Thursday, December 13, 2012

Sweet Little Mother..


This post is dedicated to my mother, Eileen.
 
 
Gordon and Eileen, 61 years together.
 
My sweet mother and dad about a year ago.
 
Monday, December 3, 2012 my little mother passed on.
You get that dreaded phone call in the evening from
a hospital ER.  My brother, sister, and father were
there.  They followed the ambulance into
the small town of Antigo, Wisconsin.
The paramedics whisked her in the Er.
The Doc comes out, him and dad converse.
Then a few minutes later the same Dr.
returns with the news.
 
 
 
 
 
Mom in the middle with Shannon (L), Isaac (far L), and my sister Annette, her daughter
and grandson.
Four generation photo. 
 
Her health had been failing the last 4-1/2 years.
It was her appointed time. Her work was done here and
her God called her home.
 
2001, their 50th with my family.
Our son from left, Steve, my hubby Ron, Dad, Mom, Me and our daughter, Jennifer.
 
 

Left: Mom-6 years old      Right: Dad-6 years old
 
A lifetime of memories, a lifetime of love
and connection.  Eccl. 3:1-8 puts it so well:
 
Ecclesiastes 3:1-8
 
There is a time for everything,
and a season for every activity under the heavens:
2 a time to be born and a time to die,
a time to plant and a time to uproot,
3 a time to kill and a time to heal,
a time to tear down and a time to build,
4 a time to weep and a time to laugh,
a time to mourn and a time to dance,
5 a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing,
6 a time to search and a time to give up,
a time to keep and a time to throw away,
7 a time to tear and a time to mend,
a time to be silent and a time to speak,
8 a time to love and a time to hate,
a time for war and a time for peace.

 
 
 
We have cried and we have laughed.
 
We have spoken and we have been silent.
 
We have mourned and we have danced.
 
 
The late 1940's.  Mom in the center. Her good friend Bernice far left.
 
 

About 1939, mom far right. Her sister, Lisle far left and middle, is
Bernice, her long time friend.
 
 
 
She was wife of a US Navy sailor for 16 years. She lived and moved on the east coast and midwest.  Mother to 3, Linda, Ken,
and Annette.  Grandmother to 7 children; Jennifer, Steve, Erin,
Shannon, Sarah, Adam, and Colleen. Greatgrandmother to
8; Sebastian, Dominick, Isabel, Ariana, Santiago, Milo, Isaac,
and Gwen.
 
She was a Proverbs 31 woman.
Her price was far above rubies.
 
Her talents were many; an artiste, she was the real
'cake boss', seamstress extraordinaire, her cooking was
equaled to Paula Deen.  She was humble yet strong.
 
As our son mentioned in his Eulogy to mom;
'She was unbelievably strong and larger than life, even though
I was taller than her at the age of 9.'
 
 
 
She loved to paint seasonal images.
 
 
 
 
Her first Rosemaling, 1982.
 
 
 
She loved autumn and the cooler weather.
I remember getting in the car with her and
driving down a few country roads looking for
grapevine to make wreaths.
 
 
She knew the art of canning using garden fresh
produce.  Her canned pickles and string beans
were known in many towns and villages in northern
Wisconsin.  She knew how to give and care for
people when they were hurting.
 
 
She loved flowers and could arrange cuttings
from her garden in minutes.
 
 
 

 
 
 

Her pressed flowers were found by my sister a while back.
Mom had pressed flowers many years ago and made
arrangements behind glass and framed.  These delicate flowers
were in phone books, catalogues, and various large books.
Annette found them and organized all of them in bins.
There were hundreds and hundreds of pressed flowers.
 
Thank you, Annette.
 
 
In another post I will write of her
treasure of love letters from our dad
when he was aboard ship after they were
married in 1951.  We may never know what
each letter says.  They are neatly
stacked, tied up, and aged with the patina of
time. International letters from a sailor to his new bride.
 
We love you dear mom,
may you dance and rejoice
forever on the other side in His presence.
 
 
Please do not use photos or wirtten content in this post
without permission from the writer.
Thank you.
 

8 comments:

  1. Anonymous13.12.12

    Linda, this was so moving. Thank you for sharing. I loved it.

    ReplyDelete
  2. A loving tribute to a very special lady! The photos and your words are touching.

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  3. Annette13.12.12

    My dearest sister...your memories are so very precious. I will never, never forget our mother. Now I see and understand why things had to happen these past days, weeks and months the way that they did. God was just getting things in order for her. If only we could be more sensitive while we are going through the daily routine and just stop and think for a moment why things happen the way that they do.I love you. Thank you for this post.

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  4. A beautiful tribute to your sweet mother. Thanks for sharing, what a wonderful legacy she leaves behind for her family. Am thinking of and praying for your family during this time.
    Kate

    ReplyDelete
  5. This is such a beautiful tribute to your mom. Thank You for sharing and reminding us that the ones we love are never further away than our hearts memory.

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  6. so sorry about your mama. i lost my dad this past july and its just me and my mom now, taking it day by day.

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  7. Beth Emerich2.1.13

    Linda,
    What a beautiful tribute to Dear Eileen....OH how she made me laugh and giggle...this post was lovely!-Beth

    ReplyDelete
  8. Linda,

    I just took time to read your beautiful tribute to your mom. Thank you. Life is precious. I am so sorry about your loss. So many wonderful memories. I especially love that you and Annette found pressed flowers everywhere. It's a reminder to me to leave this power of love of nature behind for our children. Bless you. I hope you are doing ok. My mom will be 82 and my dad 87 -- time marches on. Your pictures are so great -- thank you for sharing this.

    ReplyDelete

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