My Hero!~

She was born on December 17, 1942.  She was the middle child.  She had an older brother and a younger sister.  She was the one who was left in charge of things when her Mom, my Nana, had to go off to work in the sewing room.  She had to grow up fast.  She had an alcoholic father who was also a drifter.  He came in and out of their lives as he pleased.  She bore a huge responsibility on her slender shoulders from an early age.

She met and married the love of her life, my father, at the tender age of 15.  The road was rocky sometimes, but she taught me what it means to live up to your marriage vows, as I saw her go through all of it with my Dad, for richer, for poorer, in sickness, in health, for better, for worse, until death parted them just shy of their 33rd anniversary.  I was born on August 2, 1959, my sister, August 3, 1961, and my brother, August 21, 1963.  On May 3, 1976, she had a fourth child, another son who was the joy of all of our lives.

She lost him tragically to suicide on June 18, 1999 and my father, her husband of 33 years to a heart attack, May 11, 1991.  She has lost her mother, father, sister, and brother during her lifetime.  Although she has known a lot of sorrow,  she has also known a lot of happiness.

After my father's death, she became involved with my stepfather, Bill, whom I love dearly.  I am glad that she has someone to keep her company in her golden years, as she so deserves it.  They take tender loving care of each other.

To me, my Mom is like the energizer bunny, she takes a lickin' and keeps on tickin.'  She is responsible, for the most part, for the strong values that I have.  I know I have not always lived up to what she taught me, sometimes I had to learn the hard way, but one thing is for sure, I never had to go back and relearn those hard lessons, and in the long run, the seeds she planted took hold in me and are largely responsible for who I am today.  She was a wonderful role model as a mother, which in turn has made me a good mother to my two children, and I hope I have been as successful instilling in them the values that she taught me.

I just wanted to say thanks, Mom, and I love you more than words can say.

Your loving, devoted daughter,

Susan