2 July 2013
When trying to think of words to describe Mom, “EASY” comes to mind! Such a simple word but it says so much about Mom. She was agreeable, undemanding, accommodating, uncomplicated and never a burden.
Mom was always easy to be with, an absolute haven for all of us. She was genuine and honest and had trust in each of us.
Another word that comes to mind is “Effortless”—
only Mom could make raising all of us look easy. She had a knack for making it look effortless. Case in point, dinner for nine “miraculously” appearing each evening at six.
EASY, EFFORTLESS---just words to describe a Mom who in turn made it easy and effortless to be her children, grandchildren, in- law or family! Sometimes Moms frankness may have taken each of us back a step but it always seemed to come from love.
Besides loving us, Mom loved stirring the glue a bit, fried peppers, shopping especially with a “bargain” involved, a bit of sweet, a good newspaper read in the morning, a ripe summer peach, a medium rare steak, China, cruising, casual dressing, laundry and ironing
…just kidding about the laundry and ironing, although many of remember when Tuesday was dedicated to ironing uniforms, dads shirts and even the pillow slips.
And talking laundry brings to mind the sheer number of diapers the mother of seven must have laundered-
Does “effortless” and “easy” ring a bell?
Another descriptive word for Mom could be “serene”. Could it be that you learn that with seven children and Tiny? Mom had the admirable ability to adapt and change. She had a beautiful calm and peaceful affect but we all know she was made of very strong stuff. She was always there for us but never intrusive never wanting to make a fuss.
Mom was never a complainer, never one to feel sorry for herself! Even at the end,when asked, everything was always OK or fine! We knew she wasn’t fine, but that was Mom unselfishly, wanting to reassure us. Fortunately Moms wry sense of humor served her, and us well until the end.
Have a minute give “HEL” a call as that was usually about how long the conversation took
--- just a quick catch up on anything new, especially if it involved a sibling, a few niceties and then the HEL “dismissal”---but feel free to call the next time you have a minute cause Mom dearly loved hearing from us!!
Needless to say--we all wish we were able to make that call again.
Don’t worry about showing up hungry— Mom was always happy to feed you.
Speaking of food, hey we are Italian, so lets talk spaghetti dinners ---say a pound and a half of pasta per week---OK lets say… 75 pounds per year>hmmmm,x 65 years---well mom we can deduce that you cooked almost five thousand pounds of pasta!!
----and meatballs>15 per week over 60 years ----thats almost fifty thousand
>>>now that’s a lot of meatballs!
…and almost as many conversations—> OFTEN all going on at the same time!!
—and Mom with her profound hearing loss---hanging in there, doing her best to stay with the crowd. Of course we all remember how quickly the conversation could change gears when Mom hadn’t heard correctly, yet Mom never mentioned the cacophony about her as Mom found great joy in her children and grandchildren being together>>never mind that most were talking at the same time!
To talk about Mom and not mention Dads love and adoration for her over nearly 60 years would not be right.
Mom might have shown a bit of defiance coming home that first time in Tiny Lepore’s car. Mom mentioned that Rose would not be happy seeing her daughter getting out of Dads car!
… but evidently she did make dad happy because they married and then came the baby carriages---all seven.
And Mom made a very loving home for us.
We know leaving HEL behind must have been Dads big regret and he must be rejoicing in her arrival just as we are anguishing over her departure.
Despite the grieving, I hope being here today somehow secures what we remember about this great lady, our mom, her touch, her words, and her love for us.
To go on without our Mom is sad and difficult to imagine.
each of our smiles will shine less brightly in the future. Something will forever be missing from our lives. She was a bright light in our lives and we all were the light of her life
>>>even until the end
>>>> and we knew it!
‘And as Mom might say
… that’s the way it goes!!!
Missing Mum
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