"...sleep in heavenly peace"
On a cold, gray Saturday afternoon in January, my beloved mother passed away. For years she fought Diabetes Mellitus which eventually robbed her of her sight, her hearing, and in the end, all bodily functions. I thought I was prepared for the inevitable, but when it came, I was totally devastated. Not only had I lost my mother, I had lost my best friend. I tried to console myself with the knowledge that she was in heaven with God...her buddy...as she lovingly called Him. But at that moment, I could not. And even now, years later, I'm still struggling with the pain. When I decided to build this website, I thought of her. While on this earth she never experienced the exhiliaration of having her day in the sun. So now, I will give it to her.
My mother was a devout Irish Catholic who didn't just profess her religion, she lived it. She attended Mass every week until she became totally disabled. She prayed the rosary daily. Her house was filled with statues of her favorite Saints, Anthony and Jude. Although she was a quiet lady, she had many passions. She loved to cook, crochet and play bingo. A true humanitarian, her door was always open to her family and friends. She could always be counted on in times of need, and only saw the good in people. That's not to say that she was perfect. She often displayed her Irish stubborness. To her, black was black, white was white..there were no gray areas.
When I decided to become a portrait artist, she immediately became my greatest advocate. Even in the beginning, when my paintings were primitive and unpolished, she saw them as masterpieces. It was she who suggested that I take private lessons. Little did I know that her advice would turn my life around. To this day, I am grateful that she was able to be present to see me gain national recognition. But the highlight of her life was her grandson, Raymond. He was her joy of joys. And in the end, when her world became dark and soundless, she never gave in to bitterness. She continued to give thanks to God for being so blessed. Yes, she was definitely a remarkable lady. Ray and I hope that we've made her proud and that she thoroughly enjoys her day in the sun.
Here's To You, Mom! |
