Momma
Beloveds, I am sad to tell you that Momma passed away on Friday night in her own home. She had made a decision to cease all medication except for pain control and had been ready to go for a few days. She was 92 and 1/2 years old.
After being with family all day, she asked her caregiver for Blue Bell ice cream. She ate some and then told the caregiver that she was full and handed her the bowl. The caregiver took to bowl to the kitchen sink and returned to wash mom’s hands. Mom said, “I’ve had enough.” She closed her eyes and was gone within seconds. It was peaceful. I am so comforted that she got her Blue Bell.
Here’s part of her obituary:
Jean married Paul in April of 1943 in the middle of World War II, and the newlyweds travelled to California while he was serving in the Army Air Corp. After the war, they returned to Houston where both of their families lived. As with many women of her generation, Jean was a full time wife and stay-at-home mom while her children were young. After her children entered high school, Jean started college to become a schoolteacher. She taught children with disabilities. She was very good at it.
Jean took up painting in her later years, and she was very good at that, too. Whether in a lush landscape of the Texas Hill Country or a moody abstract of Galveston Bay, Jean had an eye for the natural beauty of our state. Her many works hang in the homes of her children and grandchildren, where they will always be a source of comfort.
Jean’s first love was travel. She traveled extensively around the country and made exciting trips to Europe, the Holy Land, Mexico, and a cruise to Alaska. She proudly lived independently until her recent short hospital visit. She enjoyed sewing, knitting, and reading. She was active in her neighborhood association and her church.
At her request, there are graveside services for the immediate family only. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to Star of Hope Mission in Houston or any organization helping to reunite children with their refugee parents at the border. “What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works?” Jame 2:14
I am going to miss her down deep hard. I’m going to take a week or so off (unless, of course, something wild happens and I can’t stop myself from hollering) and I deeply thank my friend El Jefe for keeping the doors here open for us.
Bubba and I will be going to the Texas Democratic State Convention in Fort Worth late next week. I need to be around friends and that’s where they will be.
My condolences to you and yours.
1My mother died last year at 86+. She also gave up her medications.
So very sorry to hear this about your precious momma, JJ. She sounds like a wonderful lady, just like you. Thinking of you and your family today.
2May the love that Momma Jean spread in her lifetime, last through the next 92 generations.
3My deepest condolences to you and your family and friends. Clearly we have lost a great Texan who made sure this was a better place now that she has done her work. I greatly appreciated her requesting support for those who have been separated from their families. I know you will find comfort among your loved ones.
4Quite an example to live up to. And a graceful way to go.
5Sorry for your loss. Sounds like your Momma was the very definition of “a long life, well-lived,” and I hope that gives you comfort.
6I am so sorry for your loss. She sounds like a wonderful lady. Peace.
7So sorry for your loss Miss Juanita. She sounds so much like my own Mama who is just hanging on at 96. I hope her end is as peaceful and blessed.
As my Mama said when her own “Ma” died, I’ve lost my anchor. I’m sure you feel the same. Peace to you.
8So very sad to read of your momma’s passing. What a good life she led, not to mention doing so well with you and your siblings. How wonderful y’all got to have her for so long. In respectful memoriam I promise I will still never curse in the shop. And so tickled she got to enjoy that last bowl of Blue Bell!
9Sorry for your loss, but thank you for the touching story. I hope to be as brave when I’ve “had enough”. Take care.
10Damn! Another good one gone! I am sure those of us who frequent the WMDBS will keep her memory alive by making sure our comments are “momma safe.”
11So deeply sorry for your loss. Some people make the world better for having lived; some make it better for having died. Surely, your Momma is in the first group. And that’s a comfort, too.
12My eye infection prevents me from shedding the tears I feel at your loss, JJ. My own beloved Canadian grandmother passed away in her 100th year with family around her. My own late husband also gave up on the meds in the end and passed away asleep. The last thing he felt from me was my hand in his. Now older and wiser, I send to you this blessing:
13May God’s light encircle you, God’s love enfold you, God’s peace encourage you, and God’s presence enrich you.
Peace and love.
I’m so sorry for your loss. My mom’s been gone for a while and I don’t think I’ll ever stop missing her.
14I hope my end is as peaceful and blessed, and includes Blue Bell ice cream.
You take good care of yourself, you hear?
She produced a great daughter.
15In honor of Momma, we’re keeping the shop open for all of our patrons to visit, but we’re not doing any more appointments for today. We’ll start back bright and early tomorrow. In the meantime, keep that love coming.
16I am so sorry for your loss. I pray that the love of those around you provide comfort to get you through the days ahead. My most sincere condolences.
17Another nice tribute to this remarkable woman would be for everyone to go out and work hard to register lots of voters who will vote for bunches of Democrats in November.
18A wonderful tribute to a life well lived. We never get over losing our mothers but we do get through it. My condolences to you and your family.
19I’m very sorry for your loss. Your mom was both good and a force for good in the world. She will be missed.
20Godspeed Momma.
21My deepest condolences for your great loss. I hope you find peace in your heart soon. I know Love lives there now.
22I’m so very sorry, but so glad she got the ice cream, and especially glad it was Blue Bell. Donation to Star of Hope on the way.
23My sincere condolences, never truly gone when always remembered.
24Momma was special to all of us and kept us polite with our comments and language very nicely. She sounded like a wonderful woman, and I can only imagine how much she will be missed.
25I was lucky to be able to get back to Indiana and be there a few hours before Mom died in the hospital at 2 am and say goodbye and that I loved her. I’m glad you had your Momma as long as you had.
26Peace!
I never realized that there was a real live Momma. I hope she took our saltier comments in stride.
She sounds like a wonderful woman, and she certainly had a wonderful daughter. Every day, you honor her with your own acts and accomplishments. No parent could ask for more. My sincere condolences.
27Oh, I’m so sorry! All possible condolences and wishes for good memories to you and your family. Jean sounds like a good woman who lived a fine, useful, rewarding life, and I will take her as an inspiration for the rest of mine. Take care of yourself, please.
28I lost my own Mama in March at age 94, and I was struck by all the parallels between them, like going back to college after all the kids were in school, becoming a teacher, and all the rest. I think it’s wonderful that Momma had her ice cream. My condolences to you, and wishes for all the best.
29My heartfelt condolences. Losing our parents tends to make us feel a bit untethered, but cherish your memories. She must have been quite a woman to have raised such a spunky daughter!
30My condolences, Susan.
31Best wishes to you and yours.
I am very sorry for your loss. She sounds like a wonderful woman.
32Sorry for your loss, but thank you for sharing your Mom with us…
33I’m very sorry for your loss of your Momma, Susan. My mother died two years ago at 96, and she married Dad during the war while he was in the Army Air Corps, so she and your Momma would have had some things to talk about. Sounds like a grand lady had a good life and a good death.
Now remember something about her that makes you smile– I’m sure there are a lot of those good memories. The times when she was old and frail are fresh in your mind. Don’t forget those times, but push them to one side with memories of her being younger and stronger so those “old lady” memories don’t dominate you. Remember times when you laughed together, whenever they were.
34You are blessed to have such a wonderful, strong, loving mother. Mine passed many years ago and I still talk to her at night sometimes. I wish she could have stayed longer, but her love is everlasting and I continue to feel it. You will too. Enjoy all your great memories while shedding a tear or two. Your Mom is gone but never forgotten. She will continue to make you smile.
35What a gentle death! To have you all around her, to be at peace and to have one last sweet taste of this life, may we all be so blessed.
36Sonora is right, we never do get over the loss of our parents. At least once a day, something will happen that makes me think of them and say a quick prayer. All blessings to you and your family, J.J.
She will live on in you. You’ll see her face when you look in the mirror and you’ll hear her words coming out of your mouth. And it will always make you smile.
37So sorry to hear this. Glad she went on her own terms. My grandma just did the same. All our condolences.
38+1 to so many posts before mine. The salon has good moments!
Susan, So sorry for your loss. I’m sure you will find strength and joy in your good memories of Momma’s life well-lived.
39Oh, JJ, I am so sorry to hear that.
40You have my deepest sympathy for your loss.
My condolences to all.
*virtual hugs* from the UK.
I am closer in age to Momma than to you,and in the name of all old mommas let me assure you that she was sorry to leave you, but she knew how to do it. I hope I can do that well when my time comes.
41My condolences, may you find comfort in the memories and in the pride she had for you.
42Love, hugs, and condolences to you and your family, Susan. Your beautiful matriarch Momma Jean was an example of love, kindness and reason to so many of us. Donations to the Star of Hope Mission in Houston are a perfect way to celebrate her life. Thank you!
What Would Momma Want (WWMW) is our promise to her to stop and think WWMW before submitting comments. And, if following her example seems difficult at times, she left us with her sweet example to pause and enjoy a bowl of ice cream as she would want us to do. Thank you, Momma.
43A lovely tribute. I suspect she would be pleased. Do not fear, she will always be in your heart and your head. Sounds like as peaceful an exit as one could hope for.
Take the time you need.
44So sorry you lost Momma. She sounds like a great lady who raised a great daughter. You will be in my thoughts today.
45I’m so sorry to hear of your loss. My heart is with you.
46So sorry to hear of this as Momma was always a way to keep some civility here. As Jane & PKM would remind us, this would be a fitting tribute to her if we always remembered WWMW.
– sharon
47So sad to hear about the loss of Momma, she sounds like an incredible woman. Please accept my sincere sympathy for your loss.
48I’m so sorry for your loss. But it sounds like you and your family were incredibly fortunate to have had such an amazing woman in your lives for so long. Take all the time you need. And keep in mind that Momma had to have been incredibly proud of you and the work you do.
49Susan, that is a truly lovely description of a warm and loving human being. I’m so very sorry to hear of her passing, and will hold you and your family in my prayers. I hope Momma knew what a good job she did raising you all, and that she took all the love she created in this world on to the next, where it will surely rain down on us all again one day.
50