Our family has just returned from PEI, where we had a lovely memorial for my Mom. She was put to rest at the family plot in Marie Cemetery, Morell. We all enjoyed a nice stay at Shaw's Hotel nearby, where the family has vacationed since Mom was a girl. Many fun memories were shared - see below for my own, spoken on the day of her memorial, and also Mom's birthday, September 21st. "I think we all know how pleased it must make my Mom to have us all here together on her favourite island (in Canada anyway!) celebrating and honouring her life. Over the past couple months I’ve really enjoyed reading the many kind remarks about my Mom on the memorial website. Among her descriptors: beautiful, graceful, intelligent, kind, sincere, generous, thoughtful, stylish, and talented. My Mom was a joy to be around and I saw first-hand over the years how many lives she touched with her gentle spirit – she was certainly adored by many. Mom would be the last to admit that she possessed any talents, but they were numerous: Not only did my Mom love to laugh, she had her own quick wit – that I think sometimes caught people off-guard. We sure have enjoyed a lot of laughs over the years – many a family dinner was spent laughing to the point of tears (often at Colin’s and Scott’s antics) and my Mom and I certainly had our own share of girly giggles together. When we traveled, things often “just happened” to Mom and I (like when she was robbed in Florence, Italy), and she always had an appropriately sarcastic comment to lighten the mood. “Life’s a journey!” she would say. Mom could organize anything: her kids, her spouse, her bosses, her pets, her home, and even her garage. Her talent to provide order certainly kept the family in check. To me, her meccas of tidy arrangement seemed to mirror her love for intellectual order – my Mom was indeed one “smart cookie”. Even in the latter stages of Mom’s illness, when she was starting to show signs of what she referred to as “fuzzy brain”, she was still devouring books and would put Yuri and I to shame at the Scrabble board. She pulled out word after word we’d never even heard of, high-scoring us again and again. She was unbeatable – and dare I say, rather competitive. This “game gene” as I like to call it, undoubtedly via my Nana Cox, must have skipped me. Mom had an uncanny ability to relate to people. She was an excellent listener and always nonjudgmental – and probably because of this she was as popular with people like John, her handyman and Kriztina, her cleaning lady, and Roy, her Publix supermarket cashier, as she was with her longtime friends. Through my teen, university, and then adult years every friend I ever introduced to my Mom immediately adored her (and I do seem to recall my male friends, including my now-husband Yuri, voicing how “hot” and “hip” my mother was). Yuri and my Mom connected when they met as if they’d known one another forever – Yuri would tell me, “Your Mom’s just so easy to love”. And if my Mom gave her approval on someone (like Yuri), I knew he was a darn good catch – her taste was impeccable. Mom’s gift for the art of knitting and crocheting was unlike anyone I know. As with anything in her life, she approached knitting with a sense of perfectionism. This was undoubtedly impressed upon her by my grandmother and great-grandmother who originally taught my Mom the craft. When my Mom taught me to knit (and boy, was she patient), she would show me a row, hold it up to examine her work, and then undo the row, explaining that ,“it wasn’t quite right Lamby.” Meanwhile, in my perhaps novice eyes, it had been just perfect. My Mom found great joy in knitting I’m guessing because her exquisite final products of blankets, sweaters, dresses and christening gowns were met with such joy by those who received them. Even my 2 and 4-year-old daughters appreciated the work their Gigi did, often enquiring whether the package received in our mailbox from Gigi, “had a pretty sweater in it”. Mom even customized her knitting for some of Yuri’s far-away family whom she’d never even met. And she was always astounded at how touched people would be by her creative gesture. I’d often tell her, “Mom, you don’t even realize how talented you are.” Mom, as everyone knows, adored animals. And the adoration was mutual. I think it was instinctual to have those dogs, cats, birds, and even geckos in her life love her back – they just sensed what a kind-hearted, devoted lady their “mommy” was. I suspect it was justified pay-back that her Bouviers, Bing and Brindy, were Best-of-Show medal winners and finally, that her Shitzsu, Maddie was just so adorable and well-behaved. Finally, and most of all, I was so very proud of my Mom. Sure I appreciated her talents and beauty (both inner and outer) but I am most proud of her undaunting strength and determination. When she was first diagnosed with cancer, the people she considered most were her family – and how her disease would effect them. I don’t think any of us can begin to imagine the pain my Mom endured – never complaining, always persevering. She was fiercely independent and gracious to the very end – even managing a joke and gorgeous smile here and there to make us feel better at her bedside. She always put her family first – and I love her for that. Mom - Yuri, the girls, and I miss you every day – and I hope now you have found peace."