Continued:<\/p>\n
Mom has left an indelible legacy of faith and prayer that will not be forgotten.\u00a0 She also has left us the importance of family and friends.\u00a0 She knew what it was to need help and to give help.\u00a0 And she would tell friends that needed help to not forget what others had done for them because one day they would have a chance to do the same for someone else; and to take that chance.\u00a0 Mom was completely devoted to her parents, her siblings, extended family and my Dad.\u00a0 She was happiest with her family.\u00a0 I have incredible memories of time with family and friends in Warroad, Arborg, Dryden and Moosomin.\u00a0 We were rarely home on any holiday or school vacation.\u00a0 This past summer we were able to make a large request come true.\u00a0 We were able to get a reunion together with family coming from Colorado, Minnesota, North Dakota and Oregon.\u00a0 She was thrilled and it was one of her best days after 4 1\/2 months of being in and out of the hospital.\u00a0 We were all so happy to give her that time.<\/p>\n
She loved her grandchildren.\u00a0 I remember how she beamed when my daughter, Sidney was born.\u00a0 I hadn\u2019t seen her that happy in years.\u00a0 And that happiness did not diminish with the birth of Melissa and Natasha.\u00a0\u00a0 They all had Christmas dresses, pajamas and anything else that she could give them.\u00a0 Then came the news of a grandson.\u00a0 She wasn\u2019t so sure what she would do with a boy.\u00a0 She still had lots of pink and purple fabric to be used. \u00a0How could this be?\u00a0 She decided she would just have to get more creative for the boy.\u00a0 Alex got pajamas, t-shirts, the stuffed taxi in the other room and something to hang on his wall.\u00a0 Mom adored him.\u00a0 She had a special place for him.\u00a0 Her face would light up when he came in no matter how sick or tired she was.\u00a0 She loved his energy.\u00a0 Mom\u2019s main concern before she passed was her grandchildren and if they would be okay.\u00a0 She didn\u2019t want to leave them behind.\u00a0 She even expressed that concern in one of her conversations with God.<\/p>\n
This past year we made sure to give the kids lasting memories of Grandma.\u00a0 The girls learned to cross-stitch and sew.\u00a0 Alex had lots of hugs, laughs and tickles.\u00a0 And speaking of laughs I think we can all agree that my Mom had an amazing sense of humor.\u00a0 Her Mother was big on laughter and had lived on the philosophy of a belly laugh a day was essential to survival.\u00a0 So, we all learned to laugh. \u00a0Mom was always quick with a joke or a funny comment.\u00a0 Light sarcasm came easily.\u00a0 She lifted other\u2019s spirits as well as her own.\u00a0 She found friends easily almost everywhere she went.\u00a0 Mom made longstanding relationships with people that sat at the neighboring table in the restaurant, and with people in the neighboring hospital bed.\u00a0 Humor got her through a lot of dark days past and present.\u00a0 She went to meet friends at MJ\u2019s last fall after she\u2019d lost most of her hair to chemo and suddenly put her hands on her head and exclaimed, \u201cOh, I forgot to comb my hair!\u201d\u00a0 No one at the table was sure how to handle the situation.\u00a0 It took a few seconds before Mom said, \u201cOh wait, I have don\u2019t have any hair.\u201d\u00a0 Everyone at the table was relieved and had a good laugh.<\/p>\n
The nurses at St Boniface said that they loved coming in her room because it was so positive and uplifting.\u00a0 The home care ladies that cared for her over the last year said the same thing, especially over the last few weeks.\u00a0 No one could believe that even when her body was failing her smile kept working.\u00a0 She had been concerned that morphine would turn her into someone that she didn\u2019t want to be.\u00a0 But, it didn\u2019t.\u00a0 She was still herself.\u00a0 A few weeks ago the nurse came in and said, \u201cHi Carole.\u201d\u00a0 And Mom lifted her arm and said, \u201cHi, I\u2019m hiiiigh.\u201d\u00a0 Even when she wasn\u2019t sure what we were all talking about if she heard us laugh she would laugh with us.\u00a0 And if we whispered when we thought she was sleeping we would get reprimanded and told to speak up.\u00a0 In the last year we have laughed about everything from hospital food and colostomy bags to death and funerals.\u00a0 Other than her suffering I wouldn\u2019t trade the last 16 months for anything.<\/p>\n
I\u2019d like to list a few of Mom\u2019s final requests:<\/p>\n
“I\u2019d like my hair dyed red for the funeral.\u00a0 Oh and a perm.”<\/p>\n
“Don\u2019t make me look like a saint.\u00a0 I\u2019m not perfect, you know.”<\/p>\n
“It doesn\u2019t matter what you dress me in, I won\u2019t be there to see it.\u00a0 Just pick something.”<\/p>\n
As you can see we didn\u2019t honor all of her requests.\u00a0 But, we will do our best to continue her legacy of faith, family and humor.<\/p>\n
At this time I would also like to say an enormous thank you to everyone that cared for Mom, whether at the hospital, at cancer care or at home.\u00a0 Home care workers are unsung heroes.\u00a0 In the words of my Mother, \u201cTreat home care workers with respect and kindness.\u00a0 You may need them one day.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Continued: Mom has left an indelible legacy of faith and prayer that will not be forgotten.\u00a0 She also has left us the importance of family and friends.\u00a0 She knew what it was to need help and to give help.\u00a0 And … Continue reading