For years, my Mom volunteered for the Bridgeport Hospital Auxiliary. When my folks retired and moved up to New Hampshire, Mom remained on the auxiliary mailing list and received and read their newsletter for years.
Last month I finally sent a note to the newsletter saying that Mom had died, since I kept getting the newsletter in the mail and tossing it out. Yesterday I received a letter from a woman at the Bridgeport Hospital Foundation. "We wish to inform you that we have received a gift to the Bridgeport Hospital Foundation in memory of Louise Pope, whose name will be inscribed in the Scroll of Remembrance located in the Main Lobby of the Hospital." They say the donation was "generous" and tell me who the donor was so I can thank them.Well I was just filled with so much emotion at the kind gesture. Tears come to my eyes even as I write these words. That Mom's name will be inscribed moved me even more than the generous donation though that was quite lovely. I am not one to toot a horn nor were either of my parents. Yet, this place where Mom's name will be inscribed....this just brings me to tears. To be acknowledged, even after death, to be remembered by those still living. We all wish to be acknowledged and respected and remembered for what we do. And I'm so glad this happened for Mom even though she doesn't know.
(although I have shown these photos before, they are all I have right now as all others are packed. Wish I had the one of Mom in her nurses uniform. Ah well.)
15 comments:
I'll bet your Mom DOES know, Suki! It really is such a heart-warming gesture to honour your Mother in this generous way. Her hard work was acknowledged...that's always a wonderful thing!
I hope your house is coming along. I missed the post about what happened...but I wish you all the best with it even so!
What a wonderful thing to have happened...after the stress of the last filled days...this loving gesture towards your Mom is exactly what you need! I can understand your tears.... they are happy ones. You have stated it perfectly....to be remembered after death, to live on, memorialised where she spent s much time carung for others - is a wonderful tribute.
Love the photos. Your Mum was a wonderful woman. And so are you.
Love,
♥ Robin ♥
p.s. Around 11:00 p.m. something made me draw back my bedroom curtains - and peeking through the fog, I saw the moon for just a sec.... lovely....
How wonderful! What an honor to have your mom remembered and appreciated in such a tangible way.
What a beautiful tribute to a wonderful woman. What an honor and obviously so well deserved. The kind of mitzvot (good deeds) your mother did she did from her heart (like the red one you bought for her)she did not expect praise or reward. I like that you are the one who hears of the tribute and can feel this pride in your parents lifes work. How fitting. She led by example.
Oh, but Suki, your mom does know!(Just saw that Marion said the same thing, yay Marion!).
This is so wonderful and must make you very proud.Hugs.xoxox
What a lovely tribute to your Mom. I always think its what a person does with their life that matters more then anything else. and This proves it.
Suki, I think you Mom does know about this generous gesture. Your Mother must have been a great blessing to them.
Your mother would be so proud, Suki!
Hey, I found some copies of the cookbook on Amazon! They're a little more pricey than my dust coverless $1 copy, but worth it!
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I love 'out of the blue' happenings that make our hearts sing!
This was a much needed blessing Suki, and one your Mom is proud of because I agree, she knows ;)
I wonder if you'll ever find out who the donor was.
What a wonderful unexpected event!
Nice to meet you, and thanks for following me.
Oh Suki how special this is!!!!
And I think she does know.
You must be so proud.
Thanks for sharing this special story with us!
what a fantsatic testament to her life and good works and not suyrprising at all. i can still see her sitting in that chair with the lovely heart you gave her. please post that picture again one day.
I think that one of the hardest parts of people we love passing away is the fact that others forget about how important and meaningful their lives were.
And your Mom is remembered - and for a long time her name will be read in association with something she cared deeply about - that is very special!
i think she knows too, suki.
i think of your Mom often when i think of my Dad, probably because i know they were and are both wonderful kind people and their spirit blesses us always.
do you know the benefactor? i would be so curious...
ps i hope your water damage in getting solved and i hope you can get away this summer
love
kj
Suki, I know your mother was a very wonderful and special person because she raised such a beautiful and special daughter. This award is for all the wonderful good she did in her life not only for the hospital, but for all the people she has touched from around the world through you.
She deserved this award and you deserved the swelling emotions from this woman's kindness and generosity. Thank you for sharing this as it has filled my heart with emotion today!
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