There was a lot of loss for Mother Irene which had begun with the death of her oldest daughter Rose in 2003 and personal suffering to match but she kept the same indomitable attitude, looking forward, never complaining, and grateful for anything anyone did for her.
In 2006 her grandson, Don, who had lived with her and Pa as a teenager, returned as a military veteran to work and to live with and care for Mother as she became increasingly unable to do many things without assistance.
One of her greatest sufferings was her inability to be present at the Sunday Liturgy during her last several months. I brought Jesus to her. She received Him devoutly but she and I knew it was not the same for her because she wanted to be present to hear the music, listen to the word of God, pray with her friends, see and hear the Eucharistic Prayer as well as receive Him. But she accepted what she could not change.
On January 10, 2007, Mother lost her second daughter, Sonja, after a long bout with cancer. But she soldiered on despite her increasing physical disabilities.
On September 24, 2007 she made the local newspaper's front page! She went on a hot air balloon ride and loved every minute of it. The front-page picture showed her peering over the edge of the gondola. She didn't want the flight to end. At ninety-eight years and four months she was still the daredevil woman of her youth. If she really wanted to try something she did!
On November 18, 2007, Mother had a dream in which she was sliding down a hill. She looked back and saw her husband all bathed in light and he was dancing with this beautiful girl. But her husband (while on earth) didn't dance!
So she said to him, " I want you to dance with me." He reached out his hands to me and we danced together. I didn't want it to stop, but he told me I had to go back for now. He'd reach out for me when it was my time. Mother told me she was at peace now that I had come to her. I was to have her awakened whenever I could come. I brought her Holy Communion. She hugged me and hugged me. "You are my son forever."
We spoke of Heaven and how we'd be together forever - her loved ones - husband - daughters - me. I told her how lucky I was to have had two wonderful mothers and how much she would love my birth mother. She and Irene were so much alike - bakers, seamstresses, great mothers, always reaching out to help others, full of life, loving music, dancing and nice clothes.
We talked about her wishes for her funeral when the time came. She needed to make her wishes known to Judy who was her executor. She told me she wanted me to be in charge of her rites. I told Judy about our discussion and that Mother wanted to talk about it. It would not depress her.
In early January 2008, her grandson, Don, whom she dearly loved and who had been her live-in caregiver, assisted by her daughter, Judy, died suddenly under tragic circumstances. When I heard the news, I went immediately to her house. She was crying but not for herself! All she could say over and over was, "I hope he didn't suffer!"
Shortly after Don's death, Mother had to be placed in a nursing home because she was bed ridden without someone available around the clock to assist her.
Near the end of January she had to be rushed to the emergency ward of our local hospital with serious infections. I joined Judy and Judette (Judy's daughter) in the emergency room. Mother was conscious and wanted to receive the Sacrament of the Sick. I called a priest friend of Mother's who came, prayed with her, and then anointed her.
That day marked the beginning of a steady decline in her strength. She began to eat less and less and her problems increased. Judy spent hours with her each day and Judette stayed around the clock. I came every day and stayed as long as I could.
We talked about whatever Mother wanted and could talk about and we prayed together. She could no longer swallow solid food so her final deprivation was Holy Communion.
She became increasingly silent and slept more and more. I saw her alive for the last time on the evening of February l8th. Shortly after 9:00 a.m. Judette called me to tell me that Mother had just died. She wanted to place the telephone to Ma's ear, which she did. I prayed aloud the special prayer for someone who had just died - she heard me whether in this life or the next!
For ten days she had been prayed for in her presence and with her response for as long as she could speak. She knew she was loved by her entire blood family and me her "adopted" son.
Her longing is over. She now lives Jesus final promise "whoever eats this bread (and drinks this cup) will live forever." She no longer has to see Jesus by faith! She now sees him face to face.
The final paragraph of her funeral homily says it all:
Mother, as we celebrate today your entrance into glory, remember us who remain. Pray for us as we pray for you so that we will persevere in faith, hope, and love as you did, and one day join you in eternal life. We miss you but we will see you again!
(c) 2008 Bernard J. Fleury, B.A. History and Classical Languages, Ed.D. Philosophy, Government, and Administration, is Professor Emeritus of Philosophy and Educational Administration. His administrative/teaching career spans more than five decades and three United States and Caribbean Colleges.
Dr. Fleury's lifelong interest in history from the perspective of the people who lived it, is evident in Chaps. 8 & 9 of A Bee in His Bonnet (website: http://greatgeneration.net) that is his grandfather Frank King's Great Generation story as he recorded it, and told it to his daughter and grandchildren.
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