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June - Mother's Day 2007
June, my past tributes to you have always described your many qualities as
my very special wife, friend and sweetheart. It is only appropriate on this
Mother’s Day that I recognize your equally special and unique qualities as a
mother and a grandmother. It is the lifetime of numerous love gifts you have
made to your children and grandchildren that make you so very special.
All of the children and grandchildren have fond memories of certain times
and events that have impacted their lives over the years. Let me recount
just a few of them.
David and Susan remember how you would take raisins from your own bowl of
cereal and add to theirs so they would have more. “Thanks for the Raisins
Mom!”
Most of the children and grandchildren remember your special breakfast
pancakes always in the shape of a Bear or Mickey Mouse with chocolate chip
eyes, nose and mouth.
All of the children remember the traditional banana splits that you would create for them every Sunday evening.
Julie remembers as a little girl how you would gently wake her in the mornings by softly rubbing her back. In adult times she is grateful for the many years that you helped care for her children so she was able to keep her job. “You were even in the delivery room with me when my first child was born or I would have been alone. I remember the tears in your eyes and you telling me that you wished that you could take the pain instead of me. You always put family and friends before yourself.”
Emily remembers when her Mom had to work, you were always there waiting with a big smile to greet her when she returned home from school.
Erik remembers the time you took him to Red Wing and a Yacht trip with the
Captain who let him steer the boat.
Steven remembers when you took him to visit his grandparents in Wisconsin and then stopped by the famous Al Capone’s hideaway of the “Roaring 20’s”
Kristen remembers when you took her to Milwaukee on her first train ride to
visit an aunt and uncle.
Amanda remembers when she stayed over night and became the ice cream gourmet of her family when you introduced her to Haagen Dazs ice cream.
I think that Gretchen speaks for all the grandchildren when she describes you: “Visiting Grandma June was like going to Disney Land. We always had so much fun together. Laughing and being silly. Grandma would connect the garden hose from the laundry room and fill the wading pool so we would have nice warm water to play in. We would bake cookies, play games, shop, and go to the movies and even Valley Fair. She even went down the water slide with me that emptied into a pool. This was frightening to Grandma because she could not swim. She did everything to make us happy. I loved how she used to tuck me in at night and pray with me at bed time. She would read to me while I was all cozy in bed. She always made me feel very special and very loved. What an incredible lady.”
What a great role model of love and compassion you have always been to both the family and to me. When your own Mother suffered a devastating and paralyzing stroke, you put your own life on hold and traveled 200 miles round trip to Wisconsin every week to spend three days with your Mom visiting and comforting her. You did this faithfully for two years until your Mom mercifully passed away.
You have lived a life of love and compassion with a strong faith in God. You have been an inspiration both to me and the family. As you travel more deeply into the shadows of Alzheimer’s, may God find a way to convey to you our deep love and admiration. If you are not with us on the next Mother’s Day we will never forget that “incredible” mother, and grandmother. Nor will I ever forget the wife who is and always will be the love and light of my life.
Stan
(Published in the Minneapolis Star and Tribune, on Sunday Mother’s Day May 13th, 2007.)
