My mother, Josephine Strehl, passed away at about 1:40 a.m. this morning.  She died peacefully after a day in some distress but without pain or severe discomfort.  Anne and I shared much of yesterday with her.  Her passing last night was a surprise, but she was ready for death and it came as she wished as she slept.  She was alert and caring on her last day.  We sorely miss her.

Born on June 17, 1922, mother was a depression era child of Italian immigrants.  A small woman, 5 foot 2, smart and vocal, her Dad encouraged her to attend college for accounting.  Spirited she thought that impractical and became a book-keeper instead and married my father to create a family in Clifton New Jersey.  She was for many years a traditional housewife and home economist.  In the tv shows of that time the husbands gave their wives allowances.  In our home mother gave our father an allowance.  Perhaps the income was modest and at times unsteady, but our family always saved and there was always a summer vacation together. 

The family was the foundation and she kept peace with my Dad’s large one and her somewhat smaller one.  Our family made a large leap to south Florida in 1960 where her parents and one of my Dad’s sisters had already settled.  There the sixties rolled by and my sister and I grew up under her tutelage.  We departed for college and she returned to employment. 

In the 70’s we were scattered but my meeting a girl in York PA created a vortex that reunited us in the Mid-Atlantic.  When Dad retired Mom gave marching orders and they moved to Pennsylvania.  I blame that not on me but on my children.  Mom knew from experience what a grandmother should provide, and that was love.  She believed in discipline, but that was the responsibility of the parents. 

And so, for many years she gave relief to Anne and I and joyful memories to our children.  She also provided community service, in particular providing support for many Veterans’ Day, Memorial Day services.

We grieve and mourn her loss.  Hardheaded she felt more and more helpless as the disease progressed.  She was honored by our love and appreciation but told us that the time had come for her to go.  We accepted that but not happily.  We can hope that we may some day have provided as much to the good of the family and to this world as she did. 

She was one of a generation that endured the darkness that befell this planet in the 1930’s and 1940’s and built an engine of prosperity that still goes forward to all our benefit.  We give praise and thanks for their good will and honor their passing.