Mom like her own Mother was a peanut butter-aholic. Every day she would dip a tablespoon into her own private stash and just gobble it down with a chuckle. She had her own supply which Anne and Dennis had to replenish constantly. Mom couldn't be short of her yummy peanut butter.
She also loved Reid's maple cream fudge and would scoop that creamy fudge up and savour the taste. I would have to make regular runs up to Reid's in Cambridge to get Mom her fudge.
Saturday's were the Oriental Restaurant and Mom so enjoyed a bowl of steaming won-ton soup. It had to be served by Patty. She loved Patty. Patty would give Mom a back rub and Mom thought that Patty was "the best". She became Mom's honourary daughter. We had so very many great dinners with lots of laughter and good food. The Mark's (who own the Oriental) were especially kind to Mom and to all of us. She loved going there. It was Mom's favourite restaurant.
Rice pudding from the Harmony Bakery (at the Brantford Market) was ordered every week from Sue. Mom really had a "sweet tooth". I don't think she added peanut butter to the rice pudding.
Mom taught Anne to make spaghetti sauce with the recipe Mom had learned from Grandpa Iorio. Anne has become the spaghetti sauce champion. She makes really good sauce...got Mom's stamp of approval.
About every 4-5 weeks Mom would want to see "Lorna" her hairdresser so she and Lorna could have a good visit and Mom would get her hair done. Then we would drive through the downtown and Mom would tell me how many of the houses her parents had owned. "Pop" as we all called him came from a family who invested and owned many properties in Brantford. It was so interesting to learn that. We would go to Wilkes Dam and Mom loved to watch and hear the rushing water...she thought it was relaxing. We would wind our way through Glenhyrst Gardens and she would note the trees and flowers. She loved the more recent Christmas display at Glenhyrst and we would go around twice in the car to ensure she saw it all.
At her recent hospital stay at the Brantford General, Mom's room on the 8th floor overlooked the City. It was a sunny, panoramic view. She would look up and out..but she really wanted to go home. The nursing staff and the whole professional staff were thoughtful and kind to her. She got to love "heated" blankets and she said they made her feel warm and well.
On October 1st she celebrated her 88th birthday with cake and lots of family visitors. She loved that. Anne and Dennis made sure everyone was welcome.
The last few weeks of her life she had personal support workers to help with her daily needs and she would talk and visit with each person. Mom was genuinely interested in people and their lives. She always expressed how much she enjoyed learning about each one of the people who came to help. Mom considered them visitors and company. She liked their daily visits.
We are grateful that Mom did not suffer when she left us. The paramedics and the EMS crew were astonishingly competent and so compassionate. We will not forget their efforts. Constable Chris Croome who stayed with us waiting for the Dr. Scott's arrival was exemplary. We cannot express our gratitude for the caring and exceptional treatment our Mother and all of us received. Thank you sincerely.
Mom was a very devout Catholic. She would be so pleased to know that the pastor of St. Mary's was going to officiate at her funeral. Mom couldn't attend Mass because of her physical fraility over the last several years but she kept her devotion and her faith.
Love you Mom, wish you peace.
M-M
l.
