Dear Mom, 10/04/1927 – 2/16/2018

In celebration of your transition from this life to the next grand adventure; I want to make sure you know what your life has meant through my eyes. I want to express my gratitude for and acknowledgment of the many gifts your life has given me and others.

Yes, we have had our discord; but don’t all mothers and daughters to some degree?

You gifted me with the strength, stamina, unwavering faith and spirit that we both share.

You have led by example an unprejudiced, colorblind life where all people truly are equal and valuable and life must always be lived with dignity, integrity, fairness and grace. Your example of love and loyalty is so increasingly rare; you have been happily married to my father, your one-and-only for 68 years.

You have been an incredible example of a mid-century mom and woman; you returned to school to become a beloved nurse; maintaining a 4.0 while keeping a fine home and dinner on the table every night, not to mention driving me to the various activities and lessons of my childhood.

You have always had a ready smile and kind, thoughtful words for the many friends, acquaintances and strangers who have crossed your path.

You shared your belief in the great importance of family and generously supported my summers spent far away in Canada with my beloved grandparents, cousins, aunts and uncles.

You also shared your love of art, music, nature, education and travel.

You supported my great love of animals and allowed the many treasured hamsters, cats, dogs and horses to share my young life even to the degree that we moved so that I could have my beloved horse at home when I was very young.

You believed in my abilities as a designer and healer. Your support (both financial and emotional) was always available for every hobby, educational pursuit, degree and career goal. Even, and perhaps most importantly, those which were very different from your own.

You truly did raise me in the belief that I could do anything – even though there were those times when “anything” could be rather hair-raising for you.

I know you have had your doubts of the job you have done as a mother. But, always remember that you truly did prepare me to live in the world and thrive in integrity and honor.

Thank you Mom, from the bottom of my heart for sharing this life walk with me. When the music of the bagpipes has called us all home at last; I know we will be together again in love, joy, beauty, happiness, wholeness and peace.

In lieu of flowers; please make a donation in Mary’s name to: Providence Hospice of Seattle Foundation. www.providence.org/hospiceofseattle, 206-320-7188.

Sign our guestbook at: www.islandfuneral.com