On Mother’s Day, I posted an homage to my mom, Maggie, citing some of the reasons she has been a wonderful role model to my sister and me. This week, she passed away with the same grace and thoughtfulness she displayed throughout her life. She was eighty-six years old.
She wanted only me and my sister with her; she wanted to be home; she wanted no exceptional intervention. Blessedly, with the wonderful assistance of our local hospice organization (and my niece the med student), we were able to follow her directions and wishes, and provide some comfortable amenities for her as well.
As we have cared for her over the past few months, my sister and I have had some lovely opportunities to chat about Mummy, and some of the paradoxes in her life.
Although she trained in the biological sciences as a nurse, and those skills were never far away, her true calling was as a writer (and editor). She wrote everything from poetry to press releases, light humor pieces to editorials. Her checkbook was always balanced to the penny (a Scot to the core), but there was also a bit of the Celtic faerie about her – she always had a twinkle in those blue-grey eyes, and she could see the humor and find the balance in almost any situation.
She was successful at work at a time when women really weren’t taken seriously (just watch Mad Men), spent many dedicated hours on her favorite charities (mostly involving children – often disadvantaged or disabled), and also loved being a mommy (and aunt, grandmother, and great-grandmother).
She enjoyed a drink (true to her heritage), and although she had an incredible imagination, she also had a canny sober view of life. She took her faith and responsibility to her family and community seriously, while always engaging her wit. She held her own in a man’s world, and never lost her feminine identity. She’s been a tough act to follow.
She really was brilliant, truly beautiful (inside and out), and the thing is, she never really got that. She never understood how mesmerized people were in the gaze of those big eyes, or how grateful they were for her friendship.
So, Mom, with thankful hearts for everything you’ve given us, here’s a send-off from the immortal Harry Lauder – A Wee Deoch an’ Doris* – Godspeed.
The Retiring Sort 
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What a beautiful tribute to a beautiful lady, TRS. Love. xxx
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Thanks, Ailsa xoxo
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Thanks! 🙂
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Beautiful post; brought a tear to my eye. Your mom was obviously a very cherished woman.
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Thank you, Taylor, for this lovely comment, and for your visit to my site. I appreciate your kindness.
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what a nice tribute to your mom. and I am so sorry for your loss. I stopped by your blog because you liked my photo for the weekly challenge. and what do I see but “Maggie the Magnificent” and I just had to see what that was about! You see, my daughter’s name is Maggie and it’s not short for anything. I have people ask me all the time if Toby is short for something. and I never thought about it until after Maggie was born but I realized it once people started asking “is that short for Margaret?” so I have instructed Maggie to answer “it’s short for magnificent”. I just had to share that with you. I am also headed down to Florida to assist my 89 year old mother….we seem to have some things in common. 🙂 I just followed your blog as I hope to retire in 8 years so perhaps we can help each other.
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Thanks so much for these great comments, and your visit to my blog!
Treasure those moments with your mom – I was so grateful that my retirement allowed me some wonderful time with mine before she became very ill.
I really like your take on your daughter’s name! I wish her as full and rewarding a live as our Maggie had (see the original linked post for detail)!
Stay tuned, as I hit the reset button now, for more on my retirement adventure… 😉
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I’m so sorry for reading this so late and for the loss of your very dear Mother.
You have written a sweet and tender tribute to her. She would have been proud
to have heard it. I’m sure she is looking down from heaven and smiling at how
much you have shown your love for her. She must have been a grand lady to
have had a very special daughter like you. God Bless and keep you in his arms.
Blessings,
Isadora
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Thank you so much for your kindness, Isadora.
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When I wrote to you yesterday I had no idea your mother had passed away. It happened during my time off. I thought she was just ill. I am so sorry for your loss. This is a beautifully written hommage to your dear Mum. She was a beautiful woman from what I can see.
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Thank you so much for your condolences and kind comments, Paula.
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This banner photo of a young woman with gorgeous eyes…. I suppose it was her:
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It was – those eyes were gorgeous to the end. That was the first thing her hospice nurse noticed about her.
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I’m so sorry to hear this. She sounds like a wonderful person.
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Thank you so much.
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I am sorry your mother has died, and glad she died where she wanted to be with those she wanted to be with. A good death by the sounds of it. Hard now for you and the rest of your family.
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Thanks so much for your understanding and sympathy.
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What a lovely tribute to your dear mom. I’m sure that the wonderful memories will live on in your family down through the years. Moms are so precious, aren’t they? My condolences to you all. I still have my mom, and will be so sad when she passes on. Love and hugs to you.
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Yes, Moms are precious – Get us much history from your mom as you can, while you have her. You’ll be so glad you did! Thank you for your sympathy.
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This is such a wonderful tribute and your mother’s legacy lives on in you and your sister. My deepest sympathies to you and your family.
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Thank you for your kindness.
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What a beautiful tribute. Losing a mother is hard at any age. My heartfelt sympathies to your sister and you.
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Thanks so much, Madhu.
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How sad that we have to let loved ones go… thank the Lord we will all meet up again one day.. my condolences to you and your sister… may peace come over you in this time of sorrow…
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Thank you so much for this comforting response.
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A wonderful tribute to your mother – how sad that she had to go.
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Thank you – Yes, sad she had to go, but she left so much happiness behind with us.
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So sorry for your loss. I enjoyed reading about your mother very much.
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Thank you for your kindness.
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What wonderful, heartfelt words. You are clearly so proud of your mother as, no doubt, she was of you. Sorry for your loss.
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We are so proud of her and all she did – while always putting us first. We have tried to make her proud all of our lives.
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What a wonderful post and tribute to your Mom. My deepest sympathies to you and your family.
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Thank you so much, Angeline.
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I am sorry. ..You have beautiful memories and she will live in your heart forever
🙂
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Thank you for that kind thought. Those memories are such wonderful things.
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A touching and memorable tribute to your mother. I am sorry for your loss (and your sister too).
I know she is in your heart.
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Thank you, Ruth. She is indeed in our hearts.
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A beautiful tribute to you mom. I’m so sorry for your loss. Glad you have the wonderful memories to enjoy. She truly is a beautiful lady.
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Thank you, Brooke. I am very grateful for those memories… and new ones keep popping up.
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Yes, what a lovely tribute to your mother, and what strength she passed on to you! I admire you for this beautiful post so soon after her death. You’re a rock, and your mother surely treasured you and your sister. Z
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Thank you, Z – this was really a cathartic effort that I started a few days ahead, when I knew we were going to lose her very soon. Sort of like trying to hold on to moonlight.
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“Trying to hold on to moonlight.’ How beautiful!
I wrote an article a few months after my father died, and it was equally cathartic. It gave me closure, as his death was unexpected. My mother was ill for some time, so I now have empathy for either scenario.
Rest well, and may your adjustment to her absence be an easy one.
Z
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Thank you so much for your kind comments. They really are appreciated.
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A beautiful tribute to your mother. You gave us a feel for the wonderful person she was. I can tell her legacy lives on in you. You have written this wonderful piece. I’m sorry for your loss but your memories will never die.
BE ENCOURAGED! BE BLESSED!
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Thank you, Francine. She gave all of us many wonderful memories.
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Hi! I just nominated you for the inspiring blog award!! http://aparnanairphotography.wordpress.com/2012/07/16/my-first-blog-award/
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Thank you so much, Aparna! It will probably take me a week or so to do the acceptance process, but I so appreciate this kindness!
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I saw this earlier but was unable to reply for some reason. What a wonderful tribute to your mother. I think she would have approved. You are so fortunate to have had her for so many years. I lost my mother when I was in my early twenties. Cheers to you and your mother.
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Thanks so much. My sister and I have been fortunate indeed. I so appreciate your visit.
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