MOM

Mom
Alice Agnes (Gozdowski) Hayes
July 11, 1923 - October 13, 2010

Our Mom was a great Mom, and a very grand Lady!

Mom loved her family
and she loved the home Dad built for her.
Mom worked hard to make it function for a brood of ten
and despite all her gallant efforts,
there was an organized joyful chaos,
which could not be tamed.

But...Mom did try to guide us
as we each etched out our place in the world
And she could say so much with a disapproving look,
a raised brow, or a scathing lecture.
And though we didn't really always listen back then
we appreciate her words so much now.
Realizing maybe
our chosen roads would have been less bumpy
if we had taken her advice once in a while!

Mom's home was her refuge
and was for many of us too,
always warm, and welcoming
with an open door
to friends and family alike.
Especially for the Holidays!
Mom enjoyed all the Holidays,
but I think it is safe to say
she Loved Christmas time the most
where the Hayes Home was transformed into
a festive wonderland.

Mom took care of the decorating inside
and she would leave no corner unadorned
And Dad strung his lights on the bushes and trees outside
(of course we all helped)
with a star topping the antenna which you could see
a neighborhood a way.

Both Mom and Dad, made Christmas Eve so festive
Mom would make her bacon wrapped wieners,
And Dad would construct his special Punch
and serve it in a huge bowl on the bar,
along side the singing Christmas tree!
Then later, we would sing carols
around the player piano
and then we would call Danny and Tincie
to sing Danny Boy!
Mom and Dad always made it a lovely night...
very special for all of us to share
and they will be times, we will all fondly remember...

Mom had many passions,
she dearly loved all her Children, Grandchildren
and Great-Grandchildren too!
She loved feeding the birds, and the pesky squirrels,
taking care of her flowers and reading the gossip mags,
She loved her panoramic view to the world
sitting at the kitchen table,
never feeling the need to venture out much,
she just loved being at home
How wonderful it was that Mom found her joy there...

Mom believed in the power of prayer
and she always had her rosary always near by,
along with her special prayer cards
And like Dad, she lived her Faith privately
But I can still see them as I would go up the stairs to bed
both on their knees
saying their nightly prayers.

Its been ten years now since Mom has died
leaving a huge ache in all of our hearts
She was our safe place,
our connection to all things familiar
and she was Home...

Her strength during Pop's illness and death
was remarkable
she set the pace for us to follow
and now that she is gone,
we have lost our paragon
and our cadence
We lost our Mom
We love you Mom...