From Paul...

My brother Paul's words from Mom's memorial...

Thank you to everyone here, the amount of support and love we have received over the last week has been incredible, and is a testament to the strength of this family and the impact that my mother had on all of our lives.


Not everyone here got the chance to see how strong she was, and how hard she fought right until the end. I would always ask her how she was doing, and she would respond with a smile and a “thumbs up”. And I would push her and say, “But no mom, how are you really, how are you doing with all of this? What are you thinking, how are you feeling?” She had lost her ability to speak, so she would smile and pick up her iPad, turn it on and begin typing. I’d sit in anticipation wondering what was going to come out, curious how she was and waiting for those answers. She would look up with a huge smile on her face and turn the iPad around, and all it would say was, “I love you”.

I would wonder at times why she wouldn’t say more, how she could seem to be so ok with everything going on. Wouldn’t she want to impart something or express something more. I spoke to my sister Shannon about it a few weeks ago, and Shannon said it was not the way our mother expressed her love to us, she loved us by serving. Selfless and with a whole heart, without the need or desire for anything in return, she lived her life serving and loving each and every one of us. In fact, I think the hardest part for her through all of this wasn’t losing her speech, or ability to move, or even cook, I think it was losing the ability to serve us. I think anyone here who was lucky enough to know her and had the pleasure of spending time with her, can attest to that. My dad told me that we kids are her legacy. And while that is true, I would say that anyone who knew her and saw that love, carries a piece of her legacy.

But she was strong and courageous all the way to the end. At no point over the last several weeks did I see anything that expressed fear, or worry, or doubt. Her hope and her faith were unwavering, and it is a testament to the woman she was and the God she served. Make no mistake, her faith is rewarded, she is neither sick nor suffering. She is whole again, and she is home. And I think if we could ask her right now, “Mom, how are you?”, she would look down and say, “I love you”.