The NFL season has just come to an end and my wife and I just watched a great game where the NY Giants won the Super Bowl and the Lombardi Trophy. Congrats G-Men!
As I think back to last years game I reflected where we sat last year at this very time. It was a wonderful surreal experience where we just hosted a SB party with my family and celebrated a Packers win. However it was bittersweet as just a day before that, all of us had gone thru a very painful difficult time - My Mom succumbed to her illness. As we prepared for her funeral I wrote down some words that I hoped would comfort my family and her friends. In remembering her passing I wanted to reveal the following reading that I spoke at her service and hope in its way to maintain that connection. Also it's why I feel so inspired to continue my support of research to all early cancer detection sciences.
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A Few Words About Mom
On the surface, Joyce Marie Plamann might not have impressed many as an extraordinary person. For my Dad, Brothers, and I growing up with her – she was always a loving wife and mother, with a good and kind soul. But beneath her mortal cover, she was truly remarkable in many ways. In her heart was excessive love and unyielding faith.
Over those last days with her, the family gathered to her side. We reminisced, kind of like a trip thru our fondest memories of Mom. What was amazing is the warmth and joy that filled that room as she neared the end.
My brothers and I went back to time of children when she was the great goalkeeper trying to keep her three boys in check while also protecting us from the wrath of our Father. So many times especially as we grew into those teenage years, Mom would cover the cracks and holes in the doors with decorative cut-outs. Some of you may have noticed her photo collage with footprints. The story behind that… Well to hide those incidents of destruction from dear old Dad, she would cut out shapes like footprints and cover those dents that came from our fighting, then calmly tell him on his arrival home it was just to jazz up the place – now don’t they look nice. Dad would hardly notice, nod his head and say sure.
Although we knew she cherished her boys, we also always knew she would have enjoyed having a daughter or two. Oddly that is exactly what she had in her final days as my brother Mike’s wife Bev, and my wife Jen would never leave her side staying and taking all those third shifts to hold her hand and comfort her. I can only imagine the bonding experience they both take with them. But ladies, we knucklehead men of hers could never fill her heart the way you guys did (although I will say to consider doing a dye job on her hair was a bit over the top – glad good sense stopped you). From the bottom of our hearts, thank you both for this most precious gift of love to our mother!
I was amazed that when unable to really speak but maybe a word or two, she still had a wit to her and a sense of humor that would make us all laugh and smile. An example of this came just hours before her final breath – when told that her boys and my dad were going to be left with her alone for a few minutes while her daughter-in-laws stepped out she uttered in a quirky “oh no”.
In her mind was the everlasting thought “how can I give?” She sought always to be a friend, a helping hand, a uniter, never wanting to be a burden or a divider. Her soul was warmed by the fire of hope and lifted with the excitement of joy. Every day she spent on this earth she knew was a gift from God and she willingly passed that on to all whom she touched.
I don’t suppose to speak for her. I don’t have to as her life spoke plainly: Keep your faith, it will never fail you. Hold all you know in love closely and dearly and give all that you can, with all your heart every hour of every day. That is the path to love and peace.
I know my mom would not want us to be said, though, it is impossible to let her pass without many tears. But please pledge with me today because I know she would want it this way, remember her only in joy and happiness. That is a gift she leaves for all of us.
Keep her in your heart and hold on tight.
Joyce Marie Plamann - Nov 9th , 1936 to Feb 5th 2011
