Mom, I love you more than life itself. You were the greatest mom a girl could ever have. My friends from grade school came to see you and talked about how you took care of all of us after our practices and games. We all loved your cooking and your warmth. As I told you many times, you were and still are my best friend. Thank you for all the sacrifices you made for me, Jack, Pat, and Dennis. There were many, and believe it or not, I recognized most of them. You were a remarkable woman and ahead of your time in many ways. You saw so many changes over the course of your long and blessed life, and you adapted to all of them. You were also a cool mom and one I was so proud of to introduce to my friends. Thank you so much for teaching me about Jesus, face cream, and manners. I know you didn't like my smoking and not going to church on a regular basis. Joyce told me you referred to all of your children as "heathens" when you got palms for us on Palm Sunday. Mom, I may not go to Mass regularly, but I told you the first thing I do every morning is say my prayers and read my devotionals from "The Living Faith" and the "Upper Room." If not for the faith you instilled in me at an early age, I would be lost right now. But, I know you are safely wrapped in the comforting arms of Jesus. I wish you would have let me love on you more, but you just weren't that kind of person. Even as I was struggling to pick you up from the floor, you told me not to "fuss" so much. Mom, I will carry you with me in my heart, soul, and mind for the rest of my life. I will also come and visit you, talk with you, and ask for your guidance on a regular basis. I hope you are with your mother, father, Edwin, Jo, Ceil, and Loretta right now. And yes, I hope dad and Oliver are arguing over who gets the next dance. I will love you forever. As the priests keep saying, our relationship hasn't ended, it's just changed. I love you Mom, Mary
