Howdoyousummarize90yearsoflifeintheshorttimewehave?Well,youreallycant.

But,I
willattempttodomybest.
OnAugust18,1924,
MildredElizabethJones
wasborntoVinaandHowardJones.Momwas
theoldestof4children,heryoungersiblingsbeingourAuntMary,our
AuntAlice
andour
UncleBub.Momwasthelastonetopass..UncleBubgoingfirstinOctoberof1954atthe
terriblyyoungageof28HediedinatragicaccidentinPueblo,COwhichdevastatedmom
andtheirwholefamily.AuntMarypassednextinMarchof85,andthenjustlastJuly,Mom
lostherlastsibling,anddearsister,ourAuntAlice.Whowouldhavethoughtthatmom,being
theoldest,wouldhavelastedthelongest?
Momdidnthaveaneasychildhood.Growingupduringthegreatdepression,shelearnedto
appreciatethefewthingsshehad.Foodwasscarceandlimitedforthem.Momwouldtellus
howshewouldonlyhaveonebiscuittotakeforlunchwhenshewenttoschool.Shesaidshe
wouldhideinthecornerandeatitbecausemostoftheotherkidshadmoretoeat,andshewas
embarrassed.Irememberhowmyeyesstungwithtearsthefirsttimeshetoldmethatstory.Just
thethoughtofmysweetlittlemamainacorner,eatingalittlebiscuitforlunchThatwastough
tohear.ButMommadeitthroughthosehardyearsandattheageof17,quithighschooland
marriedourdad,EmilCyrilClarkonMay10th1941.DadwasshippedofftoWW2nottoo
longaftertheygotmarriedDadalwayslaughedandsaidthateachtimehewouldcomehome
onfurloughandthengobacktowar,hewouldinevitablyreceiveatelegramfrommomnot
longaftersaying,Neil,Impregnantagain.AndthatswhenthebabysbeganOn
December23,1943,outpoppedtheirfirstbornson,LawrenceLeeClark.Hewasajoytothem
both.WealwaysjokedabouthowmanypicturestherewereofLarryandasmoreandmore
childrenwereborn,thepicturesdecreased.Iguessthatshowitiswithall1stbornkids.Next
onDecember7,1946MomgavebirthtoKennethPaulClark.Thejoyofa2ndsonwasshort
lived,ashepassedawayabout2monthslater.Listeningtomomtalkaboutthedeathoftheir
infantsonandourbrotherwasheartbreakingtosaytheleastAndevenupuntilthelastyears

ofmomslife,thatheartacheneverlefther..shestillgrievedhisdeath,evenafteralmost70
yearsandcriedeverytimeshespokeabouthim..NextcameRobertLouisClarkbornNovember
28,1947,thenLindaAnnClarkonJuly6,1949,andthenEdmondHowardClarkonOctober
28,1950.WelostourdearbrotherEddyonJanuary11,1987.Itwasheartbreakingtoour
entirefamilyandhischildren..NextcameRitaE.ClarkonDecember13,1955,andwelostRita
onOctober23,2008,tothesameterribledisease.Tosaytheleast,weallsufferedatragicloss
inlosingthemboth.OnJanuary1,1955JosephAndrewClarkmadehisappearanceintothe
world,July25,1958,LorettaMarieClarkwasborn,September21,1960,JamesPhillipClark
arrived,November21,1963,LisaMarieClark(thatsme)decidedtojointhecrowdAndlast
butcertainlynotleast,CatherineJeanClarkmadeherappearanceasthebabyladyofthefamily
onSeptember11,1966.AllIcansayafterthatiswow,whatacrew!AndPOORMOM!!!
Ifyouthinkthatisacrew,listentothis
Momwastheproudmotherof11children
Momwastheproudgrandmotherof34children
ShewastheproudGreatgrandmotherof49children
Andshewastheproudgreatgreatgrandmotherof7children.AndoneonthewayforEmily
andMatt.Thatmakesatotalof90grandchildrenthatshehad!Howironicthatmomlived90
yearsandhad90grandchildrenwhenshepassedaway?
Howincredibleisthat?Shelovedallofhergrandchildrenverymuch.
MomalsolovedourDadverymuch....thoughtheysometimeswouldfightlikecatsanddogs,
shereallyworshippedthegroundhewalkedonShelovedhimandallofuskidssomuchI
feltthatlovefromhereverysingledayofmylifeandwilltreasureitandcherishitinmyheart
forever

Youknow,somepeoplemightthinkitissadthatmomnevergottodoalotofthingsduring
herlife.Shenevergottotravelorgoonvacations..(whocouldwithallthosekids!)Idontthink
sheeverevengottoseetheocean.ShenevergottogoouttodinnerjustbecauseShenever
workedoutsidethehomeSheneverlearnedhowtodriveacarWellshetried,dadtriedto
teachheronce,andsheknockeddownalightpoleoratelephonepoleorsomething,sothat
lessonendedthenandthere!Shenevergottohavefriendslikemostcoupledo.nevergotto
entertainexceptforhavingherkidsover.Iknowallofthissoundsreallysadanditisina
wayIguessbutreally,momwasneversadaboutwhatshedidntgettodooraccomplishin
life.NeverdidIhearhercomplain.Momsnumberonepriorityandgoalinlifewastotakecare
ofuskids,herhusbandandherhome.Andshedidjustthat.Shewascontenttolivethatlife.
Shemadesurethatuskidshadwhatweneeded.Backthen,wereallyonlyhadthebare
necessities,butweneverwenthungry,wealwayshadclothesonourback,andshemadesure
weweretakencareofandlovedWhatmorecouldwehaveaskedfor?

WhenDinoandIgotmarriedandrealizedhowmuchmomhadmissedoutonbecauseshewas
raisingkidsallherlife,weweredeterminedtomakeupforsomeofthefunshemissedjustasI
knowtherestofourfamilydidWehadsomuchfuntakingherplacesandbackinthosedays,
shelovedtogogogo!TakingherupinthearchforherfirsttimewassomethingIwillnever
forget,takinghertoridetheoldWorldsFairCarouselatFaustParkwasalsosomethingthat
wasonmomsbucketlist.Shehadrodeitasachildandsowhenwefoundoutshewantedto
rideitagainallthoseyearslater,wemadethathappen.MomlovedtodrivethroughourLadyof
theSnowseveryyearbeforeChristmastoseethelightsandthatwasalwaysahighlight.Justas
farbackasacoupleyearsago,wetookherdownonahikingtrailbytheriveronabeautiful
springdayinherwheelchairandtookheronalongwalkalongsideoftheriver.Momlovedto
peoplewatchAndshesaidhelloandwavedtoeveryone,noIreallymeaneveryone!Andit
wassopreciousbecauseallthewalkersandjoggerswouldgobyandmomwouldbewaving
andsayinghellotothemandeventhediehardjoggerswouldwavebackorstoptosayhelloto
herYoujustcouldntpassthatsmileofhersup!Justsimplethingslikethatthrilled
momAnditthrilledallofuskidstobeabletotakehertodothesethings.

Ithinksomeofthehighlightsofmomslifewereofcoursehavingherkids,finallymovingfrom
ParkAvenuetoabighouseonFamousAvenue,watchingallofuskidsgetmarriedandhave
ourownchildren,seeingourbrotherLarrybecomeaDeacon,seeingourbrotherBobcome
homefromthearmy,celebratingheranddads50thweddinganniversarywithahugepartyata
hallandfindingoutthatshehadherfirstgreat,greatgrandchild,Keiley,whoisEddysgreat
granddaughterandTriciasgranddaughter.Iwillneverforgetthelookonherfacewhenshe
realizedshewasagreatgreatgrandma!
Momwasladenwithseveralhealthissuesthroughoutherlife.Shehadahorriblebackinsome
ofheryoungeryearsIrememberseveraltimesovertheyearswhenMomwasdownwithher
backandsheliterallycouldnotgetoutofbedThatwassoooforeigntometoseeherlayingin
bedwhilewewereallfendingforourselvesShewouldbelayinginbedyellingoutordersand
tellingushowtodothisorhowtodothatorwheretofindthisorthatIjustalwaysremember
thinking,Ihopemomgetsbettersoon,becausemakingmyownbreakfastisforthebirds!!!
Shehadahorribletimewithabadgallbladderbackinthe70sShesufferedalotwiththat
untiltheyremovedit.
Afterwelostdad,momgotacaseoftheshingles.ThatwasMayof99.Theshingleswerenot
diagnosedsoonenough,andunfortunately,momsufferedwiththatpainfortheremainderof
herlife.Rheumatoidarthritiscrippledmomshandsandfeetterriblystartingabout10years
ago,butsheneverletthatgetherdowneither.Andshealsohadbothofherkneesreplaced.All
ofthisanddoyouthinksheevercomplained?Noshedidntorveryrarely.Whatatrooper
shewasonetoughcookietosaytheleast.
Momstarteddevelopingdementiaaround1012yearsagoorso.Itwasaslowprogressionthat
ledtoherprettymuchlosingallofhershorttermandmuchofherlongtermmemory.Itwas
extremelysadandhardtowatch.Ahorriblediseasethatrobbedherofherpreciousmemories
andleftherfeelingconfusedandsadHowever,andIneverthoughtIwouldsaythis,buther
losinghermemorywastrulyablessinginthefinalmonthsanddaysofherlife.Momdidnot
wanttogotoanursinghome,ofcourse,butbecauseofthedementia,shejustreallythoughtshe
wasinthehospitaltryingtogetbetterAndthatisexactlywhatweletherthinkHonestly,I
dontthinkshereallyrealizedorknewquitewhereshewasmostofthetimeIknowthat
soundssad,butifyouhaveeverdealtwithsomeonewithdementiaorAlzheimers,youknow

exactlywhatImeanSodementiainherlastdayswastrulyablessing.AndIgottasay,so
manytimes,someofthestuffmomwouldsaybecauseofherdementiawouldmakeuslaughso
hard!Itwaseitherthatorcry!Sowechosetolaugh!Forinstance.hercane.Ohtheinfamous
cane.MomconstantlyaskedJimorwhoeverwasatthehouse,whereismycane?Ilostmy
cane?Doyouknowwheremycaneis?Iwouldsay,Mom,itshangingrighthereinyourcloset.
Well,shewouldlookatme,hermouthgapingwideopenandsay,Ohmygosh,youfoundit!
Howdiditgetthere?Thenthethenextday,Iwouldcomeoverandgointoherroomandshe
wouldsay,haveyouseenmycane?IcannotfindthatBleepthing.AndIwouldonceagain
say,ohhhhereitismom,rightinyourcloset.AndagainIwouldgetthemouthwideopen
surprisedlookonherfaceandshewouldbesohappytoseethatcane..again.Andthenof
courseinthelastcouplemonthsbeforeshewentintothenursinghome,everytimeshewould
seeme,shewouldaskmehowthenewlywedsNickandChrissieweredoing.AtfirstIwould
say,Mom,theyarenotgettingmarriedtillnextyear,remember?Shewouldsay,NO,theygot
marrieddidntthey?Ithoughtsuretheygotmarried.Isaid,momwhydidyouthinkthat?She
veryinsistentlysaid,wellIreaditinthepaper!(shehasntreadthepaperinmanyyears)andI
saidwhatpaper?Andshesaid,THEGLOBEDEMOCRATLISA!!!!Ineverlaughedsohardin
mylife!SoagainIsaidmom,theyaregettingmarriedinMay,promise.SothenexttimeI
wouldgooverthere,shewouldsay,howsthenewlyweds?AndyouknowwhatIendedup
saying?Theyaredoinggreatmom,theylovemarriedlife!!!!!Andthatjustthrilledher.She
wasjustsofunny..

Puttingmominanursinghomewasaverylastresortthatnoneofuswantedtodo.Butafter
shesufferedastrokeon927,therewasnowayshecouldcontinuetobecaredforathome
anymore.Whichbringsmetotellyouaboutsomeoneveryspecialtomeandallofmyfamily,
mybrotherJimmy.OnceDaddiedin98,Jimwasmomsprimarycaregiver.Thereisnoother
wayIcanputthisexcepttosayheprettymuchgaveupthenormallifethatmostallofustake
forgrantedinordertocareforMom.Thiswasnoeasytask,especiallyinthelastfewyearsof
momslife.Heselflesslydidthebestjobhecouldtomakesureshewastakencareof.Hemade
sureshewastakencareofineverywaypossibleThereisreallynowaywecanadequately
thankyouJimmyfordoingthatjobthatnoneofuscouldprobablyhavedone.Soallwecando

istosaythankyoufromthebottomofourheartsforwhatyoudidforourmom.Itwasoneof
themostselflessactsofpurekindnessandlovethatIhaveeverwitnessedinmylife.
IalsohavetotellyouhowproudIamtobeapartofsuchaloving,caringandcloseknitfamily
thatpulledtogetheroncemomdidgointothenursinghome.Weasafamilymadesurethatone
ofuswasthereforeverysinglemeal.Idonotthinktherewasonemealthatwewerenotthere
forAnd,thatwasanhonorandaprivilegetobeapartof,andthequalitytimewespentwith
momduringhermeals,wellthereisnothingthatwillevercomparetothat..Therewereveryfew
timesperiodthatmomdidnthaveoneofherkidsorgrandkidsintheroomwithher.Whatan
amazingfamilyIbelongto.
IwouldberemissifIdidntmentiontheoutstandingcarethatmomreceivedatWoodland
ManorNursingHome.ThosenursesandC.N.A.Slovedmom.Theyshowedhersomuchcare,
compassionandattentionandtheyreallygrewtoloveherinthemonthsshewasthere.Some
evengaveherkissesandhugs!MomhadoneextraspecialangeltherebythenameofAllison.
AllisonfirstcaredformomwhenshewasfirstadmittedtotheskillednursingsideoftheFacility.
Then,after2weeks,momhadtobemovedfromtheskilledhalltotheregularnursinghome
side.Wewereallprettynervousaboutthisaswehadneverhadtodealwithnursinghomesor
anyoneelsecaringforourpreciousmomWeknewthatshewouldneverbeabletogetthe
carethatJimmyandourfamilygavetoherAllofthehorrorstoriesthatwehadheardallour
liveswereintheforefrontonourmindsandhadusprettynervousSowhenwehadtomove
momfromAllisonsskillednursingsidetotheotherside,wewereverysadbecauseofthegreat
careshehadgottenontheskilledside,especiallyfromAllison.Momtookalikingtoherfrom
thegetgoandAllisonfellinlovewithmomaswell.Attimes,Allisonwastheonlyonewho
couldmakemomlaughoreventalk!Soyoucanimaginehowsadweallwerewhenthey
movedmom.Butthatlittleangelcontinuedtocomeoverandcheckonmom,usually2or3
timesduringherregularshift.Eventhoughmomwasnolongerherpatientorherresponsibility,
shejustkeptoncomingoverandcheckingonher.Whatagreatfeelingitwastoknowthat
momwasgettingthisextracareandlovefromher.Ourfamilywillbeforevergratefultoyou
Allison.Butreally,allofthosenursesandC.N.A.Sthatfellinlovewithmom,itdoesntreally
surpriseme.Itspeaksvolumesforthekindofpersonmomwas,whichwasthemostloving,
sweetest,kindestandmostspecialwomanthatIhaveeverknownorwilleverknowinmylife.


TherearesomanythingsIwillmissaboutmymom.Iwillmissseeingherandtalkingtoher.I
willmissherpreciousandsweetsmileandherlaugh.Iwillmisshowshealwaysworriedabout
me,Dinoandourboys.ButIthinkmostofall,whatIwillmissaboutmomishersenseof
humor.Shewassosofunny!Andmostofthetime,Idontthinksheevenmeanttobeorhad
anyideajusthowfunnyshewasSomeofthethingsthatwouldcomeoutofhermouthwell
letsjustsay,youNEVERknewwhatwouldcomeoutofhermouthEspeciallywithher
dementiaOhhowweheldourbreathsmanymanytimeswhenwehadheroutinpublicand
shewouldsaysomethingandweneverknewwhatwascomingnext!
OnbehalfoftheentireClarkfamily,Iwouldliketosaythankyoufromthebottomofour
heartstoFatherJimmyFrench,MomsGodson,forbeingsokindtosaymomsfuneralmass.I
knowsheisinheavenandlookingdownandsmilingfromeartoearbecauseshesuredidlove
you,andIknowsheissohonored,asweallare,tohaveyoudothisforher.Iwouldalsoliketo
thankeachandeveryoneofyouforbeinghereforus,foralltheprayersoverthelastfew
monthsespecially,andallthesupportourfamilyandfriendshaveshownus.Itisgreatly
appreciated.Inclosing,IwantedtoshareapoemwithyouSomethingIfoundthatIthink
prettymuchsumsupthewordmother

YourMotherisalwayswithyou..
She'sthewhisperoftheleavesasyouwalkdownthestreet,
She'sthesmellofcertainfoodsyouremember,
Flowersthatyoupick,
Shesthefragranceoflifeitself.
She'sthecoolhandonyourbrowwhenyou'renotfeelingwell.

She'syourbreathintheaironacoldwinter'sday.
Sheisthesoundoftherainthatlullsyoutosleep.
Shesthecolorsofarainbow.
YourMotherlivesinsideyourlaughter.
She'stheplaceyoucamefrom,yourfirsthome,andshe's
themapyoufollowwitheverystepyoutake.Shesyourfirstlove,andyourfirstfriend,and
nothingonearthcanseparateyounottimenotspacenotevendeath.
Thankyou
God'sGarden
Godlookedaroundhisgarden
Andfoundanemptyplace,
Hethenlookeddownupontheearth
Andsawyourwearyface.
Heputhisarmsaroundyou
Andliftedyoutorest.
Godsgardenmustbebeautiful
Heonlytakesthebest.
Heknewthatyouweresuffering

Heknewyouwereinpain.
Heknewthatyouwouldnever................
Getwellonearthagain.
Hesawtheroadwasgettingrough
Andthehillswerehardtoclimb.
Soheclosedyourwearyeyelids
Andwhispered,Peacebethine.
Itbrokeourheartstoloseyou
Butyoudidntgoalone,
Forpartofuswentwithyou
ThedayGodcalledyouhome.