Day 1 Welcome
Kathy Jones#### (nee ####) passed on last night after a VERY short illness with lung cancer. We were able to tell her we love her and other stuff before she went but I guess there's always things left unsaid and things said only after someone is in a coma.
I need to write and don't know where to begin so this is an experiment. Letters to our Mom.
This is how we want to remember Mom
Mom;
I went to bed numb and woke up the same way. There is so much of you in the house that you literally can't look anywhere without thinking of you, even in my room.
I did my usual "get up, get moving, take care of stuff" - Jackie and I went shopping and got some groceries end, using up what you had on your foodstamp card. It felt a little ruthless to be thinking along those lines but I learned how to survive with very little growing up with you.
You taught us how to be strong and how to make hard choices when necessary.
I had random moments of breakdown in the stores today. We stopped by the Dollar General to tell the boys but they weren't on shift. We'll go back tomorrow. We did catch Shelley at the Dollar Tree - the one that had the antique store. She almost cried.
We called everyone in your phone book. No one answered at Cousin Rose's place. Skip was stunned. Most everyone was, actually. Murna says that she'll tell Jaz at the store and everyone is sending us hugs and prayers.
We asked that people donate to the Blind Cat Rescue group or the senior center. I know how you loved pictures of the blind kitties and thought they were doing good work.
I posted this on FB last night after letting Angie and Jenee know privately that you had left us.
It is with the utmost sorrow that Jackie and I have to let people know that Mama passed on this evening less than 24 hours after entering hospice. She was diagnosed on the 21st and passed on the 1st. We are still stunned at how fast all of this happened.
It was a peaceful passing and she looked like she was sleeping without pain.
We played Rod Stewart; Blood, Sweat and Tears, The Who, Pasha an
I need to write and don't know where to begin so this is an experiment. Letters to our Mom.
This is how we want to remember Mom
Mom;
I went to bed numb and woke up the same way. There is so much of you in the house that you literally can't look anywhere without thinking of you, even in my room.
I did my usual "get up, get moving, take care of stuff" - Jackie and I went shopping and got some groceries end, using up what you had on your foodstamp card. It felt a little ruthless to be thinking along those lines but I learned how to survive with very little growing up with you.
You taught us how to be strong and how to make hard choices when necessary.
I had random moments of breakdown in the stores today. We stopped by the Dollar General to tell the boys but they weren't on shift. We'll go back tomorrow. We did catch Shelley at the Dollar Tree - the one that had the antique store. She almost cried.
We called everyone in your phone book. No one answered at Cousin Rose's place. Skip was stunned. Most everyone was, actually. Murna says that she'll tell Jaz at the store and everyone is sending us hugs and prayers.
We asked that people donate to the Blind Cat Rescue group or the senior center. I know how you loved pictures of the blind kitties and thought they were doing good work.
I posted this on FB last night after letting Angie and Jenee know privately that you had left us.
It is with the utmost sorrow that Jackie and I have to let people know that Mama passed on this evening less than 24 hours after entering hospice. She was diagnosed on the 21st and passed on the 1st. We are still stunned at how fast all of this happened.
It was a peaceful passing and she looked like she was sleeping without pain.
We played Rod Stewart; Blood, Sweat and Tears, The Who, Pasha an
d Guns n Roses. Yep, she had interesting tastes. I read from Khalil Gibran and talked and talked to her.
The staff at the hospital and the hospice were great and treated her well and us with respect.
She was visited by administrative people, workers and people from the senior center where she's been going several times a week. They all commented how bubbly and friendly she was, even when she was in pain. Everyone adored her and are going to miss her.
Jackie and I are shattered and feeling numb.
Mom didn't want a funeral or viewing. Her wishes were to be cremated. Jackie and I are going to open her Facebook page to everyone and we will send a link and ask that everyone post thoughts, prayers, remembrances and wishes. We are probably going to go to the center and spend some time with the people there and share with them.
Kathlene Sue##### (nee, ####) was 71, born and raised in the Ozarks of Arkansas, she loved the mountains of any state (she hated Florida because it's flat). She was an enthusiastic Red Hatter, a Leo to the core, and the most amazing woman we have every known. She had friendships that lasted years that went beyond "best friends" or "friends" - people became family. That continued here in our new home. She was strong but allowed herself to be vulnerable. A voracious reader and highschool dropout, she took her GED decades later and scored within the top 5% of the country and was quite proud of that and went on to take some college courses.
Her joy, though, was people. She was drawn to customer service jobs: either as a bartender, waitress, cashier/manager or bank representative (loan officer). Becoming disabled and unable to work was a blow to her. The Red Hat group in CA was a godsend and the senior center in our state here the same.
One of the main decisions facing Jackie and myself - what to do with over 1,000 turtles of various kinds? Btw: one will be traveling with her. Mom's first tatt was a turtle, the other was a rose for a deceased friend.
Thank you all for the prayers, positive energy and support. Jackie and I will need those for a bit longer. Most everyone knows how close the three of us are. One of the sides of the triangle is gone.
We ask that no flowers be sent to us. If people would like to contribute to a charity in Mom's memory, please contact us. Jackie and I will discuss what charity Mom would have really wanted donations to go to.
with love and sorrow
Barbie and Jackie
The staff at the hospital and the hospice were great and treated her well and us with respect.
She was visited by administrative people, workers and people from the senior center where she's been going several times a week. They all commented how bubbly and friendly she was, even when she was in pain. Everyone adored her and are going to miss her.
Jackie and I are shattered and feeling numb.
Mom didn't want a funeral or viewing. Her wishes were to be cremated. Jackie and I are going to open her Facebook page to everyone and we will send a link and ask that everyone post thoughts, prayers, remembrances and wishes. We are probably going to go to the center and spend some time with the people there and share with them.
Kathlene Sue##### (nee, ####) was 71, born and raised in the Ozarks of Arkansas, she loved the mountains of any state (she hated Florida because it's flat). She was an enthusiastic Red Hatter, a Leo to the core, and the most amazing woman we have every known. She had friendships that lasted years that went beyond "best friends" or "friends" - people became family. That continued here in our new home. She was strong but allowed herself to be vulnerable. A voracious reader and highschool dropout, she took her GED decades later and scored within the top 5% of the country and was quite proud of that and went on to take some college courses.
Her joy, though, was people. She was drawn to customer service jobs: either as a bartender, waitress, cashier/manager or bank representative (loan officer). Becoming disabled and unable to work was a blow to her. The Red Hat group in CA was a godsend and the senior center in our state here the same.
One of the main decisions facing Jackie and myself - what to do with over 1,000 turtles of various kinds? Btw: one will be traveling with her. Mom's first tatt was a turtle, the other was a rose for a deceased friend.
Thank you all for the prayers, positive energy and support. Jackie and I will need those for a bit longer. Most everyone knows how close the three of us are. One of the sides of the triangle is gone.
We ask that no flowers be sent to us. If people would like to contribute to a charity in Mom's memory, please contact us. Jackie and I will discuss what charity Mom would have really wanted donations to go to.
with love and sorrow
Barbie and Jackie
# # #
It's going to be hard. We know that. Money will be extremely tight but we don't have to pay rent or a mortgage and that is thank to you, Mom. You made sure we had a home before you left. Thank you, you made the one dream I ever held onto all of my life come true.
We're not sure if we're going to decorate for Hanukkah and Christmas. We're going to put out a few things and see how that feels.
Lynn and Jerry said they would help with whatever cost the county won't cover so we can get your ashes to us.
We broke the spirit turtle today with Georgia and Chris. They brought us a chicken casserole and soda. They are being so good to us.
I have moments of absolute terror that I can't do this without you. I know we'll get through this. It just feels so horrible right now. It was you, me and Grandma for so long.
I miss you so much, Mama.
And I don't know what we're going to do with your turtles.
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