Dear Mom,

This is about 08 October 2007, Monday. I woke up a little after 6AM to give you your meds, tried to wake you up and to my surprise you opened your eyes! It has been a few days since you could open them...You looked straight at me and you lifted your left hand towards your mouth to tell me "no more". I recall waking Manang Nelly so you could see her too. Right then, I knew you were losing the fight-cancer was winning. I can still picture and see the last time your eyes were alive.

Manang Nelly summoned me to wake Jack and Mary Ann...We surrounded you and we prayed the Holy Rosary with you. During the day we called friends and families. You have alot of friends...They came by to say goodbye.

Darryl came by with the kids around noon. Shawn, Miana gave you a hug and a kiss, I do not remember if I let Kade kiss you.

You were breathing heavily and it hurts to see you like that. We all talked to you and we prayed the Holy Rosary around you. Seeing you like that was difficult for everyone. You were so bubbly and here you are gasping for air. Your breathing was shallow and heavy. It was so sad to see you like that. We all keep telling you, "adto na lang Mom, para di ka maglisud". When you were at the hospital, I remembered what you said," Dili unta ko pa antuson sa Ginoo". The Lord answered your prayers, he did not let you suffer.

Mom, did you know that you died on Jackie's birthday? Now, you made sure we won't forget about you :)

At 3:10PM, you took your last breath. Mary Ann and Mavies, your caretaker, was praying next to you, she was so nice. Such an angel. She had a button pin that said,"praise the Lord". Isn't it weird? And you always say that praise.

Late that night the guys from the funeral parlor took you away. Jack zipped you up and kissed you for the last time...It was very painful. I hope you have no more pains and no more worries...
I think about you everyday, Mom.

Love, Jale

Dear Mom,

Today is your special day!!! And I wanted you to know that I was thinkin’ about you, and missing you, as I do every day. But especially today. It’s always such a hard day to get through, as I have so many fond memories of Mother’s Days past, when the kids were small, and we would all get together. That was always so much fun! And today, no one is here to share this day with, and it makes me so sad. Missy called, and Charlie tried, and Scott was wonderful and made a special effort to let me know that the doggies all wished me a happy day! So that was really nice. But Mom, I wanted you to know that I miss you every single day, and wish you were still here to spend this day with. And I wish you were here for me to call, and come see. I still have a really hard time going to the store around Mother’s Day, because they have those pretty little orchid corsages that I would always get for you…which I have bought just to set on the table, pretending that you were here. But, it’s just not the same. So, I’m glad that I can write you this letter, and hope that you know how much I love you for the wonderful mom that you always were to me. I know it must have been so difficult having one last daughter to raise long after all the rest were gone. But you did a really great job of it! And I can only hope that I am half the mom that you were. You were very strong, and smart and you could do anything. Nothing ever seemed to get you down. And I always looked up to you. I only wish that we could have had more time together…I really wasn’t ready for you to go. But, that’s kind of selfish, as I know you had many difficult times, and your health was becoming a real problem. But, I needed you, and I guess I’ll always need you, so really there never would have been a good time for you to go. So for today mom, just know how much I love you and miss you, and hope that you get my message, cuz I mean it from the bottom of my heart.

Love you, Mom

Lisa

Happy Mother's Day Ma, and Pop, thanks for the fireworks show last night, you know why I broke down, it's been eight years to the date and it seems like such a short time ago when we were building the el toro or sailing by the ships in the estuary. I think they were the happiest times we spent together. Watch for the christening of the boat, we'll celebrate with your favorite, extra dry Kobel. A little for you, a little for Neptune, and some for the boat. Apparently you approve of the new boat...you of course saw you name on each hulls side. Hopefully you'll continue to bring us home to the safe harbor with your lighthouse in place. And Ma, wish we could have had another wonderful dinner in Monterey...probably would have gone to Pebble Beach again, maybe Roy's this time. I miss you both and thanks for continuing to make life good for me and r.

Happy Mother's Day,

Mom,
I hope you are having a wonderful day in your new home.We missed spending the day with you.This being our first without.Please let both Helen and Mary know that are now and soon to be great-grandmothers.Visiting your grave yesterday and left some pink roses for you and Dad.Last night both you and Dad came to me in two different dreams.It was a surprise to hear and see both of you.
I took a look at the old house on Friday.They have removed the overhang on the patio,enlarged the driveway and taken out the tree in front.I can still remember so many times in that house and swimming in the pool.I wished Maria could have learned to swim there.
Seeing so many reminders everywhere about Mother's Day only reminds me of our last one together.You could hardly feed yourself and I helped you thinking the whole time "why" you had always been so independent your whole life.
I know you must be in a better place and surrounded by people you care for.Till the next time.
Your
Son

Dear Mom.

Well it's Ky Derby Day and I'm going to the Ky Derby party and see
all my Ky friends. I sure miss you and wish you were here with me,
I'll toast you a mint juilep today. Dad is still hanging in there but he
misses you so. Please come to me in my dreams. The house is
sold to Jake Benassi, it will not be the same with out you, but at
least it will be a Benassi in there. I love you so much.

Your daughter,

Janice