Most of the important things I've learned in life- about loving, caring, giving, strength, being trust worthy and truthful, walking close with the Lord. I've learned from my mother. She taught me valuable lessons about life. always listening with her heart and always there when needed.
My mother was my very best friend, she was a warm hug, a voice on the phone that made me happy, a shopping pal that brightened my days. She was a generous smile with tender words that rang with wisdom. She was always there for me for so many years, to fill the voids, to counsel and console, sharing my good times and bad, she was an indispensable part of my childhood, and it all has carried on into my adult years.
She lives on now, in that secret, very special place, in my heart reserved for life's most treasured and everlasting love.
My mother went home to be with Jesus on January 23, 2007 at 3:15 p.m. and my life will never again be the same. She was my rock and my fortress. She may have left us here on earth, but I am fortunate to have that hole in my heart filled to the brim with countless memories. Honestly, if I were to list all those fantastic moments with Mom, we would be here for years!
The one thing everyone used to notice about my Mom was her smile. She had the most beautiful one I've ever known, and it has been embedded in my mind no doubt since I was a baby and she looked down on me. That tender smile burns through the fog of sadness and the haze of tears and reminds me how much she loved me and everyone in her family.
Mom loved celebrating every holiday and made each one special for us: Easter, Thanksgiving, Christmas, Valentines, St. Patrick's, 4th of July and birthdays. ever since we were children I can remember the house always being decorated to the hilt and having special meals for every occasion (one that stands out is green milk in our school lunch on St. Paddy's Day). Once for April fool's she put a fake sandwich in Joey's lunch box! We'd always find a little note on our pillow, in our lunch or in a coat pocket. for no specific reason. simply because she loved us. She loved to give us little gifts of love either homemade or thoughtful things she would see while shopping that always fit each of our individual personalities perfectly.
Our home was always immaculate, our laundry always clean. I still remember the feeling of sliding into fresh smelling clean sheets that hung outside on the line all day. I remember coming home from school, even work and before ever opening the door I could smell a delicious meal she had prepared. She loved to make dolls, curtains and clothes for us on her sewing machine. Even after she was diagnosed with cancer, Mom continued to do many of these things until she could no longer manage. She truly was a virteous woman and she taught me so much!
I will miss many things about Mom, including her funny sayings, which I recall now fondly and with a grin. I miss the non-vocal communication my mother & I shared, she always seemed to know exactly what I was thinking. We could look at each other and say "I love you" with no words at all. I miss sitting with her and having our coffee together, sharing a good movie on TV, yard sales, antique shops and even though she always beat me at any game we played. I'd do anything to play one more with her and see her win.
Her grandchildren were very dear to her and I enjoyed watching her interact with them with the same tender love I remember from my childhood days. The Lord brought Brandon into our family shortly after she was diagnosed with cancer and he was such good medicine for her. I use to love getting him all dressed up to visit Nonnie and seeing her ooh & ahhh over him when he would go running to her. I remember how her heart just melted the first time he said "Nonnie". In that short time, love bonds were made and to this day, Brandon mentions "Nonnie up in Heaven".
Mom, I love you and miss you but your spirit is burned into my heart and soul, thank you for a wonderful, rich fulfilling life. I am so thankful the Lord allowed us to say our last goodbyes. We parted with no regrets, no unfinished business, and no unsaid words. Though we didn't want to see you go, you needed to, and knowing you were ready and unafraid made your leaving us that much easier. You left us just the way you wanted, and everything fell into place.
It would be hard to say which experience was more difficult for me: watching my mother die, or watching my father watch my mother die. Through my tears I saw a man remain faithful, impossibly tender, deeply caring and intensely in love, until the very end. Dad: you kept your vows, you both did, until death did you part. I found a poem this week, to honor the love you and mom had for each other. The poem is called, " Til Death Do Us Part" ~ Author, Unknown:.
Till death do us part, I will hold you.
Till death do us part, I will be there for you.
Till death do us part, I will Protect us.
Till death do us part, I will love you.
Till death do us part?
What does it actually mean?
Is it about being together,
Until we die?
Till death do us part, I shall carry you.
Till death do us part, I shall care for you.
Till death do us part, I shall be with you.
Till death do us part, I shall love you.
Till death do us part,
Will not be the end of my love,
For as long as I exist in body and soul,
My Love for you will carry on.
She is now fully, consciously present before God. When death, "the last enemy" shall be destroyed, 1 Corinthians 15:26 and when God's every promise is fulfilled, the reunion will be sweet and there will be joy.
I have to ask myself what my mother would want for us right now.
I think she'd want us to heal and live our lives with everything she taught us. To love each other, enjoy each other and know that she will always be with us. She'd want us to walk close with the Lord and live a life that she would be proud of.
This poem defines how I've felt this past year and how I know my mother would want me to go on:
I can shed tears that she's gone
Or I can smile because she has lived.
I can close my eyes and pray that she will come back
Or I can open my eyes and see all that she has left.
My heart can be empty because I can't see her
Or I can be full of the love that we shared.
I can turn my back on tomorrow and live yesterday
Or I can be happy for tomorrow because of yesterday.
I can remember her and only that she is gone
Or I can cherish her memory and let it live on.
I can cry and close my mind, be empty and turn my back,
Or I can do what she would want:
smile, open my eyes,
love and go on.
David Harkins
I never wanted to talk about the "what if's" with my mom. I truly believed with all my heart that she would survive. One day while sitting together on the couch at her house, I remember breaking down and crying. she warmly put her arms around me, knowing what I was upset about. I said mom, if there is any way you can give me a sign to let me know you are with me. that you can see me. Please, do it? She said, Wendy, I will try my best. I asked her to please beg God. I thank the Lord for blessing me with that wish because my mom is in everything I see. from the bright star in the sky that night she went to Heaven until now, to the beautiful sunset one August night when I was feeling especially sad, to a fortune cookie shared between Rachel & I saying "Daughter, Miss You". I smell her in the air, I see her hands when I hang my curtains, feel her guidance in all that I do, I hear her voice when I'm uncertain of a decision. Her legacy WILL live on through me, through each family member. for her love is embedded in us. She will always be with me.
My Mother Is Always With Me...
She's the whisper of the leaves
as I walk down the street.
She's the smell of bleach
in my freshly laundered clothes.
She's the cool hand on my brow
when I'm not well.
My mother lives inside my laughter.
She's crystallized in every tear drop.
She's the place I came from,
my first home...
She's the map I follow
with every step that I take.
She's my first love
and my first heart break...
and nothing on earth can separate us.
Not time, Not space...
Not even death...
will ever separate me
from my mother...
I carry her inside of me...
Author Unknown
I'd like to leave you all with this quote, by Helen Keller. She said, "The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched. They must be felt with the heart"
IF, by the end of her life, my mother ended up touching all of your hearts ----then I ask you, what else can anyone ask for in this world, but to touch people's hearts. Thank you, Mom.
~ Wendy
To the Mallozzi Family,
I think I've only met your Mom one time before she passed, so I'm not sure why I would have a dream about her. I have been driving around with flowers in my truck to place on her grave, but haven't made it back to the cemetery, so she has been on my mind. Anyway, here's the dream......
I went to the cemetery and finally found her grave. I had two small bouquet's of flowers in my truck to give to her, but when I got there her stone was covered in beautiful flower's. I had Bella with me, my faithful and loving dog, and I looked at her and said, "I feel funny just putting these two little bouquet's on her grave". But, I placed them in her vase anyway and stood there for a few minutes thinking. I turned to Bella and said, "I should thank her". Bella stayed with your Mom while I went to my truck for paper and pen. On the paper I wrote..."I don't really know you, but I really wanted to thank you for your girls. Their love of family, their strength and their sense of humor is a gift I know they got from you." I tied a sting on the piece of paper and attached it to her vase unsigned. I thought about her and all you girls on the ride home and after settling in on the couch with Bella a picture popped in to my head. It was the picture that was hanging in the church. The one where there was a figure standing at the top of the stairs that wasn't there before. Gina showed it to me once and I never forgot it. Anyway, that photo popped in to my head just as clear as it could be, only the figure at the top of the stair's was half turned around and waving before they stepped through the door. To me it felt as if they were saying, "it's alright and I'm doing great."
I'm still not sure why I would have such a vivid dream about a women that I don't really know, but there must be a reason. Maybe to reassure you girl's that she's happy and at peace. Maybe one last message before her final trip. Maybe it's a message for me in some way. I don't really know, but whatever the reason is I felt the need or maybe the obligation to share with you and your sister's.
Take care Wen, and I hope this put a smile on your face. For a person I never met I can feel that she was an amazing women that touched many lives in a positive way and that she cared and loved deeply...especially you girls.
Love and Friendship, Roxanne
My Dearest Betty,
It is the evening of Jan 22, tomorrow will make exactly two years since you’ve gone to be with Jesus in Heaven. Tonight I went through the pages of my journal of your last days with us and I was heart broken as I was reminded of those precious last hours with the love of my life. I remember crying and saying to myself, what will I do now that you’re not here with me, how will I be able to go on. Each night trying to fall asleep thinking of you and the wonderful loving years together. So many times saying to myself, you will not be tonight in my arms dreaming of me but surely, you truly will be in my dreams. I remember when we were so young, a simple time when all we had between us was a few dollars, but wonderful dreams. But over all, we had our Love, our wonderful young Love, and it carried us through the years, the turbulent years, and all those dreams we shared came true. A wonderful forty six years together in a beautiful family with our four wonderful children. How quickly those precious years passed, sweet, sweet memories of time gone by, and I recall them through a rosary of tears. My days now are consumed with you and an endless stream of memories of our life together. I remember Loving you with a Love that knew no one but you, and I’m so, so sad that it will never be that way again. If I could only say goodbye one more time, Just to hold you and tell you, you’re mine, just to open the car door and let you slide into my arms and hold you there for a few more moments and feel your heart beating next to mine. I miss those times so much. So many times I close my eyes and I see your pretty face smiling and the world stops as I’m in awe of you. I was so blessed , so very blessed to have had you for my darling wife for a time. The beautiful mother of our children, I was so, so blessed. You were so elegant, so lovely, so Betty, so mine…and I Miss You So. Life was so sweet when you were here, I miss so much you coming home after shopping with the girls and saying, “Hi Honey”, look what I got and I would watch your eyes sparkle and dance as you showed me each treasure. I remember times when we would pass the Chinese Restaurant and you would give me the eye, and automatically I would pull right in. Afterwards I would say “feel better, sweetheart.” And you would meow like a contented kitty. God, how I miss that. Oh for one more cup of coffee together, one more laugh, one more hug, one more kiss….just one more goodbye. My lady, it was an honor being married to you, it was and honor to have known you, it was an honor to have escorted you through this world, A pleasure to have spent my life with Betty Lou. I’ll always remember you on my arm, at the mall, or wherever we would go, I remember showing you off to the world. I was so proud of you my elegant lady, so very lucky to have been with you, so blessed to have Loved you so deeply. I Loved you so much! My heart will never beat the same way again. Thank you Dear Lord Jesus for making my life complete, we so enjoyed each other’s company, and our dear family. Oh Betty, I’m so glad you came into my life, so incredibly honored. I see you all the time in all the old familiar places. Everywhere I go, I see you. You were my all, my everything, my life, and I Miss You. Oh, how I Miss You. I miss Sunday mornings before church when you would ask , “How do I look?, Papa." and I would run and get my camera. You always looked so pretty with your sparkling smile. I would stand in awe and just stare at you. And say to myself, “after all these years, she is still stunning, breathtaking, so beautiful.” I’d just stand there and take you all in, and you would say, “ all right", "shush", "that’s enough", "let’s go to church.” And I would laugh; you were so witty, so humorous. I’m so glad I took all those pictures, Dear God, I’m So Glad. I Loved being married to you, I fell in Love over and over and over again. I would do anything to turn back the hands of time and be back in our tiny apartment in Bristol, R.I. you were, we were so young with our whole life ahead of us. Somehow, someway, I always knew we would be together…”Forever.” "I LOVE YOU", "I ALWAYS WILL", "FOREVER AND EVER."
In our grief, even though friends can be of some help, only Jesus can reach beyond our tears and touch the deep hurts of our hearts. His comfort and strength have carried us through the struggles of these past two years. He will continue to do so until the day comes when He will wipe away every tear from our eyes and take the pain out of our broken hearts. He’ll whisper softly, I LOVE YOU and brush the teardrops away. Part of us went with you Betty that day God called you home. Our family chain was broken and nothing seems the same. But as God calls us one by one… the chain will link again. Two Years ago tomorrow I watched your lights go out. Yet, even though, the lighthouse still glows. Your afterglow illuminates all of us here. Your spirit is so strong Betty, it’s like you’re still here. The angels carried you home, but we carry you in our hearts, right next to Jesus. We take you out numerous times a day to kiss you, and love you, and tell you we miss you, and can’t wait to see you again. When someone you so Loved becomes a memory, the memory becomes a treasure, and Betty, you are our treasure, and your price is far above rubies. We can shed tears that you’re gone, or we can smile because you lived. We can close our eyes and pray you were back, or we can open our eyes and see all you have left. Our hearts can be empty because we can’t see you, or they can be full because of all the deep Love we shared. We can turn our back on tomorrow and live only yesterday, or we can be happy for tomorrow….because of yesterday. We can remember you Betty and that you’re gone, or we can cherish your memory and let it live on. We can cry and cry and close our minds, be empty, and turn our backs, or we can do what you want Betty, for us to smile, even thru the tears, open our eyes, Love, and go on.
So My Dearest Beloved Betty, this is my tribute, my memorial to you, after two years in Heaven. Far across the distance and spaces between us, you have come to show you go on. Love was when I Loved you, one true time I hold to. You are safe in my heart and my heart will go on. Through my eyes you can see all the Love within me. My heart cries out, take me away, I’ll go where you are. I’ll follow my heart to the end, with the pain far behind.
…..Where you sleep I will fly. All that I have was for you, my reason to live. But my heart also listens to Jesus who says to me, “be patient", "be comforted", "there’s still work for you to do." "It won't be long, you’ll be with your beloved Betty.” Also, I can hear your voice Betty Lou, you were such a motivating force in my life. You would say, “Joe, you can do it, I know you can, You Can Do It.” And it was true, I Could Do It, and I Did……and I Will.
A great part of you still remains with me that none, nor nothing can ever take away, and it gives me strength to carry on, to go on, each sad and lonely day, and Betty, I softly sigh because this I know beyond a doubt, we will meet again, we’ll be together again never ever to part.
Somewhere out there…. where dreams come true, and all my tears will dry. I’ll see you Betty Lou in Heavens place, In a shroud of yellow roses, where we’ll never ever have to say goodbye.
Four Years Later and Still Deeply in Love with my Wild Irish Rose
Well here it is, just four days before January 23, the day four years ago when Betty went to be with Jesus. Each day this week I am reliving those last days when I was in such denial, never knowing it was my last week with Betty. When I write her name somehow I see her pretty smiling face and I can almost smell her hair. It seems almost impossible that it has been four years since I held her in my arms, I miss her so so much, and somehow life is not the same. Just when the tears stop falling down your face, you find they’re falling from your heart. There is no chance that brought this pain to my heart, it’s from Gods Own Hand. He sees what I cannot see. There is a need be for each pain, and one day He may reveal why. That earthly loss of mine is a Heavenly Gain. It’s like a piece of tapestry. When you view it from the back it looks like hopelessly tangled threads, but in the front is a beautiful picture. Right now I am seeing the picture from the back. Why art thou cast down O my soul, Thou shalt yet praise Him. Right now my world has become so empty; my days are so sad and lonely. Each night I embrace the memories of times that will never be again. Dear Lord Jesus, I thank you for the courage I need to live, to go on for my beautiful dear family, only YOU can fill my lonely heart. I find that the hardest ingredient in suffering is often time. A short sharp pain is easily bourne, but when a sorrow drags its weary way through long monotonous years, and day after day returns with the same dull routine of coping with loss, the heart loses its strength, and without the Grace of God, is sure to sink into the very sullenness of despair. The Bible says hope differed makes the heart sick. Thank You, Jesus, for Your Sustaining Comforting Grace. I am learning many lessons in the school of sorrow. Deliverance will surely come and I shall find that I could not have stood in the place of higher service to God without the very things He taught me in the ordeal. I remember an old song from when I was young, Red River Valley. It is the haunting plea of a lone rider of the range for his departed sweetheart. The words are as such; from this valley they say you are going, I will miss your bright eyes and sweet smile. For they say you are taking the sunshine that brightened my pathway awhile. If I could rewrite the words I would say; Come and sit by my side if you hear me, do not hasten to bid me adieu, for I’m walking a lone, lonesome valley, this traveler who loved you so true. Days are long since you left me for Heaven, how I miss your bright eyes and sweet smile. For you took all the joy and the sunshine, that brightened my path way awhile. I’ll soon catch up with you where you’re waiting. I’ve not lost you I know where you are. As the days swiftly pass I will find you, for I know you are not very far.
Many bereaved friends of mine have remarried in a hurry. That is their business and I am happy for them, but I like my line “Do not hasten to bid me adieu” I cannot part quickly with the other half of my life. Betty, In the time I spend waiting for you, I will subconsciously look for the little notes you used to write that will never come, the irresistible desire to whisper in the darkness, “ Honey, are you awake?” Like, I used to do. Betty, all is bearable because I’m not lengthening the distance between us, I’m shortening it as I draw nearer to where you are now. Maybe I’m too sentimental and old fashioned these days when the Good Book says people will be without natural affection, but I’m glad God made me the way I am. Every day I feel you so strongly in my heart I can almost hear you say “Hi Honey.” I would do anything to just see you come downstairs in your pink robe and slippers and kiss you good morning. I eat alone, I’m like a manikin, and I find myself sitting at the table staring straight ahead at where you used to be. It’s a vacant stare of course for you are not there and I know it. Though sometimes I wonder as I stare at the ceiling over my bed, do you ever hover overhead? It’s really not a vacant stare after all; it is an eager peering through the fog. It is anticipation, expectation, traveling on until the mists have rolled away. What God says will be is a sure thing and only a little time lies between any of it and us. We’ll be together again Betty as sure as there is a Loving Heavenly Father who promises it, it won’t be long. Until then, I’ll remember you, your sparkling smile, your witty ways, your pretty face, your loving ways at home, the way you kept our home, the way you took care of me, you were such A Good Wife, A Good Friend, A Good Mom, and We All Miss You So Much, and I still love you as much, and even more.
My Love for you is like an eternal flame that will never go out. The family chain has broken but one day soon the links will be together again.
Love Always and Forever in Jesus, Your Loving Husband Joe
“O Love that wilt not let me go,
I rest my weary soul in Thee,
I give Thee back the life I owe,
That in thine ocean depths its flow
May richer, fuller be.
“O Light that followest all my way,
I yield my flickering torch to Thee
My heart restores its borrowed ray,
That in Thy sunshine’s blaze its day
May brighter, fairer be.
“O Joy that seekest me through pain,
I cannot close my heart to Thee,
I trace the rainbow through the rain,
And feel the promise is not vain.
That morn shall tearless be.
“O Cross that liftest up my head,
I dare not ask to fly from Thee,
I lay in dust life’s glory dead,
And from the ground there blossoms red,
Life that shall endless be.”