These are some memories we have of our dear Mother.
We fondly remember her strong faith, devotion and loving care. She wanted us to grow up to be faithful servants of Jehovah, giving us the guidance we needed to keep us on the right path leading to life. We will never forget the scripture that she continually impressed upon us as we were growing up ~ that “Love never fails”. Well, she lived that scripture in her life as she taught so many Jehovah’s loving ways.
She was an outstanding teacher. Starting with her first child Karen, while having baby Mark and toddler Donna, she took the time to teach 4 year old Karen phonetics and how to sound out words, all in preparation for Kindergarten and beyond. Mom taught us to be clean, courteous, and hardworking by her example.
We remember with gratitude how she prepared for our first International Convention at Yankee Stadium in New York in 1958. She washed and ironed clothes for three children and two adults ~ 8 outfits each ~ one for each of the 8-day Convention. They were carefully packed in boxes that served as a platform to make a bed in the back of our Studebaker. Our month long journey ended with camping in Yosemite, which was an annual family tradition. Mom had ingeniously designed and sewed by hand compartments that fit on the back of the front seat. We each had a pocket to put our favorite toys and books. We put a magazine or song book in our car window, hoping to attract fellow Witnesses who were also on their way to the Convention. We still remember how excited we were as we waived and honked while passing by each other. We are so thankful to our self-sacrificing Mom and Dad, who, in their twenties had saved up for a year to be able to make the trip, feeling the importance of putting spiritual things first. It gave us a faith-strengthening spiritual heritage.
Mom and Dad had an open-door household. They were always ready to help those in need and never turned anyone away. Instead, Mom made them feel welcome. As a result, we had many different people who were in need stay with us. It taught us mercy, kindness and generosity. It also taught us that there is always enough and that Jehovah’s hand is never short. When friends and family would drop by at dinner time, which seemed to happen a lot, somehow, Mom would add to our meal, with always plenty for all. She was a fabulous cook and no one could get a meal on the table faster than her.
Mom was analytical in figuring out problems. She didn’t take the path of least resistance but instead, would forge ahead till she found a viable solution. When it came to nutrition, Mom was way ahead of her time, though we didn’t appreciate it then. During the white ‘Wonder Bread’ era, we would be bringing a lunch of homemade Molasses bread for our sandwiches and organic milk in our thermos. Certainly not fitting in during the ‘50’s,which helped make us the ‘odd-kids-out’ at school. Mom made a trek every week with all of us loaded in the car to procure organic produce from a fruit and vegetable stand miles away from our home. She always wanted the best for us.
Mom was a dear friend to everyone. Growing up as a teenager till now, many of our friends would tell us they ‘wished she was their Mom too’. She took a genuine interest in everyone whom she met, and even up to the last, she never lost interest in keeping track of everyone and everything going on.
She never stopped being a Mom and Grandma. She loved all her grandchildren and great-grandchildren so much. And when you married into the family, you are now truly one of her children or grandchildren. Even at 91, when she could do nothing physically for her children or grandchildren, she would be thinking about our welfare and give us some wise advice, hoping to ensure that everyone was ok.
She was known to her grandchildren as ‘Big Grandma’, due to her being married to their rather large ‘Big Grandpa’. In her later years, because she was still glamorous in dress and jewelry, her granddaughters called her ‘Glamma’. Toward the end, they called her ‘Grams’.
In her final years, after settling Mom into bed, we would recite several scriptures together that she found comforting, and then say a prayer. She always wanted to make sure we prayed for individual family members or friends who were having difficulties,or for family that hadn’t come to know Jehovah yet. Whenever there was a problem, she would say, ‘let’s pray’.
The week before she died, she shared with tears how she had always prayed to Jehovah that she could give to her children the most important thing in her life ~ that being ‘The Truth’. Well, Mom and Dad succeeded in raising four children who love and serve our God Jehovah. We can say, job well done Mom!
It would take many more pages to enumerate all she has done for us and others. We are so thankful for our Mom and love her so much The memories she has given us are priceless. When we grow up, we want to be like Mom, sans the strict discipline (another story.....).
We miss our Mother so much. We can’t wait to get our Mom back in the Paradise where we will welcome her as the strong, vibrant, and beautiful woman that she was and make new memories for all Eternity.......
Written With Love, From Her Children
