Most of you already know what a wonderful woman my mother was. She was the sun that all of the rest of our family members orbited around.   At 65 years old before she learned about her cancer I think she was as happy as she had ever been.   She loved being a grandmother and mother, she loved her job at Chapin Center and her many dear friends there and she loved working with my dad on weekends.   After a lifetime of taking care of people it was finally "her time" for a short while but the world owed her a lot more.  

My mom's generosity was boundless.   It reached beyond even her family and dear friends.   She welcomed anyone that tagged along with us to her home.   If it was Christmas and someone brought an unexpected guest with them, within a half hour a wrapped present with their name on it would surface out of her secret stash. If you mentioned some thing you might need or want even in passing, that exact thing would turn up as a gift at the first opportunity.   She was incredibly observant of how other people were feeling, especially kids.   If someone needed to feel special for a minute she would deliver that personal attention or gift and make a profound difference. At every low point in my life my mother was there for me to lend an ear, cook me great food, or help financially.  

Our house was always the hangout spot for me and my friends as kids and it still has that feel to me.   It's an extension of her warmth.   She taught me a lot of things before I knew I was learning them.   Her examples of sacrifice, integrity, confidence, graciousness, dependability, humor, humility, and loyalty have enabled me to build a happy healthy life of my own.   The best way to honor her is to try to follow her example and that's what I'll try to do for the rest of my life.

It's difficult to imagine life without her presence.   Our holidays and special occasions will never be the same.   This summer I'll have my first birthday without her but I won't be surprised at all if I open my mailbox and find that somehow she's sent me a card.

Mom with each new understanding of you through the years, I've loved you more.   I'm learning more still as the love you spread is reverberating back at us from the many people you've touched. I miss you so.

Joe Oliverio