I'm sure some of you have noticed that I've been absent for the last week or so.
My beautiful mother-in-law Ellen passed away unexpectedly on the afternoon of Wednesday the 26th. She was an avid gardener and had just finished planting a few blooms on her parent's and brother Paul's graves in a rural town in upstate New York, where my husband David hails from. She apparently had fallen asleep in her car after her gardening and had peacefully drifted away. David and I both feel, through our faith, that her parents and brother were calling her home to join them. Moreover, the examination left the coroner with little to surmise the cause of death, as there was really wasn't any sign of bodily distress. This has only confirmed what we feel.
So Dave and I have only recently returned from trip to NY for the memorial service. We really enjoyed seeing family, which is always a blessing. Although our family had lived through this sort of apprehension before, I don't think anyone expected this to come so soon...
Four years ago, Ellen had suffered through a case of encephalitis, which is an inflammation of brain tissue that can lead to neurological damage, but more often death, as the fatality rate is incredibly high. She remained hospitalized and in a coma for several months, and was not expected to live, but she miraculously pulled through (her neurologist later swore that no one believed him when we told his colleagues and physicians in the field that he had treated a patient who had actually survived the illness). Within those four years, I had the chance to know her and in that time she was able to see her oldest son marry, look after her grandchildren and simply enjoy life. She had been an RN for 30+ years and it showed, in all the little ways she cared for both people (her family) and things (her cats Sophie and Tasha, her garden and her home). Her love was always directed towards others and it shone like a firelight.
I remember how nervous I was the first time I met her. Being me, I spent days picking out the right bouquet to give her, what to wear and thinking of ways to introduce myself. ;) She seemed a little nervous at first, as I was, but we both loved talking about David, so that got us off to a good start! I thought she was much more...calm, collected or perhaps taciturn than the sort of people I was used to interacting with. My own family can be over-emotional at times and her Welsh stoicism hadn't really become apparent to me. I had yet to learn of this Williams/Lyndon family trait, but I eventually accepted it. :) As I grew to know her more and more over the months following my engagement to Dave, I could see how strong a lady she was and how she was truly a gal after my own heart: resilient, kind, thoughtful and intelligent.
At this time, my only true regret is that I didn't have enough time with her. We saw one another during the last summer and two Christmas gatherings, but I was expecting a much longer time frame. There were so many things I had on my mind to ask her and I realize that will have to wait a while. But I am grateful, more than I can express, that I was able to be a part of her life for the last few years. I will never have another mother-in-law - that's what hurts.
Sweet Dreams, Mom - and may you rest in peace with Our Lord Jesus, until we meet again. You will never know how much I'll miss you.
Four years ago, Ellen had suffered through a case of encephalitis, which is an inflammation of brain tissue that can lead to neurological damage, but more often death, as the fatality rate is incredibly high. She remained hospitalized and in a coma for several months, and was not expected to live, but she miraculously pulled through (her neurologist later swore that no one believed him when we told his colleagues and physicians in the field that he had treated a patient who had actually survived the illness). Within those four years, I had the chance to know her and in that time she was able to see her oldest son marry, look after her grandchildren and simply enjoy life. She had been an RN for 30+ years and it showed, in all the little ways she cared for both people (her family) and things (her cats Sophie and Tasha, her garden and her home). Her love was always directed towards others and it shone like a firelight.
I remember how nervous I was the first time I met her. Being me, I spent days picking out the right bouquet to give her, what to wear and thinking of ways to introduce myself. ;) She seemed a little nervous at first, as I was, but we both loved talking about David, so that got us off to a good start! I thought she was much more...calm, collected or perhaps taciturn than the sort of people I was used to interacting with. My own family can be over-emotional at times and her Welsh stoicism hadn't really become apparent to me. I had yet to learn of this Williams/Lyndon family trait, but I eventually accepted it. :) As I grew to know her more and more over the months following my engagement to Dave, I could see how strong a lady she was and how she was truly a gal after my own heart: resilient, kind, thoughtful and intelligent.
At this time, my only true regret is that I didn't have enough time with her. We saw one another during the last summer and two Christmas gatherings, but I was expecting a much longer time frame. There were so many things I had on my mind to ask her and I realize that will have to wait a while. But I am grateful, more than I can express, that I was able to be a part of her life for the last few years. I will never have another mother-in-law - that's what hurts.
Sweet Dreams, Mom - and may you rest in peace with Our Lord Jesus, until we meet again. You will never know how much I'll miss you.
2 comments:
My prayers are with you and your family. I'm sure you both have heard this plenty of times, but it is certainly true in my case.
Thank you, Ashley. 8) You're a truely great gal! :-)
Post a Comment