Something Great

“There are many ways to describe my mom. Smart, loving, classy, gracious, beautiful, caring, creative. But another word that really resonates for me is genuine. My mom was, and is, the most genuine person I have ever met, and had more integrity than anyone I know on top of it." “When she got done receiving her chemotherapy in the cancer center, she would stick around and strike up conversations with other patients that were receiving the chemotherapy. Most of them didn’t ev

“My mom was a very humble person. I knew she did so much for our family and the community, but I learned even more about what she did after she passed.” “At her funeral, I was surprised to see how many people showed up. There were so many. And even more flowers! Many of those people also sent letters telling us how our mom inspired them and made a large impact on their lives.” “In school, you learn of the six pillars of good character. Respect, caring, responsibility, tru

"Her dying was the last thing I would have expected. She did so well at looking like everything was fine. So when she was actually lying in the hospital bed, I was in denial." “One of the best memories I have with my mom was during one of our warm, summer trips to Medford. Her, Chelsea and I went to Olive Garden to eat lunch, but shortly after we were seated the power went out due to a thunderstorm. All the waiters were going around apologizing to everyone saying that the f

"Her motto was to never give up. A lot of people say that though. But what makes her different, is she lived by it. She displayed her motto with her actions." "She was still going to work even when she was sick. Most of the people at her work could hardly tell she had cancer. She didn't want anyone to know though. She wanted to live and feel like nothing was wrong." "And I think that's what kept me from worrying so much. She was the strongest person I knew. Physically, me

"I never took this necklace off since I got it. But I actually just broke it. I've been wearing it for years to honor my mom. So when I didn't wear it for just a day, I felt empty. I felt lost." "The JB is her initials, the blue is for Colon Cancer awareness, and that's her thumbprint. All these things help me remember her, but it doesn't fill the hole in my heart." “When she was in the hospital, I just kept thinking that she'll get better soon. It always turns around. It

"Once my mom died, all I could do was survive. I couldn't do one more thing. I was an empty shell. And it was like that for nearly two years." "It's been five years since she's passed, and even though it may look like our family is doing fine on the outside, we still feel broken on the inside." This is Joann's oldest daughter, Bre. Currently living in Seattle, I went to discover her side to the loss of Joann. And much like her sister, she's kind, caring, resilient, and tr

“There were so many people, and even more flowers. The building was filled with many loving friends and family who knew my mother. It was obvious the hole that was left when she passed.” “But it was also great to see how many supporters we had out there. It was great to see the love people had for her and what she did for this community.” “Nine days before she passed. She went into her work to celebrate her 25th anniversary with the company. People couldn't believe she st