One year ago today I lost my best friend. My "Ma".

[maveric]

She died in her own house, in the same room my Dad died in fives years before. Ma was on the east coast and was on the west coast when this happened. I probably should have been there for her like she was for my brothers and me.
Ma was my rock and the glue that held our family together during very turbulent family times. She could take a mass of shit and turn it into something pleasant and positive. Something she did on a regular basis.
I miss her greatly. When I was down I'd call her and she'd pump me full of hope and positive vibes, always pointing out the positives when I was swimming up a river of negatives. She was my best friend.


Grace Castricone Lenane 3/3/33 - 3/28/05. RIP Ma. You are missed more than may ever imagine.

Family vacation, White Mountains, NH.




So please excuse my downer post. I have no one else to share this with.

maveric, out.

[Midlodemocrat]

1. What a beautiful, touching post, maveric!

She must have been very proud of you. :hug:

[myrna minx]

2. My best wishes to you, maveric.

Your Ma seemed to be a wonderful lady. :hug: A toast to Ma. :toast:

[Blue Diadem]

3. Your Mom was a lovely lady..and still is as she lives in your heart

Thank you for sharing her with us. I wish I could have known her. No need to ask for being excused..you are grieving and there is nothing wrong with that.

Are you in the 2nd pic?

:hug:

[maveric]

4. Yes. The taller kid in that pic and the closest to her in the third.

The latter two pics are from 1968. I was the oldest of three boys.
What we put this Lady, and my Dad through....

[Blue Diadem]

6. Ahhh..I hadn't scrolled over in the 3rd pic

Your Mom looks very happy in that 3rd one, proud of her family I'm sure.
Boys can be a handful..I raised two sons(there's a reason I have gray hair at 50!), grew up with 3 brothers and DH was one of 5 brothers.

[Shine]

5. What a heartfelt post, maveric. Great pix, too. Thanks for sharing.

There's nothing quite like the Love of a Mother, is there?

May happy memories soothe the sadness in your heart today, my friend. :hug:

Rest in Peace, Grace. O8)

[maveric]

7. I hope its not too morbid to show the family plot?

This is most of my family. Only my brother is left. And my wonderful kids too.

[miss_american_pie]

8. I'm sorry for your loss

She sounds like an incredible force. :hug:

[maveric]

9. She was very strong.

Her Mom was a schizophrenic as was my little brother, My Dad, God love him, was Bi-polar and an alcoholic. We all had quick tempers being Irish and Sicilian and Ma might as well had worn a striped referee shirt. When the shit hit the fan, which it did regularly, she smoothed everything out.

Ma was one of the first "working Moms", in our 50's-60's, baby boomer neighborhood. Her ladyfriends ostricized her for this. She just wanted to have a career, and went to secretarial school. Later she became the Personel Mgr of a major electronics firm in Salem NH. She was loved by the workforce, and often went out of her way, or into her pocket, to help people that worked there.

Did I tell you that she could COOK? Man o man, I miss her lasagna, veal cutlets, stuffed shells and sicilian pot roast.

I went on a ski trip while in high school. We were scheduled to get back home in the early morning hours. Ma stayed up all night to bake me my own lasagna for when I got back in from my trip. It was awesome.

I dont know if I told you that I am a Stutterer. Have been my whole life. When I was in Cub Scouts, at the "Pack Meetings", the scout masters would have their scouts stand up in front of the masses and recite the damn scout oath. Well I'd be up there stuttering away and listening to chuckles from the crowd, when I heard Ma shout, "Shut the hell up! I could find things about you to laugh at too!". That silenced the room and I went on with my oath. When I was done Ma stood up, all alone, and applauded.
That was powerful for that 8-year old kid.

[skygazer]

10. What a great story

She sounds like a wonderful woman, Maveric. There's something special about a mom. :hug:

[Blue Diadem]

11. It's so obvious your Mom was filled with love for you and your

family. Those are great stories Maveric..those are things that should be passed down to your future generations. Have you thought about writing all this down for your family? DH's aunt did something similar for their family. The short stories were compiled into quite a large unbound book. I can't tell you how much it means to know about Dh's grandparents.

[maveric]

12. I've been considering that. For my kids and my brother's daughter.

When I cleaned out Ma's house I found geneology info for both sides (Irish & Sicilian),of my family. I'll have to incorporate that in somehow.

[Blue Diadem]

14. That's what DH's aunt did too,

DH's grandparents came here through Ellis Island..so his Aunt was able to get information through the online website..the ship they took etc. It's really very interesting and they even incorporated some pictures in it as well.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

13. My dear maveric.......

No apologies are needed for your wonderful tribute to your mom.....

I know she was a wonderful lady! I can see it from what you have said here today....

And from other posts you've had about her in the past.....

Her life is something to celebrate!

Remember, after the pain is gone.....the love always remains......

And as long as you remember her, she will live!

Thank you for posting this tribute today......

:loveya: :hug:

[maveric]

15. Thank you Peggy.

You just made me feel a little better. I will call my brother tonight. He's also feeling a little heavy in the heart.
:hug:

[CaliforniaPeggy]

16. It makes me glad that I can help, my dear maveric!

Pay it forward! I know your brother will appreciate your call, too......

:hug:

[wain]

17. What a wonderful relationship you had with your mother

Your mother and that relationship is to be treasured. My wife had the same feeling for her mother when she died. It was several years until she could visit her mother grave site - it was that hard for her emotionally.

My heartfelt sympathy for you, but rejoice in cherished memories.

:hug:

[brook]

18. Maveric-

by sharing your sadness and the love you have for your Mother, you help us all. We are reminded of our own Moms (and others) and how much we miss their special strengths and affection. My parents are
both long gone - and the aching in me ebbs and flows. Then the warmth of memory enfolds me; I smile and say "Hello".

Thank you for this gift you've given us today. Grace is smiling proudly, I'm sure.