Memories of Mom
By Sonia Duggan
As Mother’s Day approaches, we gather to honor the enduring spirit of maternal love and the profound impact it leaves behind. In this collection of ‘Memories of Mom’ submitted by readers, we pay tribute to the cherished women who have passed on, yet whose presence lingers in the laughter, the lessons, and the love they bestowed upon us.
Gift of adventure
In high school, my best friend Susie and her family were going on a 5-week trip to Guatemala, and they invited me to join them. I’d never been on a plane, let alone to a foreign country.
Coming from a lower middle-class family of eight I didn’t even consider I could possibly go. I told my mom about it, and she said “Charlene, there is no way I am going to let you pass up an opportunity like that! It’s an adventure of a lifetime! You have to go! I’ll pay for it with my rainy-day fund.”
It was at that moment I realized that Mom had an adventurous side.
Mom helped me get my passport, book my flight and bought me a travel book about Guatemala. My trip was amazing and was an adventure I will never forget, nor will I ever forget Mom made it possible for me.
I arrived at the airport upon my return dressed in a hand-woven Guatemalan skirt, with a clay pot in a draw-sting rope bag over my shoulder carrying a basket full of colorful paper flowers. My Mom started laughing and said, “I sent off my very American daughter and here she is looking like a peddler at a Guatemalan market!” We laughed about that for many years.
Travel and adventure have been a big part of my life since. For that I will always be grateful.
Charlene L. shared this memory of her mom, Agnes
The Great Nana
My mom always called herself “The Great Nana” and she truly was. She had four grandchildren between my sister and I and considered all of the kid’s friends her own too. Once, while watching my two boys she was on the ground wrestling with them when the pizza delivery guy knocked on the door. She thought it was my father and yelled “help, help!” The pizza guy slowly opened the door and asked if she was OK and then saw my three and four- year -old boys on the ground tackling her. Luckily, she was laughing so he didn’t call the police and the boys easily let her up for a slice of pizza!
Karen M. shared this memory of her mom, Marie
Showbiz memories
My wonderful mother raised two redheaded girls in Brooklyn, New York. She did a lot of volunteer work and she was very big in Junior League. Daddy was a TV producer and was employed by a large advertising agency and mother would often take me into Manhattan to see the taping of some of his shows, the “Howdy Doody Show” and the detective show, “Boston Blackie,” starring Chester Morris. I also went to see the Milton Berle show, The Honeymooners, Sid Caesar. Daddy would send the studio car to pick us up and wearing our best clothes and we would happily jump in. These were great times. I absolutely loved them. And I appeared on Howdy Doody TV as a member of the peanut gallery. My mother’s love for musical theater was infectious and it stayed with me forever. My colleges were chosen because of their theater arts programs and my first two jobs were in the entertainment business. Thank you, Mother, for leading me on this magical path.
Patty M. shared this memory of her mom, Joan.
War bride
Mara Kipling, the youngest of three daughters of Russian immigrants, was 15 when Germany attacked England in 1940. The family spent the next five years in wartime conditions including strict rationing and frequent bombings. Mara attended art school and volunteered nights as an air raid warden in her village of Teddington. When the war ended, Mara immigrated to America with her new husband, a U.S. Army Air Force officer. They settled in Florida and then Cuba, where he served as an airline executive. They had a son and the family later lived in Westchester County, N.Y., the Miami, Fla., area, Springfield, Mo., and Holland, Mich. Mara loved reading and amassed a library of hardcover novels while exercising her artistic talent by painting, embroidering and gardening so the yard was always resplendent with roses or carpeted with bright spring flowers. She met every challenge with stoic resolve, trusting in God and saying, “I lived through the War.” She doted on her grandchildren and waited anxiously for our summer visits even though she used a wheelchair and was under nursing care until she left us. I miss you, Mom. I hope you’re proud of how your family has grown.
Bob W. shared this memory of his mom, Mara
Years of Christmas memories
Growing up in the 40s and 50s, my mother was raised without a lot of love and affection and was very poor. Her mother abandoned her as a young child, leaving mom and her older siblings to fend for themselves. The state placed the older children in homes, and eventually my mom’s grandmother was allowed to take her in and raise her. Years later, when my mom married my dad, she got a loving husband with big dreams who was raised in a very large, loving family.
Her upbringing heavily influenced her role as a mother. She wanted a different life for me and my siblings, so she made sure that we had special birthday celebrations and over-the-top Christmases. She started traditions, such as gifting us a special Christmas ornament, decorated multiple Christmas trees, baked special Christmas rolls and bread that she would give to neighbors, and made sure those who had no place to go were invited to dinner.
Now looking back at photos of holidays, trips, and other events, I’m so thankful for mom and dad and the memories we shared.
Carrie D. shared this memory of her mom, Lee
Unwavering love & compassion
My mom was an incredibly strong and independent woman, albeit a bit stubborn. In a time when young, single working mothers of three were rare and childcare options were scarce, she managed to juggle the demands of raising us on an extremely modest income. Despite the challenges, she always kept an open heart and home for family members in need, especially the children. Whatever was needed, we made room. Even when her own children were grown and she could have taken it easier, my mom didn’t hesitate to extend her love and care to others. When her two young teenage nephews needed family, she took them in without hesitation. Once again, she dedicated herself to raising young boys into adulthood, shaping their futures with her unwavering support.
Though each of us follows a different path in life, my mom stood by through it all. One nephew pursued a career in the military and banking, while the other faced numerous challenges and struggled to overcome them. Through it all, my mom never wavered in her support. She cared for him, visited him while he was incarcerated, and showed him unwavering love and compassion. He has taken a new more constructive path in life, works full time, and mentors’ young men.
My mom’s support has multiplied through us, the recipients of her care. Her actions spoke volumes about her character and depth of her compassion.
To me, my mom embodied the essence of Matthew 25:35-36. She fed the hungry, gave drink to the thirsty, welcomed strangers into her home, clothed the needy, cared for the sick, and visited those in prison. Her legacy of love and kindness continues to inspire me every day.
Debra E. shared this story of her mom, Carol
Avid reader
Mom loved to read. She never was without a book (or two). Her “To Be Read” pile was beside her chair, but also in a bookcase. She read books everywhere, her chair, the beach, the car and on her back patio.
She loved to pass on books for us to read or turn us on to a new author. She passed on her love of books to my sister & me and even got my dad reading for pleasure.
She would read many genres, except fantasy or science fiction. She loved her mysteries and crime investigations and sometimes would stay up too late so she could finish “a good part.”
Mom read so many books and so quickly, that she couldn’t always remember if she had read a book by the title, so she would pencil a circle around the page number 100 so she could flip to that page and see her “tag.” She once gave a book to a friend to read and when the friend got to page 100, she was surprised to see that someone had circled the number because it happened to be a particularly saucy section. She ended up keeping a spreadsheet of all her books read by author/title. It was pages long!
She loved libraries in the towns she lived in, and the librarians knew her by name. They even put books aside they thought she would like. At her last place she lived, there was a woman that would deliver her a stack of books weekly. Mom had a running list at the library of “wanted” books and was excited to see what her next reads would be.
When Mom passed, we asked that if people wanted to, they could buy a book in her name at their local library. Many people did and we were sent a note from the library saying anytime we wanted they had a list of those books if we wanted to visit.
Peggy D. shared this story of her mom, Marie
Hard work, determination and love
When I think about my mom, I remember how strong, loving and caring she was to her family, friends and strangers. She treated her sons-in-law as they were her own biological sons. In her eyes there were no “in-laws.”
She had to overcome many illnesses throughout her life, but she never gave up. There were many times she was very sick, but she made sure her family needs were always met. I watched as she l took care of her aging mother and mother-in-law with no complaints. She would always tell us that everything will be okay and not to worry for God is in control.
When she was young, she never completed high school and she said she wanted to go back and get her high school diploma. It was after all her children were out of the house that she accomplished her goal. She showed us that with hard work and determination you can achieve your goals. We were so proud of her.
She made Christmas or birthdays very special. She was thrilled to have all her family home for the holidays or special occasions. On birthdays, she would make the “guest of honor” their special feast and make them feel as if they were a king or queen.
Growing up she always taught us to be kind to people and she led by example. On several occasions I would see her go out of her way to help someone that was struggling opening a door or getting something off the shelf at the store. She would always be one of the first to volunteer for helping someone in need. She always had a kind, sweet spirit about her. She left a great impact on my life. I was blessed to have her as my mom.
Lajuana F. shared this story of her mom, Bobbie
Always room for more
My mother has been gone for 35 years and my memories are more the “current” ones.
She was always cooking, making pies and bread. When making bread, Mom always made sure she left some dough so she could make us fried dough. When living in Massachusetts she and Dad went out every Friday night with their friends, the Russells, for dinner — for lobster if they could. In New Hampshire, it was the Wilton’s who came to our house for cards on Friday nights.
There was always made extra kids in our house and how Mom found enough food to feed all of us I never knew but she did. And then there were always extra kids staying over. One kid in later years remarked at her funeral that he came to our house at the end of the school year and stayed all summer. He said, “I don’t think Mrs. D even realized I didn’t belong.”
She always made our home a very welcome place for all kids to fit in. One of my high school friends who was an only child told me years later she loved to come to my house and sit and play cards with Mom and watch the chaos going on. She loved it.
As we grew older and moved out on our own, home was always a welcome place. Even with kids, their grandkids, we always had fun.
Mom always wanted us to all get along and she like nothing better to see us all get together. It was always quite a crowd, and you’ll see in pictures of those times, Mom with a big smile on her face.
My mother was an amazing woman.
Margaret B. shared this story about her mom, Mae D.