Comments on: A Mothers Day Tribute

by: Sheri

Wed, 30 May 2007 17:15:30 +0000

My Dearest brothers Mike & Chris, and My baby sister Sandy: God!! you guys are my world! I don’t ever want to know what my life would be with out you all in it. Mike, I am so proud of you for what you did for mom. You knew, and didnt leave her. You stayed by her side. I will be eternally grateful to you for that. She wasn’t alone when she died, although she triied to be you wouldn’t let her. She was a beautiful woman with a heart of gold. She gave much of her life and her self to us, like you said and never complained. She raised us with very little in the way of money, but always kept a roof over our heads, food in our stomachs and much love in our hearts. That was the one thing we never ran out of “Love”. We learned it well, from the best. I will miss her everyday for the rest of my life, but I am thankful and blessed that she was and always will be our mother. I know when she past, she left knowing that our love for her is never ending, just like we know her love for us was and is never ending. Mom is and always will be my heart. I love you guys always. Love You Big Sister Sheri

by: Aunt Carol

Thu, 24 May 2007 16:54:38 +0000

Mike, It’s easy to see that all in your family look up to you and admire what you did for your Mom. Especially on her last day. You hung in there with her and she stayed as long as she could and waited til you turned around before she let go–with grace and dignity, as always. After her first fall, when she was in the first nursing home and Sheri & I went to visit her, I could see by the look on her face that she was in terrible pain. When Sheri & I left,and I kissed Mom good-bye, I told her I loved her and she asked me to take care of her ‘kids’. Now, she and I both knew she was saying good-by to me, but even that was dignified, no complaining. It was hard to get her on the phone after that as she was in rehab. But I know she was happy to be back in New Milford where she could have all of you visit more often–as I’m sure she knew she would be leaving us soon. When I spoke to her on the 15th around 6:00 p.m., I told her I loved her, and I wished her a happy birthday, and she wished me one right back as AGAIN she knew she would not be with us. What a woman!!!!! She is my idol, although sibling rivalry prevented me from realizing it until we both had families and could see that this dynamic was quite normal—but what did we know about “normal”???? I want you to know that the 4 of you were wonderful, especially towards the end and I will always consider you all my kids. Remember to love each other, believe in each other, and support each other always. God has been very good to you—he gave you Arleen as a Mother. And He was good to me as he gave me Arleen as a big sister and I will be eternally grateful for that privilege. I love you all. Please keep in touch.

by: Gail Laga

Fri, 18 May 2007 15:42:30 +0000

Your Mom was a fantastic woman and I’m so privilaged to have known her. I’m sorry her grandchildren will not have her with them as they are growing up.
She made a lot of sacrifices raising four children with no help from their father. Life deals some bad cards . . . .her older years should not have given her the pain she swent through. We will all miss your mom very much.

by: Sandy

Thu, 17 May 2007 07:32:09 +0000

My dearest brother, my Father, My Dad, And mentor,
im crying as i write this, i’ll never forget you for what you did!!! Give Mom a life she deserves!! I never knew, she knew, she had cancer in November!!!But i guess im glad i didn’t, Cause i had the BEST time with her on Thanksgiving!! We laughed allll night, i colored her hair, i TRIED to cook for her and make her dinner special ( what a joke ) and we stayed up until 3:00am and laughed all night, and remeniced, about Sheri, Chris, me, and of corse, her back bone, YOU!!! MIKE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!The one she DEPENDED ON!!! YOU!!!All the way till the end!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!YOU!!!!I still can’t thank you enough!!!The decision you had to make, still amazes me:)!! You gave her the life she deserves….I know she’s happier, then she’s ever been before( not including giving birth to us )..:)Thats how i know why i was happy on Mothers Day.. she was not suffering… of corse i WISH she were here, but not the way she was!!!!The way i want to remember her, HAPPY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:)Mike, You gave us the best gift ever,,, Moms happinest!!!!!!!!!!!!!1 YOUR THE BEST!!! I Love You, Always and 4 ever:) Thanks my brother, my father, my dad and mentor:) Love, your best(no just kidding)Love, your little sister, Sandy

by: Cheryl Wright

Mon, 14 May 2007 04:10:16 +0000

Hi Michael, Thanks for sharing.

I know that must have been incredibly difficult for you. I lost my mother December 27 ‘06 - a few months ago - to lung cancer. So be very grateful that you didn’t watch your mother go through the late stages.

It was heartbreaking to watch my mother lose her memory and all her facilties. In the end she didn’t even remember my brother who died thirty years ago, and couldn’t recognise my sister and I. Like you, we are a very close family, and it was incredibly difficult to watch her struggle over a period of about six months. From day of diagnosis til day of death was little more than ten months.

Our dad also died from lung cancer. It’s a horrific disease, as I’m sure you know.

Please everyone reading this - DO NOT SMOKE. It will not only kill you, but will put your kids and family through hell. One they’ll never forget for the rest of their lives.

Cheryl

by: Kathy Benuck

Mon, 14 May 2007 03:47:18 +0000

I am so sorry for your loss. Think of your Mom everyday, and you will find some comfort in your memories, although you will always wish that she was still here, no matter how much time passes.

by: Ross Goldberg

Mon, 14 May 2007 02:15:18 +0000

My Mom is the most important woman in my life and I greatly appreciate your story bro!

Ross

by: Joyce Hyde

Mon, 14 May 2007 01:55:03 +0000

This was so beautiful and reminiscent of my own journey with my mother at the end.
Thank you so much for sharing.

by: J. R. Reece

Mon, 14 May 2007 01:41:53 +0000

Mike,

Thanks for such a moving post. Yes, you can be proud of your mom, and she was proud of you. My mom passed almost 36 years ago. I was just a teenager. She was in the hospital for double walking pneumonia - pretty bad. She was allergic to the medications that were normally given and was responding slowly to the one she could take. That evening, a Wednesday, my dad and I went to the hospital before going to prayer & Bible study. I will never forget her words. “You go on. You go. I’ll be ok. I’ll see you in the morning.” Little did I know or understand the full depth of her words until years later. You see, my mom passed the next morning. It’s like she knew that it was the last time I or my dad would see her on this earth. Sometimes I can feel her nearby, or hear her voice in my mind. And it’s just at the times when I really need the encouragement to “go on”.

Thanks for sharing with us. And thanks for letting me share a bit as well. As we each in our own little way take something from these bits of sharing, may we go on to the greatness our mothers desired for us.

Julia (LadyJR)
www.ladyjr.com

by: Habacuc

Sun, 13 May 2007 20:32:16 +0000

all I can tell you is thank you for sharing.
you must be proud been who you are I’m sure of it. God bless You.