Born October 28, 1936 Died October 6th, 2000
TO MOM love, Connie
CONNIE READ THIS AT MOM’s FUNERAL.... EVERY WORD IS TRUE.... SHE WAS THE GREATEST!
When I was little, I watched you do a hundred things at one time, and never stop to rest or complain.
I learned from you to be diligent.
When I was little, I watched you participate in projects at school for us, field trips and Mother’s clubs, brownies and boy scouts, and Gym Dandy and all the things that go with kids in school.
I learned from you the importance of being involved, and being an active, enthusiastic participant.
When I was little, I watched you juggle schedules, and somehow manage to have all 8 of us wherever we needed to be, whenever we needed to be there.
I learned from you to be organized.
When I was little, I watched you bring food and clothes to some poor people on back Brule Road. I saw the gratitude in their eyes and the kindness and concern in yours.
I learned from you to be compassionate and kind. I learned what Social Justice was before there was such a term.
When I was little, I watched you find room in your heart.. And peanut butter and jelly, and koolaid for not only all 8 of us, but for the multitude of friends and neighborhood kids who were always around.
I learned from you to be unselfish and giving, and that there was no such thing as
“not enough”.
When I was little, I watched you magically provide wonderful things for us: clothes that you sewed yourself, and white patent leather shoes and Easter bonnets that you somehow fit into your budget. Yet, you also taught us that there were some things we could do without, merely because there were so many of us.
And that those things were not at all important.
I learned from you to be unattached to material things.
When I was older, I watched your creativity; and the endless efforts to invent something,
(the American Flag pins, the gnat hats, the plastic bag hats, etc) that would make a gazillion dollars.
BUT not for you, but us.
I learned from you to be imaginative and resourceful.
When I was older, I watched you suffer through the torment of addiction. I’ve watched your tenacity and determination in the battle to beat it. I’ve watched you suffer and succeed, and I’ve realized the daily war that goes on within your soul to tay one step ahead. I’ve watched you continue to give of yourself. NO MATTER WHAT!
I learned from you to turn to my inner strength when the world seems to be falling apart. I learned from you determination, and fearlessness, and righteousness,
and Holiness.
Awhile back, you and daddy beamed with praises of my accomplishments to a friend of mine,
“She did it completely on her own, we never gave her a thing, not a penny”, you said.
You probably have no idea how wrong that statement is!
You have given me everything. Everything I could possibly need to become whole, and
Holy in this lifetime.
You are strength, and compassion and determination, and all the things you’ve exhibited through your actions and love. Money and things that don’t contribute to the development of our Spirits, just don’t matter. You’ve taught me to live graciously and gratefully. It is who you are that has made me who I am
and I am eternally grateful to have you as my mom.
St Frances of Assissi said, “Preach the Gospel to all the world, and, if necessary, use words”
WITH you, Mom, words are never necessary.
It is my greatest hope that I will have the ability to exhibit, by example, to my own children, in the same way that you have all my life, what is truly important.
I love you for all that I am.
I love you for all that you are.
I love you for all that you will always be to us!
Thanks Mom
Love, Connie
TO View Mom’s Life
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Mom with Grandkids
We love you
Grandkids letter to NANA by Cerissa
NANA,
I am only one voice speaking for all the grandchildren. We just wanted to thank you for all of the great times we shared with you.
We remember all the time you took us shopping and got us anything we wanted, even if we said no.
BUT, you would always tell us never to tell Grandpa.
Dale and Dirk remember all of the time you took them to cut the grass at the group homes or took all of us fishing in the pond in front of the diocese.
Thomas remembers all of the times you would slip money into our pockets for no particular reason, and if we had a friend with us, you would give him money too.
We remember how you always swore to us that you were a better fisher than Grandpa, but we know that Grandpa would never leave you in one spot long enough to prove that!
Paul remembers when you tried to crochet an American flag bedspread for him, and it ended up being the biggest crocheted flag in the world.
We remember how you always drank Tab and now that you’re gone I am sure that the Tab companies are very upset because their stock has dropped so much.
We remember how every time one of us was in the newspaper we would all know about it because you would make copies and laminate one for everybody.
We remember how you worked so extremely hard to make everyone in the family a Fish T--shirt to be worn in Destin at the LADA convention.
We remember all of the Chinese checker games you would buy to keep us entertained or the styrofoam Christmas trees you would have us decorate... and all of the times you would try to teach us how to sew, crochet, and play the piano.
Chelsea and I remember the day you let us paint the walls in the house. You must have been craY to let us be in control of paint and paint brushes. Also, the time that we went to Lafayette to see the twins and you got stopped by a cop for speeding. The excuses you came up with were so funny.
We remember how you would get all the grandkids together, and we would all take a trip to the circus.
We remember how when we would go to sleep at our house you would talk and talk, and you wouldn’t realize until hours later that we were already sleeping.
We remember all of the Christmas present you would give us, and you would never forget about our birthday.
We remember going house to house to deliver pepper jelly to everyone you knew.
Dirk and Dustin remember the times that you fed them breakfast and they would sneak half of it to Tibet. When you saw that their plates were completely empty you would cook them some more.
I remember the time that i took you shopping and you forgot your key to get in the house. We searched the whole backyard for a spare, and I ended up sticking my hand in to a cactus. The neighbor’s must have thought I was nuts knocking at their door with blood dripping down my hand and a Tab on the cut.
Megan, SYdney, and Adam will miss all the “stuff” they would get in the mail.
Janie is going to miss all of the princess dresses you would sew for her.
Most of all we remember all the stories you told about Dub and how he was such a great person, little did you know that you followed in his footsteps so graciously.
Nana, these are just a few of the many memories we will forever cherish. You were not only a grandmother to us, you were our friend. you kept us entertained every time we were around you. No matter what it was you always put other people before yourself. You not only left a legacy that will live on forever, you left your spirit. A part of you will live in each of us until we all meet again. Please keep watch over us.
We love you and we will miss you.
Cerissa.. and all the grandchildren.
TO VIEW MOM/NANA with Kids/Grandkids
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