing the photos. Please feel free to share in any manner that is comfortable for you.
Friends and family are encouraged to donate to either of these great organizations instead of sending food or flowers:
Hospice Provider:
https://suncoasthospice.org/online-donations/
The hospice care center provided a very caring and comfortable last experience for our mother. We are grateful to the staff and volunteers that make this a warm, caring and dignified experience.
Animal Friends:
https://www.kintera.org/site/c.elKWIeOUIhJ6H/b.9317899/k.5FAF/Honor_and_Memorial_Gifts/apps/ka/sd/donor.asp?c=elKWIeOUIhJ6H&b=9317899&en=5eJzGIOjG4IIKSPmE3LFLONwHoLMKONwFgLKJUNuFhKMKNOwGsE
This great organization is where Cathy adopted two special dogs that provided years of fun and enjoyment.
It was early 1960s and Cathy was about 16 and I was about 13 and she LOVED the actor John Kerr. She called me up and wanted me to see "SouthPacific" with her and then 2 years later "Crowded Sky"...they both had John Kerr in them, so I went both times with her to see the movies. Both good movies!
For as long as I can remember, our mom was always reading a book or two... or three. As my brother mentioned in a previous story, she even read in the passenger seat while we teens learned to drive! During our vacation travels by car she always had a stack nearby her. Even on train trips she insisted on taking a bunch of books that took up half her suitcase!
She kept a collection of her favorite books so I am looking forward to reading them in the future.
As for cards, she loved playing and collecting them. Poker and bridge were two of her favorite card games. She spent many years playing both and loved it. She collected sports trading cards and postcards since we were kids. She even had a baseball card shop for a few years where she bought, sold and traded cards as a hobby.
She kept a special box of the sports trading cards aside for my brother which I am sure he will enjoy having and she also set aside special boxes of postcards for each of her grandchildren which I am sure they will enjoy having too.
I will never forget, or be able to express, how much "Sharing Mother's Day" meant and will always mean to me. Having lost my own Mother many years ago, and being far away and out of touch with my own boys, I was invited to share in the Mcdonough Mother's Day celebration dinners. I will miss you Cathy and will always remember your kindness and generosity. I will also always cherish and remember the many Christmas celebrations we all enjoyed. God Bless and keep you in his loving arms.
