The morning of April 12, 2000 in Port Arthur, Texas was like no other. In a week where it had been sunny most of the time, this day poured with rain. The sky was filled with rain clouds all of which made it look like a depressing day. As the rain kept pouring cats and dogs, a baby wailed and wailed at a local hospital. I had just recently been born and was taken away by the doctors. After I was checked for any diseases and defects, the doctors handed me to my dad who carried me in his strong, firm arms. However, I cried incessantly until I was placed in the hands of one special person. When I saw my mother, I stopped crying and admired her beauty. Her glowing brown eyes complimented her curly black hair and tan skin. However, her protective aura and gentle arms gave me a comforting feeling. From that day on I realized that this special person would be by my side when I needed her in life. Ever since I was a little kid, I sensed that my mother would be with me during hard times. At the age of 2, my family and I had a devastating …show more content…
On June 6, 2012, my best friend was defeated by the cruel opponent known as cancer. It was a long period of mourning for many of his loved ones, however, I was not able to feel great sadness. It was painful for me not to feel emotions which caused me to begin to feel isolated. That is when I heard the magic words, "Mijo I am here for you," from her. My mother was the only one to realize my anguish and the inner conflicts I had. The support and warmth that emitted from her words allowed me to express what I felt inside. She triggered the "tripwire" that I needed in order to understand the feelings I had accumulated. Her total comprehension and attention gave me hope that I would one day see my friend again. Moreover, I was comforted by the thoughts that I had a shoulder on which I could bawl out my emotions someday. In a time of solitude, my mother provided the company I
On behalf of my entire family, I want to thank all of you for your compassion and for being present here today. For those of you who don't know me, my name is Mauri-Lynne, and I'm Lionel's daughter. Dad was devoted to every one of you. We all hope that you'll share your memories of him with us, if not today then in the weeks and months to come.
I stand before you today to pay my last respects, and to say my final goodbyes, to my father Harry.
On behalf of my family, I want to thank you all for joining us here today to celebrate John’s long and amazingly fruitful life—a life of love extended, commitments kept, and faith observed.
Seventeen years ago, I came bounding into a world of love and laughter. I was the first child, the first grandchild, the first niece, and the primary focus of my entire extended family. Although they were not married, my parents were young and energetic and had every good intention for their new baby girl. I grew up with opportunities for intellectual and spiritual growth, secure in the knowledge that I was loved, free from fear, and confident that my world was close to perfect. And I was the center of a world that had meaning only in terms of its effect on me-- what I could see from a height of three feet and what I could comprehend with the intellect and emotions of a child. This state of innocence persisted through my early teens, but changed dramatically in the spring of my sophomore year of high school. My beloved father was dying of AIDS.
It is hard for me to believe she’s gone, my primary influence, sustainer, supporter and wisest counselor has left me physically. Mother was such an active participant in this world right to her very last breath. I am so grateful to have been with her on her last day. At his point she was struggling to form words and get them out, but her mind was alert, caring and compassionate. She was still worried about me, a mother to the end.
I can still remember that small enclosed, claustrophobic room containing two armed chairs and an old, brown, paisley print couch my dad and I were sitting on when he told me. “The doctors said there was little to no chance that your mother is going to make it through this surgery.” Distressed, I didn’t know what to think; I could hardly comprehend those words. And now I was supposed to just say goodbye? As I exited that small room, my father directed me down the hospital hallway where I saw my mother in the hospital bed. She was unconscious with tubes entering her throat and nose keeping her alive. I embraced her immobile body for what felt like forever and told her “I love you” for what I believed was the last time. I thought of how horrific it was seeing my mother that way, how close we were, how my life was going to be without her, and how my little sisters were clueless about what was going on. After saying my farewells, I was brought downstairs to the hospital’s coffee shop where a million things were running
I, of course, knew my mother as a mother. As I have reached adulthood and become a mother myself, I have also known her as a friend. My mom shared much of herself with me, and I saw sides of my mother as she struggled with her cancer that I had never seen before, especially her strong belief in positive thinking and the importance of quality of life. I was privileged to know so many facets of my mother, but certainly I did not know all. There were parts of her life that I didn’t see, relationships that I didn’t know about. Last night, at the wake, so many stories were told to me about my mom’s strength, courage, humor, kindness, her quietness, her loyalty as a friend. It was so special to hear of these things that my mom said and did, to know some of these other parts of her life. I hope that her friends and family will continue to share these stories with me and with each other so we can continue to know and remember my mom.
Before I begin I would like to thank all of you here on behalf of my mother, my brother and myself, for your efforts large and small to be here today, to help us mark my fathers passing.
I want to start by congratulating Alisha and John, and thanking all of you for coming here to celebrate a week of memories. Alisha, I want to say how beautiful you look today and to tell you that this has truly been a special day for me. Thank you for giving true meaning to the word sister and for sharing the last 19 years with me. When I think back on our childhood, I have nothing but fond memories with you. Growing up with a sister 8 years older wasnt a bad thing especially when her hot looking girlfriends came over.
I hope you are doing well. I am extremely family oriented, and many people my age like to hang out with friends and go out. However, I have always enjoyed spending time with my family in my free time. Recently within the last five months, I have acquired a deep desire and interest to get married. At this point in my life, I feel that I am really ready to get married.
“Good morning buddy!” That's the first thing I hear everyday and it makes me know that the day will be a good day also that he is there to help me through it plus he always will be. My dad means everything to me and he is one of the only people that I know I can trust. He is the person that has always been there for me and has always fought for me. My mom is amazing too, but she lies to me too much and she won’t ever stop.
I have always tried to be a model for you of what it is to be a good wife. I was Married for 32 years. I would like to give you some advice and I hope you will take it to heart. It comes from deep inside my soul.
She never hurt another soul, nobody as kind as she. Then she left me that night, no word of good bye or any wave, or hug. Nights after that I cry myself to sleep, the anguish so harsh, the wound etched so deep. I thought my heart could never feel the love that I felt for my mother. Days go by and I learn to cope with life without her loving presence, her words so sweet and wise. Her spirit never dwarfed by the agony that plagued her. I am sure she never wanted to leave me, yet another call beckoned her. My heart cracked and slowly died when she left, still so much distress in my heart. Then you came into my life; you brightened the darkest parts of my soul. You shared with me your love and your heart.
Dad was my rock. He was always there or just a phone call away. He was the funniest man I knew, he could make you smile just by him walking into the room. But with all his fun did come a serious side of him. He was a stern and disciplined man, but he could never resist the opportunity to have a little fun here and there.
On the day my father died, I remember walking home from school with my cousin on a November fall day, feeling the falling leaves dropping off the trees, hitting my cold bare face. Walking into the house, I could feel the tension and knew that something had happened by the look on my grandmother’s face. As I started to head to the refrigerator, my mother told me to come, and she said that we were going to take a trip to the hospital.