my mom passed away on Wed. June 6th

8-guage · 06-09-2007, 01:51 PM

My mom passed away on Wed. June 6th. She would have been 85 on June 23rd.
8 of her Her 9 children(I am the 9th) and about 10 of her 49 grand and great grand children and in-laws were touching her and I was saying to her that we were all doing well, getting along and that it was ok to let go, as she passed.
It was hard to watch but, it was sure a beautiful way for her to go.

For once, we were all there for HER instead of her there for us.
I chose to announce this here on I-Fish because one of the first threads I read was about someones mom dying and it made me tear up and touched me deeply.

A little about my mom, Betty Louise Burns:
She was a bit of a shy person but not around her family.
We were always a very, very poor family yet we never lacked food or clothing and especially love. She died with nothing of value and no life insurance(no one would insure her.)
Our dad never worked, he was not a nice guy at all to us and he was even worse to our mom. She divorced my dad in 1973 and she really bloomed after that and never married again.

She worked in a dry cleaners for many years and also took care of elderly people for most of her life and didn't quit working until she was 77.
My mom experienced a tremendous amount of humility in her life and had never received any love from her own mother, though she took care of her mom when she was old and dying and did it with love and compassion.
She told a story about how she once took my two oldest siblings to church and the preacher approached her and asked how she could bring her children to church in such old clothing (though they were always clean and pressed. My mom was a fanatic about cleanliness.) She left and never again took her children to church but, held on to her strong belief in God and serving others and always loved the 23 psalm which we recited to her before she passed.
She had 4 still-borns before she had us 9 children and she raised many of her grand and great grand children, when brothers and sisters were having problems which seemed to never end. And even though it aggravated many of us that weren't having problems, she always did it for with LOTS of joy and without hesitation. Even though we were often uncomfortable with her doing so much for others, never was she resentful or angry about helping those who she could help in some way, including strangers. We've had strangers stop by my moms house when family visited her, asking for her and then break out crying, explaining that she helped them in some way. Many of these were rough, scraggly looking big men.
She also had cancer twice, had one breast removed, one kidney removed, gall bladder removed, had a painful spine problem and had 3/4 of her stomach removed and stapled back together.
Through all this and much more, she was forever filled with joy, always singing, whistling, dancing, laughing and smiling.
She always taught us to forgive others, Love our enemies, be long suffering, to smile, to be happy, and kind to ALL people, no matter what they looked or smelled like.

I am sad and I miss her but, I'm happy for her too.

We are told to leave the earth a better place because we were here and this is definitely a much better world because of Betty Louise Burns.

I'm a changed man after this whole experience and I will work at being a much better human being for the rest of my life.

Thank you to all the good people that make up I-Fish.
Michael

STGRule · 06-09-2007, 01:57 PM

So sorry for your loss. Your Mom sounds like a wonderful person.

BCF · 06-09-2007, 02:02 PM

Thank you, and thanks to your Mom for being what I call an everyday hero.

I know what you are going thru and I wish you peace and comfort and a speedy return to feeling like life is normal again.

Beautiful description of your Mom and her life. You should be proud.

Peace to you and all your family,

Robin

ampersat · 06-09-2007, 02:29 PM

I'm truly at a loss for words. Your words have said it all.

wilsonriverfisher · 06-09-2007, 02:31 PM

Im sorry for you loss as well I really feel for you

Don Becker · 06-09-2007, 02:37 PM

Thanks for sharing. Obviously, she was an amazing lady. I'm also sorry for your loss.

Don

Jennie@ifish · 06-09-2007, 02:41 PM

I am so sorry for your loss.... but somehow even more, I am so glad that you had her for so many years. She sounds just wonderful! I'm so glad that she had you.

We all get to know a piece of her by hearing your words echo her creation... right here on ifish! I'm thankful for your Mother.

She has shared a piece of herself, right here.

I know how it is to lose your Mother. The world is just not the same. Hang in there. Hugs. Big hugs.

No one loves us like our Mother does.

Jen

PapaHog · 06-09-2007, 02:43 PM

I am indeed sorry about your loss. I will say prayers for you and your family.

anglingaddict · 06-09-2007, 02:47 PM

I'm sorry for your family's loss and grief with your Mom's passing.
I'm happy though to see that after everything your mother went through in life, she was obviously VERY successful in raising her children! It shows in the words you have written about her here! Thank you for sharing that glimpse of your Mother's life with us. She sounds like a wonderful person and the world would be a much better place if there were more like her!

DAB · 06-09-2007, 03:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jennie@ifish

I am so sorry for your loss.... but somehow even more, I am so glad that you had her for so many years. She sounds just wonderful! I'm so glad that she had you.

We all get to know a piece of her by hearing your words echo her creation... right here on ifish! I'm thankful for your Mother.

She has shared a piece of herself, right here.

I know how it is to lose your Mother. The world is just not the same. Hang in there. Hugs. Big hugs.

No one loves us like our Mother does.

Jen

Well said, So sorry for your loss, May the good Lord comfort you all in these trying times.

Please pass another box of kleenex's please.

DAB

Misguided · 06-09-2007, 03:10 PM

Am sorry for your loss, it is not an easy thing to watch a loved one pass as I can attest to that as my mother passed 2 years ago to the day.
They are in a better place now and look in on you always, I can feel it.

SeaSparrow · 06-09-2007, 04:50 PM

What a great tribute you wrote about your wonderful mother. She sounds like a saint! Also great you could all be there for her at the end. Went through a similar death of my mom 6 months ago with our family all around her. I learned that we don't get over the loss but learn to live with it and the memories of her live on forever. Hugs to you and your family and always be proud of who brought you into this world.

chrome obsession · 06-09-2007, 04:56 PM

Very Very sorry for your loss, it is very tuff, I KNOW!!! my stepfather just passed on may 30th and it has been one of the most difficult things I have ever delt with.... Again, sorry for your loss and I will say a prayer for you and your family....

luckyr · 06-09-2007, 05:51 PM

Jackie Kennedy once said "If you bungle raising your children, I don't think whatever else you do matters very much." Sounds like your mother knew what was important also.

RogueFishr · 06-09-2007, 06:24 PM

I am sorry for your loss. Thanks for sharing the stories about your mom. I think the world needs more people like Betty Louise Burns. She is in a better place now for sure.

RF

Tilla · 06-09-2007, 06:40 PM

Thanks for taking the time to share.

julezilla · 06-09-2007, 07:31 PM

I'm so sorry for your loss. Thanks for telling us about your mom, she sounds like a wonderful woman.

SLEDDER · 06-09-2007, 08:21 PM

:frown:

Hell-B · 06-09-2007, 08:41 PM

Well Said

Snapset · 06-09-2007, 08:54 PM

A Beautiful euluogy to a true Saint. I am sorry for your loss and envious of her reward.

Thumper · 06-09-2007, 09:39 PM

A marvelous post.

8-guage · 06-10-2007, 03:27 PM

Thank you ALL so much for your kind and beautiful words.
I can't tell you how much reading your responses warms my heart and it really does help to ease the pain some.
PapaHog, I felt deep sadness when I read of your loss some time back and I ponder it often. I also wonder how you move on.
Thank you Jennie and I-Fish and many, many Blessings to you all!

jokester · 06-10-2007, 03:31 PM

Sorry to hear about your mother's passing

My thoughts and prayers go out to you and your family...

-jokester

HOGGEMIN · 06-10-2007, 07:37 PM

Sorry to hear of your loss I too have l;ost my mother so I know how you feel. I hope you do well during this time of sorrow...................

EastCreek · 06-10-2007, 08:11 PM

You learn a lot, when you lose a gem. Peace. EC

ET · 06-11-2007, 12:40 AM

Wow....

My elderly parents share some of the experiences you describe and it humbles me to know just how easy my life has been because of their sacrifices.

Thank you for sharing this difficult time.