by
\nKenneth J. Pearce
\nFuneral Mass at Mars, PA
\n9\/18\/12<\/p>\n
[Jean Marie Hathazy Pearce was the wife of Carl D. Pearce (1942-2004)]<\/p>\n
I began thinking about writing this tribute to my mom while sitting in the North Royalton Middle School parking lot after one of Garrett’s football games. I was waiting for him to emerge from the locker room and I thought to myself, this is something mom did for me many times over the years while I was growing up.\u00a0 Sitting and waiting.\u00a0 Of all the better things she could be doing…. She took care of me that way.\u00a0 She made sure all of my needs were met at the expense of her own.\u00a0 Now the shoe is on the other foot and I’m the one taking care of my kids.\u00a0 I find myself thinking of how I took her for granted back then and of how I didn’t appreciate her and what she was doing for me.\u00a0 As it turns out, she was always doing things for me.<\/p>\n
When Diana and I were growing up, mom was a dedicated housewife.\u00a0 That was her role.\u00a0 She cooked and cleaned, ironed and sewed, paid the bills.\u00a0 All of our basic needs were met. We didn’t long for much because mom was there and she provided.<\/p>\n
I will never forget her fabulous cooking. At the top of my list are the delicious Thanksgiving Dinners she hosted over the years.\u00a0 They came complete with the best stuffing you’ll find anywhere, hands down.\u00a0 Sorry ladies, but it’s true.\u00a0 She also made the best cole slaw and potato salad you’ll find anywhere.\u00a0 Unfortunately, I never obtained these secret recipes from her and now I\u2019m afraid she has taken them with her.<\/p>\n
As far as the house goes, she always kept things very neat and tidy.\u00a0 Rooms were always well dusted and swept.\u00a0 You’d never find clothes or any other items lying around.\u00a0 Everything had it’s place.\u00a0 As my wife Niki will attest to, I’m sure I inherited this trait from her.<\/p>\n
As I got older and got to know my mom better, she became someone I could confide in.\u00a0 She was someone I could talk to.\u00a0 No, we weren’t solving world peace, but we did manage to talk about more than just the weather.\u00a0 Although, honestly at times I swear that was her favorite topic.\u00a0 We shared each others thoughts and feelings.\u00a0 We engaged each other and took an active interest in each others daily lives.\u00a0 Although I wish she was a more open person, I was able to appreciate her for who she was, a kind, loving, caring, religious, private, simple woman.<\/p>\n
Through the years, she kept a daily journal of her thoughts and of what transpired that day.\u00a0 I remember asking her “Why are you writing that for?”\u00a0 Who’s going to read it?\u00a0 To which she quietly replied “you will” and gave me that sheepish grin of hers.\u00a0 I simply shook my head in disbelief thinking she had more important things to do.\u00a0 Now I believe she scribbled these notes as a means of therapy.\u00a0 Perhaps they helped her deal with the loss of her husband in 2004, perhaps they helped her cope with the near daily headaches and migraines she suffered from.\u00a0 Or perhaps they helped her deal with the uncertainty of the path ahead.\u00a0 We’ll never know for sure.\u00a0 But one reoccurring theme throughout these journals was clear to me and that was her undeniable commitment and dedication to helping raise a wonderful granddaughter, Jordan.\u00a0 I do believe Jordan became her purpose and her challenge.<\/p>\n
Now that my mom has left this life, I will always remember her for the good person she was and for the kind heart she had.\u00a0 She was a simple woman making do in a very busy time. Mom I love you!\u00a0 Rest in Peace!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
by Kenneth J. Pearce Funeral Mass at Mars, PA 9\/18\/12 [Jean Marie Hathazy Pearce was the wife of Carl D. Pearce (1942-2004)] I began thinking about writing this tribute to my mom while sitting in the North Royalton Middle School … Continue reading