Residents share memories of their mothers – part 1

With Mother’s Day approaching this Sunday, May 10, and so much changed this year as we endeavor to protect our residents, we wanted to give them a chance to reflect on happy memories of their mothers.

We asked residents around the country to share what they remember about their moms, and we received so many wonderful responses and stories that we are sharing in two installments. Here is the first.

“My mom taught me how to cook and sew, taught me how to do a lot of things. How to take care of my babies when I had them and how to stick up for myself with my four brothers.”

Margaret R., Life Care Center of Sandpoint, Idaho

“There are so many good memories of my mom. She was perfect in so many ways. I remember her filling up the bath water as far as she could so that I was able to swim.”

Brenda L., Life Care Center of Hendersonville, North Carolina

“What I remember most about my mom is her sense of humor – she had nine kids, and she loved to laugh. I remember we used to sit on the curb and talk, and one day she was laughing so hard she fell off the curb and was rolling in the street. She was laughing so hard we had to rescue her.”

Maxine S., Life Care Center of Westlake, Ohio

“My mom taught us to pray every night before we go to bed.”

Olivia G., Rimrock Villa Convalescent Hospital in Barstow, California

“When she found out someone was sick, she would make them homemade soup and cornbread. She would place it in her basket, and off she would go to their house, making sure they would have this hot meal. She always would do the same for families who had lost loved ones. She was all the time doing good deeds, and I never forgot this.”

Joyce L., Life Care Center of Hixson, Tennessee

“My mother, I learned at an early age, was my best friend. She was always there to answer any question. My mom even listened to my friends’ problems. She had time and love for everyone!”

Linda P., Life Care Center of Westminster, Colorado

“Mom would let me help her cook, and when we had meatloaf, Mom would let me make it. She would always tell us, ‘Don’t grow up too fast.’ Mother would always make us our favorite cake for our birthdays.”

Marilyn B., Life Care Center of Treasure Valley in Boise, Idaho

“My mom was a sweet and caring person. She’d give you the shirt off her back if you needed it, but she was not a good cook. One November she bought a JennAir range. She invited us for Thanksgiving dinner. When we arrived, we were surprised we couldn’t smell it cooking. She assured us the circulating system of the stove would take the odor away from the kitchen. At 2 p.m., we all gathered around the stove. Mom opened the oven, and voila, the turkey was as raw as when she put it in the oven. Thanksgiving dinner was very late that year.”

Coralie M., Life Care Center of Skagit Valley in Sedro Woolley, Washington

“My mother was always there for me when I needed her.”

Martha B., Life Care Center of Banner Elk, North Carolina

“When I was about 10, she was getting voice lessons in New York City. She had her debut at Steinway Hall. I was in the balcony, listening. There was a refrain in the song. I thought it was over, so I stood up, clapping vigorously. The audience followed my lead. Well, the song was not over. My mother laughed with joy and kept on singing.”

Allen R., Life Care Center of Port St. Lucie, Florida

“When my mom worked making wedding dresses in her own shop when I was a little girl around the age of 5. She would pick me up at school in kindergarten, and we would walk back to her shop, and I would help her in the shop. Once she had me help her by tossing glitter to a dress she detailed with fabric glue. I had many fond memories, but I lost her when I was 14 and she was 39, so appreciate your mom.”

Francisca M., La Habra Convalescent Hospital in La Habra, California

“My mother was a great cook. We had biscuits and gravy every morning. Her pineapple upside down cake was my favorite.”

Marilee M., Life Care Center of Red Bank in Chattanooga, Tennessee

“When my mom came to visit me here in Colorado for the first time after I moved here from Michigan. She came out of the room and said, out of the blue, ‘You made the right decision coming here. If you had listened to me, you wouldn’t be happy, and I can see how happy you are.’ Mother had wanted me to stay in Michigan and become a hairdresser.”

Diane M., Life Care Center of Westminster, Colorado

“My mother had beautiful skin.”

Jerry D., Darcy Hall of Life Care in West Palm Beach, Florida

“My mother passed away when I was 7 years old. I was raised by my grandparents. My grandmother was a great cook. She took care of her children and my mom’s seven children, and I just remember a house full of kids.”

Leta S., Life Care Center of Pueblo, Colorado

“My mama loved me better than anybody else ever has or ever will.”

Bobby J., Life Care Center of Morgan County in Wartburg, Tennessee

“Mother died when I was 3 years old. My stepmother, Maggie, made sure we had food to eat and clothing to wear and went to school. She worked the shirt factory by day and helped keep house and made full-course meals every night. When I got older, I appreciated her more for taking care of my daddy after his open-heart surgery.”

Geraldine M., Life Care Center of Sparta, Tennessee

“She was a hard worker, had 10 children. Wonderful lady. She would sing when she ironed.”

Irene H., Life Care Center of Treasure Valley in Boise, Idaho

“I grew up in a suburb north of Chicago. Twice a year, my mom and I would dress up and go downtown to the Chicago Art Institute. I wore black patent leather shoes, fancy white lace anklets, a new dress and white gloves. We spent most of our time in the impressionist wing. The Chicago Art Institute has one of the world’s largest collections of impressionist paintings. I learned to identify Van Gogh, Monet, Pollock and many others. By the time I was 9 years old, I could identify all of the impressionist artists. It was a warm educational time shared between my mom and me.”

Aileena W., Hallmark Nursing Center in Denver, Colorado

“My mom just held me in her arms when I was depressed and sad. She told me everything would be all right.”

Juanita N., Rimrock Villa Convalescent Hospital in Barstow, California

“All my memories after all this time (since she passed in 1977) are good. Two stand out during my three-year stay in Maine. She wrote to me every week while at the beauty parlor, after she taught kindergarten and had chemotherapy. Then when I came home to visit in October 1976, she gave me a Hallmark Christmas ornament to take back to Maine. I still have it. I am so grateful to have been adopted by her and Dad.”

Bonnie B., La Habra Convalescent Hospital in La Habra, California

“My mom had one leg shorter than the other, but she got along well. She didn’t let me get away with anything.”

James B., Life Care Center of Westminster, Colorado

“Wonderful woman who was a good cook. She was kind. During the Depression, she fed anyone who needed help or food. She was beautiful, would help anyone, even help someone get a dress that they needed for a wedding.”

Jean F., Life Care Center of Estero

“Well, I will tell you how good my mom was. She used to say to me that she wished she could have 100 of me. I remember holding on to her skirt while we were fishing to be able to stand up. She passed away very young, at the age of 33.”

Walter T., Life Care Center of Hendersonville, North Carolina

“My mother was Baptist and my father Orthodox Jewish. We were brought up with both religions – temple on Saturday, church on Sunday. Mom felt it was important for us to have both and choose when we were old enough to do so on our own. All my friends wanted to hang out at my house because my mom was such a great cook.”

Patricia S., Life Care Center of Port St. Lucie, Florida