Tuesday, January 9, 2024
/public-file/1714/Ultra/Image_jpg.jpg
Mom, it is with a heavy heart that I say goodbye. You were a strong woman even though you were living every day with multiple medical issues. I will miss you so much and I try to rest knowing that you are finally at peace with a whole body and mind.
Dad has been waiting for the love of his life to join him in everlasting life with God. He welcomes you with all his love and open arms. I love you and till I see you again.
Those of you that knew my mom, knew her to be outspoken, particular, opinionated and a very strong woman. All of that in a 4'10" frame. If she didn't like something, everyone knew about it. However, every person that I have spoken with about you always say, "she was so nice". I still scratch my head on that one! You and I did butt heads quite often. I guess it was that mother/daughter "thing". Growing up, you were such a great example of a mother, that all I wanted to be when I grew up, was a wife and mother of 3 children. You made it look so appealing. So much so, I tried it three times! I guess it was that "never give up" attitude you instilled in me. You showed me that working hard was the way to succeed in life. When I was very little, I remember you standing in our living room, ironing other peoples' clothes to supplement our household income. You also would baby sit. That must be why I often worked two jobs at a time. Work hard, is one of the valuable lessons you taught me.
I always knew that you loved me, even though I never heard you utter those words to me as a child. I knew it in my heart because of all the things you did for me. Our home was always clean and organized. You cooked all our meals with love and no recipes. As I painfully learned after getting married and calling you all the time asking how you made this or that. I loved your cooking so much that I wanted to duplicate all those meals that made me feel like home.
You learned how to sew and made clothing for me and my sister. However, I'm still not sure why you made us look like twins when we were almost 3 years apart. I guess it was just easier to use the same pattern and just make the second one a little smaller. You did what you knew and kept the household budget in mind while doing so. I look at all those photos today and just laugh. I looked so proud to be wearing something my mom made for me.
I have very fond memories of when I was in school and I had difficulties spelling something. Your quick response was "Go look it up in the dictionary." You wanted to make sure that we used those ever-imposing World Book Encyclopedias that came with those two monster dictionaries. My response would be "How am I gonna' be able to look it up, when I don't know how to spell it?" The silence was deafening. I didn't know as a child about your childhood experience with going (or not going) to school. I would have never known as I thought you were super smart.
I always knew when you were cooking your homemade pasta sauce. I could smell it down the road when I got off the school bus and walking home. I started walking a little faster as I loved your pasta. Every Christmas you made your famous giblet gravy, fruit salad (that your grandchildren to this day, try to duplicate) and all the fixins'. Christmas was not Christmas if it wasn't celebrated at your house.
As your children grew up and didn't depend on you as much, you began to explore other interests. BINGO! Man, oh man, did you love Bingo. I remember joking with you about how often you played bingo. Eight days a week, I would say. You would always try to correct me and respond with "There isn't even eight days in a week!"
And then you discovered Slot Machines. Vegas, baby! You and dad would make several trips per year in the beginning and you were ever the lucky one! I remember one year; you and dad had already scheduled your Vegas trip and dad couldn't take time off from work. You called me and asked, "Do you want to go in his place? The tickets are already paid for." I had just had my first child and replied "I can't go without someone watching the baby." Well, as luck would have it, I was able to go. And boy, did we have a great time.
I could go on forever, with fond memory after fond memory. You were such an inspiration. A phone call away when life was just not going right. You would listen and comfort when needed.
Mom, you were the glue that held our family together. We are forever fractured without you holding us together! I will miss you dearly!
Your loving daughter,
Janet R Campise
