It’s very important to us that we send Mom off in a style befitting her…..and as such, I stand before all of you today the representative of a family in mourning, but rejoicing in her glory.

Whether you knew her as Mom, Nana, Sis, Aunt or Nettie, you knew that her family was her world….everything she did was in our interest.  My father was a laborer with the railroad for 34 years, and she performed miracles to ensure that her family had everything their hearts desired.

She never asked for a thing, instead choosing to put others first and looking after herself if there was time.  Nothing made her happier than seeing her children and grandchildren all together in the same place.

·        She was more open-minded than her peers when it came to traditional thought,

·        An independent woman when it was not in style,

·        Danced the Lindy, Cha Cha, and Meringue like a pro,

·        Fought with her sisters for the crunchy parts of baked ziti,

·        Devoured zuppa di pesce like it was her last supper,

·        Was a fierce competitor at UNO, Canasta, and Poker,

·        Solved the puzzles on the Wheel of Fortune before any contestant,

·        And made countless pilgrimages to Atlantic City and Foxwoods, trying with all her might to win a jackpot with those illusive three 7s, and swearing she would never go back.

Her smile and laugh were infectious, her demeanor delightful, and her meatballs and eggplant were OFF THE HOOK!!!

Mom was the smartest person I knew, and I told her many times that she was wasting her potential…..But as I reflected upon her life over the last few months, it occurred to me that I was very wrong, unusual for me, yes, but nevertheless…..she hadn’t wasted her potential at all.  Yes, she was both COO and CFO of Willow Lane Associates for 33 years, from 1972-2005, turning it into the most sought after rental property in Pelham Bay, but more importantly, Mom was the very essence of duty, selflessness and unconditional love.  She truly lived her life in Jesus’ likeness and possessed a faith stronger than anyone I’ve ever known……that’s how to use your potential! 

She leaves behind the wonderful legacy of a close-knit, caring family, and we owe it to her to carry on supporting and looking after one another, showing the same love that she did, so that our memories of her will not fade, but rather grow fonder as time goes by.

I want to be just like her when I grow up, and all of you should too.