We got home today from our cruise. There was an incredible thank you note from Dave's cousins, Chuck and Maura, which has made me cry a lot tonight. I met Jeanne when I was in Butte at Easter and totally connected with her. I thought I was looking at my Aunt Teresa with her beautiful white hair and her saying her prayers. I hugged her several times that evening as she reminded me so much of Teresa and my Irish roots.
I have felt a very special connection to so many of Dave's relatives as they are so much like our family. However, Chuck and Maura will always hold a very special place in my heart. Chuck was the best man at our wedding and it was so important to both of us that they came to Gilbert last May.
Maura and I talked about the similarities in our families. When her mom died in September and she let us know, I knew that a very special lady had left this earth. However, she left a legacy that I can relate to so much. Although she reminded me so much of Teresa, she was a lot like my mom. Maura told Dave that as she was saying her last words to her kids, she reminded the to always vote Democratic. My mom would have loved that!!
Maura included the information from the funeral in the note she sent us. Here is a picture of what was written. I ABSOLUTELY LOVE IT!
It is so much what we would have said, but didn't. "Everything I need to know I learned from my Mother."
Vote democrat, eat like a bird and exercise, listen to and care for other and love will come back to you in a million ways, turn to God in all things, pray the rosary and go to Mass, love your husband and treat him well, bring ranch dressing to all gatherings, plant a beautiful garden, celebrate with ice cream, hang sheets in the sun, watch PBS and learn, honor your roots and write down your memories, be able to laugh at yourself, set a nice table and never place a carton of milk on it, give donations as gifts, feel good and help others, stay involved and growing, Love your children and let them live their own lives, have tea ready for guests and serve it with ceremony, enjoy nature and books at all times, save old paper, cut into squares and reuse as notepads, no bake cookies are the best, don't be afraid to fight for what you believe in, stop, smell the earth and savor the moment, afternoon tea with apples slices is the best pick me up, when stressed, take a walk, take the high road, be grateful for friends along your journey...treasure others and they will treasure you.
Powerful words from a wonderful lady that I feel blessed to have met. Thank you for sharing her with me for such a very short time!
And then Maura's beautiful words to Dave and I is really what meant the most to me. And that is why the tears........
Dear Sheila and Dave,
Thank you for your remembrance of Mom through the Butte Education Foundation. Like you, she was such a proponent of education.
Sheila, she loved you the moment she met you and was so thrilled that you married Dave. She felt it was a true love story.
Times like this we realize how lucky we were to have such amazing women in our lives and we can only hope to follow the guidance they laid down for us.
My hope is that I can continue to be guided by the incredible ladies I had in my life for many years and for the guidance of this wonderful lady I only met a few months ago.
Jeanne O'Neill inspired me and I am so grateful to be a member of the Uggetti Family and their extended one in Butte.
In the words of my favorite author, Carmen Agra Deedy, "those we love are never really gone, as long as their stories are told." And Jeanne, I am honoring my roots and writing down my memories!
What an incredible legacy and I am so blessed to be a part of it! And Jeanne, I love Dave and I treat him well. Thank you!
