Mom Went Home Seventeen Years Ago
It’s hard to believe that my mom went home seventeen years ago today. My mom was the most loving, caring and helpful person to everyone around her. She was a secretary at the Junior High School I attended, and mom and dad both retired in the early 1970’s. Mom and dad loved camping and traveled with some of their camping friends to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina every winter and back to upstate New York in the summer. One year they decided to move to Myrtle Beach to live so they hooked up their camper and away they went. Since mom was not the type to just “hang around” after retirement, she would hang out at the campground office helping the young girls run it. Other times she would hang out at the campground store, helping out there. The owners realized mom was an asset to them so they hired her. They also hired my dad to work at the check in gate so both were happily back at work, enjoying all the people they came in contact with. She was so well-loved by everyone but when she was in her late 60’s, mom was showing early signs of Alzheimer’s disease, the cruel disease that has their loved ones watch while they slowly deteriorate.
Mom and dad celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary on October 16, 1993 and the signs were even stronger but she still knew us. When it came time that she could no longer work at the campground due to her Alzheimer’s, they even through her a retirement party.
I have so many wonderful memories of mom, one being not funny at the time, but thinking back over the years we can all laugh. Along with being a secretary, she was also a beautiful cake baker and decorator. She had an order for little cupcakes and had them all made and laying on the bed to cool. Now we had a wonderful Great Dane and for some reason this day I guess he was hungry. Yes, you guessed it, Thunder ate ALL THE CUPCAKES!!! My mom was devastated but she just got busy making another batch, this time shutting the door to the room while cooling.
Mom shared her love for cake decorating to the 4-H group and all the kids would have a great time baking and decorating with her back in 1973.
Hubby and I moved down to Myrtle Beach in 1994 to help my dad care for mom. In 1995 she had to be moved into a nursing home because she was totally bedridden and couldn’t even speak. But she know us, we could tell from her eyes and her smile as we talked with her.
She enjoyed opening her presents on Christmas 1995 in her room at the nursing home and we tried to make it feel like home to her.
As her Alzheimer’s progressed and her health declined even more, it was sad to see her slip away from us. After work, hubby and I would take our now 20-year-old granddaughter over for a visit. We could tell by mom’s smile she was happy to see Alexandra.
During the summer of 1998, our now 27-year-old granddaughter came down for a visit and we took Desiree and 3 year old Alexandra for a visit. Desi hadn’t seen her great-grandmother since she was in the nursing home, but mom still knew her She still had her beautiful smile and would talk with us through her eyes.
So many wonderful memories of mom that I will never forget. On January 15, 2000 God saw she was getting tired and her called her home at 79 years old, only ten days before her 80th birthday. To me, it was way too early for her to go but she lives forever in my heart, filled with wonderful memories.
I made a plaque with a saying and have an Angel in mom’s garden. She loved flowers and this is one of the Azalea bushes we received when she passed away. It was only about a foot tall and how beautiful it has grown. I love when it blooms in the springs, it’s like mom is right her with me.
This is a poem I wrote when mom went home seventeen years ago. I have shared it with many others that have lost loved ones in the hopes it helps with their pain. When God Called Mom Home
This is another story of the Memories of Mom’s Alzheimer’s Disease
I love you and miss you mom and just this morning, a cardinal was in the tree in our yard, I know it was a message from you.
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I fully understand your pain, love, and memories. On the 30th it will have been seven years since my mother has passed. I can not believe how fast time goes by.
It’s hard when our mom’s leave but it’s sad to see them suffering. God knows best and he had better plans for her. So sorry about your mom also, but hold on to the poem I wrote for my mom, it may give you a bit of comfort on the 30th. Thanks for stopping by Brenda. <3
Amazing
We both know she was a very special mom. <3
What a cruel disease. I suspect that a former walking friend who lost a sister to early onset Alzheimers several years ago, may also be developing this. May you find comfort in your sighting of the cardinal.
Watching a love one suffer hurts so bad but I know she is in the arms of God and watching down and guiding us everyday. Cardinals were her favorite bird Alana and whenever I see one, I know it’s a message from mom. Thanks for the kind words.
It is difficult to lose a parent for sure. My Mom is still alive. She’s 87, but in failing health. I lost my Dad, though, in 1977 at the age of 55. There isn’t a day that goes by that I don’t think about him. He had been a prisoner of war in Japan during WWII. I’ve always said that he didn’t die during the war, but the war killed him. He was in such poor health when he returned home that it affected him the rest of his life.
I miss him very much, but he’s alive in my heart and my memories.
Oh Jane, I’m so sorry to hear about your dad. So young and I can only imagine the pain he went through both in war and after he was discharged. God Bless him for his service and may he be at eternal peace, watching over his family. I wrote the poem when my mom passed, but have sent it to so many in the hopes it helps them in the lose of a loved one. Thanks for visiting.
I’ve experienced your pain and hurt with you. It’s only been three years since my mom moved to heaven and sometimes I forget it wasn’t just a nightmare and try to call her. I’m so thankful for wonderful memories that sustain me and knowing that I will see her again one day. Thanks for sharing your story.
Oh Kelly, I feel the same way, but when I go out to her garden, I talk to her and I know she hers me. Little things I see or hear bring back wonderful memories. The other thing, she leaves me pennies in the strangest places. Getting out of the car, one is right there or in the church parking lot. The most memorable time I found a penny was when hubby and I were in the hotel room with our granddaughter awaiting to take her to the hospital for her major surgery. She opened the nightstand and a penny was laying there next to the bible. I know mom was with us and Alexandra. I don’t think your’s or my hurt and pain will never go away, but we have all the wonderful memories that we hold forever in our hearts. <3
Beautiful memories of your mom. Thanks for sharing her with us.
Thanks Nita, my mom will always live forever in my heart. She was a beautiful person both inside and out, the best mom and friend.