My Mom passed away this past Sunday. She was 84 y.o.  She was truly the kindest, most loving, and generous person I’ve ever known.  Her passions in life were her husband(Dad), her kids and her grandkids Shannon, Daniel(Perpetrators 1 & 2), Olivia, and Winston.

Growing up our Mom seemed to be “everyone’s” Mom.   Our friends were always at our house and she was always ready to feed them a sandwich and a piece of pie or cake.   Dad never knew who would be there for dinner when he got home from work.  It was awesome!   

Even more amazing, when they retired to Oak Creek, that tradition continued as she was always inviting friends, new and old to have a cup of coffee and a cookie, or stay for dinner.  As Shannon and Daniel got old enough to have friends visit, Mom became their friends “grandmother” too, fixing them cookies and/or dinner.   Dad would just shake his head and smile. 

If she had a fault, it would be that she found humor in the all the troubles I had in keeping the Jeep on the road.  However, my wife would say that was an attribute. 

Losing a parent is never easy, but losing a parent that was so close and involved (in a good way) in your family is devastating.   I am so grateful that my wife and kids had the opportunity to know her and learn from her life experiences.  What a blessing!

In the end, Mom got what she wanted, to be with Dad again (Dad passed in Jan. 2014).   She had been saying for the past year that she was "ready to be with Dad."  I guess I should have beleived her.  Her passing was very sudden and she did not suffer. Another Blessing!

Mom literally spent most of the year getting ready for Thanksgiving and Christmas.  She loved those Holidays because it gave her a chance to have all her kid’s and Grandkid’s together and it gave her an opportunity to give them things.  So a few days before Christmas we’ll have the whole family to “Grandma’s House” one last time for a celebration of Mom and Dad’s life(s).  She would not have wanted her passing to be a “cloud” over Christmas.

After that, we will have Christmas day  just as Mom had planned. (Of course, her shoping was already done and house was already decorated).    

She will be missed and always loved!