NJM 30 in NoJoMo 2016

Pam wrote a beautiful eulogy, but couldn’t read it herself. She gave it to the Monsignor to read. I think everyone in the room was crying.

“My mom liked the simple things in life. She did not like to call attention to herself, she just wanted to live her life doing things she enjoyed. Mostly she enjoyed taking care of my dad and her family. The last several years, while my dad was still alive, she was a homemaker. She took pride in keeping their house spotless. She fixed them homemade meals and my dad enjoyed her cooking. She got up most mornings and fixed dad bacon and eggs for breakfast, then packed his “bucket”for work. A sandwich with one slice of bread, a slice of chopped ham with a dill pickle slice on top. He always had something sweet to eat, which was baked by mom. He got very excited when he had Angel food cake. She made the best angel food cake! Then of course mom packed two bottles of milk for him but every once in a while dad would sneak in a soda.

My mom taught me at an early age how to clean house, how to cook, and how to be a responsible person. I always knew my mom was there if I needed help with anything.
Everyone knew where they stood with my mom. She told you what she thought and stood up for herself. She was very strong, even after losing her arm in an accident, she never slowed down. She did things with her artificial arm that most people wouldn’t do with two good hands.

She was more introverted after her accident because everyone would stare at her hook, but that didn’t stop her from doing somethings she enjoyed. She enjoyed trot line fishing for catfish with dad and she would be right there helping him clean and fillet the fish. She enjoyed traveling with dad when he drove over the road except dad never liked to stop for bathroom breaks. Mom and dad had fun together no matter what they were doing. Mom was quiet while dad was the jokester. They made a perfect couple.

I had great respect for my mom because she returned the favor of my dad taking care of her by taking very good care of him all his life, but especially in the last months of his life when he was sick. She helped him through his surgery, through radiation and chemo, and keeping him at home until he had to go to the hospital several days before he died.

After dad died, mom stayed at home by herself until recently. Since I lived close I would check on her every day and do some chores for her that she did not feel comfortable doing. She still took pride in keeping her house looking nice, doing things she probably shouldn’t have, like raking leaves. She fell doing this and had a hard time getting back up. She went in the hospital after the fall, and then a few months in the nursing home.

After a brief stay in the nursing home, we brought her home where she was comfortable. We were lucky to have Diane Poor to be her caregiver. She fixed mom’s meals, did all of her housework, shopping, taking mom to the hair dresser, taking care of mom’s pills, bathing her, and even sometimes helping her into and out of bed. With the help of Diane, my brothers, sister in laws, nephews, and niece we were able to keep mom at home until the last two months of her life, which is what dad wanted. After that the staff at Frene Valley in Owensville and Optum hospice kept mom comfortable until she died.

My mom was a very strong, amazing woman who will be missed. We love you mom…rest in peace.”