For Momma–One of Her Favorite, Italian Songs Press the Audio button:
Dean Martin sings, Santa Lucia
https://crepusculum60.files.wordpress.com/2008/11/dean-martin-santa-lucia.jpg
For Momma–My Favorite Italian Song Press the Audio button:
Connie Francis sings, Momma
https://crepusculum60.files.wordpress.com/2008/11/12-mama.jpg
Saturday evening, my little one, left for paradise. For the last few days her wish had been to return to Bennett, Iowa, our hometown where our family members are buried. Now Momma has joined them in a small, country, cemetery on the low, rolling hills of Inland Township. From Momma’s resting place, you look out over peaceful fields of farmland with white houses, white barns and silos. In the coming winter the land will be bathed in a white, velvet blanket of snow and then in the spring it will change to crops of deep emerald green. If you stretch your neck, just a little and look to where the hills stop you will see the flat, rich land where my parents farmed and that was my childhood home.
My mother, originally wasn’t a “farm” girl, but rather was born and raised in an Illinois railroad town. When we moved to the farm just after I was born, Momma had no idea what it meant to be a farm wife. Her first years were difficult to adapt to the new way of life, but when she did she quickly became one of the best farm wives in our community. Momma found that the farm offered her many opportunities that she may not have had if she remained in town.
I will miss her greatly, as I am this moment, but I know she will now be happier in paradise. She will be able to laugh, breath, walk, run or dance. During her last few moments, as I held her, I told her that God will welcome her with open arms and then just down the path a little further, Johnny waits for her just on the other side of the “Rainbow Bridge” at the doors of Paradise. She turned her head and looked at me as she squeezed my sister’s hand. I shall never forget her little face looking up at me. Within a moments time, she left to complete the last little part of her journey accompanied by her angel.
Today, at a grave service, Momma lay for a short time with the casket open. She was at home, I kissed her a final good by and then helped close and secure the top of the casket before the service began. I had chosen a new style casket for America, reminiscent of a European design. It was perfect for a stylish, little lady to rest in for eternity and surrounding her resting place was dozens and dozens of deep red roses. The service was very simple, with a priest officiating at the service. Unlike previous funerals, this time I was a part of it and as the service finished we were invited to participate as Momma was covered with the top of the vault and then lowered into the ground. The simple acts of involvement, although foreign to much of America was incredibly powerful in providing a closure allowing a feeling of peace and quietude.
I share with you a Remembrance of Momma that was at the visitation and service.
Please click on on the Remembrance. It will open in another window and you may double click to read it better.
To My Friends:
I wish to thank all of you, my friends, for the constant support and prayers you have given me during this time. You have no idea how grateful I am. Without your words of encouragement, I would not have been able to walk the final path with Momma tonight.
The following excerpts from you will always stay with me:
To Shadowlands for helping me accept my Mother’s philosophy—
–in the hope that tomorrow is better, if wrank, hold on to Hope.
–It is the major “ingredient” to live this life and all that it brings…your mother is my role model. Tomorrow is much more interesting than today…it has to be because my todays really stink, but I am holding onto my tomorrows…to live them and not just survive… look for it to be…
To Lynda, thank you you were right—
–I believe that you will have what you need to get through the worst of times, just in time. I believe it with all my heart, because I’ve experienced that kind of blessing myself.
–The hope of Heaven, the joy of the anticpated reun
ion and the belief that she will become “Momma” once again are the cornerstones to begin building the life that will come after she is gone from this world.
–I have to tell you that I think it is so special that you are still “Momma’s Boy”. That you have cared for her yourself rather than putting her into a nursing home shows the kind of character that you posses. I’m proud to be your friend, Frank, truly proud.From Dalip—
And, as your friend says, when the Angel comes it will be to lead her to a place where the pain will have disappeared and the light of His Love will be with he
To Ema—
–I pray that the melancholy spell has lifted by now.. though I know that you may always be worrying about your mother, worry is not going to make her better and it could cause you physical/emotional harm. I would place her in God’s hands, Frank — and then just ask him to give you the wisdom that you need in regard to her care as well as strength for the day.
I do hope you get to see more sunshine.To Linda,
I wish for you a different color of days…no more grey…l see you as a vibrant sea blue. Yes, you have made me smile many times. Thank you. Hugs, Linda
And to Dodie who I have not hear from for some time—
There are times through the worst of caring for a loved one, that one feels so numb and so robotic. That is what you need right now. Don’t force ‘thinking’ about things. It will come; all in good time.
The Following, a glimpse over the years of “Mio Piccolo”–My Little One
| Make a Smilebox photobook |
<
Within Crepusculum 
