My Mom died of breast cancer in 1966. She was 39 years old. I was 16, my two sisters were 13 and 10.
She was an incredibly strong woman. Even though her years on earth were short; somehow she managed to instill the values in the three of us, that we still have today. She taught us that hard work was the key to getting anywhere in life. She was never afraid of working hard, in fact, that was the only way she knew to work.
Mom loved kids. I can only imagine how she would have doted over her Grand-kids and Great-Grand-kids. She also loved to cook and she loved to share what she cooked. I used to deliver her fresh baked bread all over the neighborhood on my bike. Her bread got to be so popular that she started selling it; twenty-five cents a loaf.
She would often time the bread and cinnamon rolls to be ready just as we got home from schools. My buddies loved that; she always had enough for all of them.
Manners were a big thing to Mom; she taught us to be polite and respect others. Lessons that have stuck with me all of my life. She must have been a good teacher, she had such a short time being a mom but some how managed to instill in us the values she believed.
Random things I remember: fudge, birthday parties, cakes, chicken soup, catching me smoking at 12 (not a good thing), when walking with a girl, walk on the side of the sidewalk closest to the street ( I bet not many have heard of that one ), trips to downtown Pittsburgh, wet walnut sundaes at Jimmy Easton’s Pharmacy, my one and only cowboy hat.
6 Comments
This was my Mom to and she was awesome. And when she passed away there were a few others who tried to fill the void. One of those was my sister in law. She became a very good friend who I always knew I could depend. Sometimes we forget to thank people who just step in and do the right thing!
The fudge was always a random thing. Can you imagine just sitting watching TV and your mom getting up to make a batch of fudge? ( I am remembering a particularly good batch during Bonanza ). Hey, remember chestnuts?
The manners thing, she would pretend we were at a restaurant to teach us how to act. I think of that when I hear kids screaming while waiting for meals.
Shortly before Christmas some toys would disappear, like baby dolls. She would have them redone and make a new wardrobe for them. The day after Christmas was reserved for her to play with us with our toys.
dmmyers
3/27/2011
I was the baby of the family but I remember all of these things. Chestnuts…oh boy do I remember these! Ripping up fingers peeling, but oh so wonderful fried in butter…and yes, it was butter! No one’s fudge was like our mom’s; and I remember homemade bread and elderberry jelly that was made from elderberries Ed picked.
Speaking of Christmas and dolls…I remember the last Christmas Mom was alive, she gave me a nun doll! Was that prophetic or what?
Most of all I remember Mom holding me…this sounds silly, but holding me when I was sick…I mean throwing up sick. To this day, when I am sick I still feel her standing beside me, holding my head. I miss that.
Sr. Cindy
3/29/2011
Something I remembered today, Lint Brushes. Hundreds of lint brushes. She started making them to keep her arm working because of surgery and they took off. It was foam wrapped around wooden dowels. We were all involved in the asembly line.
dmmyers
4/5/2011
Today it is 35 degrees in Pennsylvania. I absolutely hated wearing hats and Mom said if it was 40 degrees I didn’t have to. Where are you 40 degrees?
dmmyers
4/30/2011
Dear Mom, I was at the doctor the other day and he said “you are as cured as anyone can get with this stuff”. I wish you could have heard those words for you. I just know that if I were re-diagnosed tomorrow I would fight just as hard and if the turnout was not the same I would still have seen 2 grandkids born, Kelly graduate college and our retirement. I also know you and dad have been there pushing us along.
dmmyers
6/26/2011
I dont remember my Aunt Janet I was young,her being my mothers younger sister my mom kept a picture of her on the mantle,so that where my nature aburn hair comes from,as for the fudge I think Im the only one that makes it like them acording to my brothers
Jane Saxon-Hann
10/11/2011
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