Growing up as a young boy, Mom would constantly be in touch with family and friends wherever they lived. I felt so close to so many people. This was very normal as I grew up.
Mom would tell us stories of her as a young girl and woman, and as the third oldest sibling of eleven, she would be in charge of taking care of her younger brothers and sisters. At times, she would need to put them in a car and drive them somewhere, and as they caused havoc, she would lovingly take care of them all. That responsibility, care and love was carried over in her life as she touched so many lives in the same way.
I learned from her compassion. She cared so much for anyone in her life; brothers, sisters, nieces, nephews, and our friends and acquaintances. Nobody entered her life without being treated with kindness.
I learned from her generosity, as she would give her heart and soul to everyone. Never was there a birthday or holiday where a gift or card was missed. She seemed to have put to memory everyone’s birthday. God help us when she went on a trip because out of the three luggage’s she had in tow, two of them were filled with gifts for family and friends. All normal stuff to me.
My brother and I grew up feeling loved and protected. She taught us responsibility and honesty. She was always positive and optimistic and believed in the good in people; her enthusiastic attitude was contagious.
Mom was always (usually) in a cheerful mood, often joking and sometimes teasing. There was not one April Fools Day that passed where one of us, or all, did not fall victim to one of her pranks. How many times did one of us, participating in one of her holiday games, be lucky enough to draw the prize that had you walking around with a pair of Granny type underpants on your head! Funny. Very funny Mom.
She adored her grandchildren. Darlene and I were fortunate as young parents to have a babysitter we could drop Meaghan, Jenna and Andrew off to at a moments notice. We of course took full advantage of this repeatedly, but truth be told, her world then revolved around them and us, and it was always, always her great joy. I am so very glad that Jackson and Dahlia had the chance to know their grandmother and talk, play and be with her in the last few years.
Mom loved Dad with all her heart. She was devoted to him and by his side all her life. She made our house a home and was the glue that kept so much and so many of us together. She showed us how to love unconditionally.
The tale of how she, as a young woman, met Dad was told to us repeatedly. There he was, this Italian, dashing and debonair gentleman, dressed in his white tennis garb. He swept her off her feet and she fell in love. As she always said, “Boom, boom, boom went my heart.’’ Thank God for tennis.
Although she could not resist chocolate and sweets (and you could always find a stash or two in the house), she had a remarkable ability to commit and be strong in her beliefs. The day it was brought to everyone’s attention that smoking cigarettes was actually bad for you, she was the only one in the gang that quit on a group bet, stayed quit and never smoked again. That was Mom.
She was sister Jane, she was the famous Aunty Jane, she was a loving wife, a wonderful mother, grandmother and great grandmother. Mom was always about family. She had a large one she was very close to, and she only made it ten times larger. She was always so caring. She was fun, playful, and daring and fearless when it came to adventure. Dave and I, and all our children, would be blessed to be anyway like her.
I am so proud of you Mom. We are so fortunate to have had you take care of us all, and to teach us love and what family is all about. You touched so many of the lives of people we knew…. I am so proud of that.
Thank you Mom, for being you and for so much that you gave us.
We will always miss you and remember you.
We will always love you and see you in our children.
God bless you Mom.
xox
COMPARTA UN OBITUARIO
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