Rest in Peace Mom, We Love You

Hey all...

I just wanted to let you all know that mom passed away this morning. She went peacefully and beautifully holding sheila's and my hand with dad rubbing her head and marc rubbing her feet, with amy standing beside us, while billy was flying in and jenny was tending her kids... we all told her how much we loved her in the final moments and that we were all there for her and that we will always be there for each other and take care of each other... and after we all kissed her goodbye, i felt her final heartbeat / pulse in her hand fade away and she was gone...

it was exactly what mom wanted... she was home in her own bed, looking out at the bay with her family at her side and she was in no pain... she was in a semi-sedated state acknowledging us when we said funny comments or "i love yous" but in no pain and literally went into the "deep sleep" so to speak...

after a nice night with dad (minus us interrupting to change her pain medicine) :-) .. and sheila sneaking into their bed early in the am... she waited for me to, i guess to my "final" caretaker duties... making sure she was "fresh," as she would say, for her next journey... she held my hand tight and amy and i realized that it was it.. and we grabbed everyone to send her off the way she always wanted...

on behalf of me, my mom, dad, jenny, billy, marc, sheila, amy, don, donnie, julia, and liam.. and baby to be, we really appreciate all your love and support over our entire lives and especially over the past 5-6 months... it has been a rediculously fun, crazy, scary, and unbelievalbe roller coaster and there is no way we would have gotten through this all without you... so THANK YOU from the bottom of our hearts..

Mom always said that she never wanted a Wake... she said..... "there is no reason for my family and friends to be in a depressing funeral home talking about the good ole times when they could be doing it at her house or a local bar or restaurant and really enjoying themselves and having a party!" .. so with that being said... our home is an open house for the next few days.. please feel free to stop by and reminise about mom, dad, us, whoever...

we will be having a Mass at St. Patrick's Church in Bay Shore on Wednesday, May 14th, 2008 at 11:00am followed by a lunch at Southward Ho Country Club about a mile down the road from the church... all are invited...

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Hospice Care Network, 99 Sunnyside Blvd, Woodbury, NY 11797

Thanks again!

We love you!

Love,

The General and all her troops!

BTW...

Oh... By the way... I forgot to tell you ...

Last Saturday, I snuck into mom and dad's bedroom to check on them... and they were both passed out cold... mouths open and all! :-) but the cutest thing was despite both of them having to be upright on their side of the bed, they held hand in the middle through the ENTIRE night!!

(i took a photo, which i know they would kill me if i posted, since their mouths were open and all!) :-)

they are so cute and adorable!!!... and still, every second of every day, madly in love with each other!

Family Fun Times

Hey all..

So... we had quite the busy couple of weeks since dad's stint in the hospital. We started Hospice, which is awesome! and dad came home!! amazing! and not only did he come home with no problems, but he got home a day early to surprise mom! it was so cute!!

my mom's two sister's (Kathleen and Sheila) were also here for a nice visit along with my cousin Peter and little Charlie! Adorable!

And last Saturday we had a beautiful family mass at the house... Ned Murphy (my mom's cousin, the priest) came over along with my siblings, a few extended family members and friends. It was really amazing and nice... music, candles and hosts that tasted like peanut butter! Marc and Jenny read the readings... it was the perfect mass, right in our living room!

we had a small little party after and watched the Kentucky Derby... Big Brown and Dennis from Cork!! Wahooo!! we actually have a Dennis from Cork in our family!! so we were rooting hard for him in addition to our local Big Brown! Mom loved every bit of the day! and as we brought her up to bed we all sang Good Night Sweet Heart.. and mom loved it and made us sing it again!! It was so funny!! then she ordered everyone to stick around and drink and be merry b/c even though she went upstairs... she was downstairs in spirit!

That's my mom! :-)

Later that weekend, mom actually walked up and down the stairs and we took a walk over to walker beach. It was so great and HOT... fantastic weather! she really enjoyed the nice peaceful view and that all her ducks were in a row so to speak...(all 5 kids were here at once!) and loving her!!

this past week, mom had PT and did great! and i must say HOSPICE is awesome!! Muriel (our aide) comes Mon-Fri 8:30-12:30 and does everything! Helps with breakfast, lunch vacuuming, laundry, showers everything!! awesome!! and the nurses and doctors visit once a week and are on call 24-7~!!

AWESOME!!!!

Anywhoooooo... this weekend mom is heading to the Hospice Inn... it is an inpatient Inn (more comfy than a hospital) to get her pain medicine as an IV into her port. This way she is constantly getting medicine every hour plus additional medicine as she needs it... pretty great! soo.... we shall see!

hope all is well... and please keep those prayers coming!

lots of love!

rach