When I was little, Mom always taught us, "it's good to be good". Close to the end, she had rare moments of lucidity. But we could still hug and spend time together. One day, I looked in her eyes, she squeezed my hands tight, and said "we're good people".

Mom believed in the good in all people. She believed that children needed expectations so they could believe in themselves. This is why she made such a huge difference in the trajectory of so many of her students' lives. Many of her former students would ask me to thank her for changing their lives, for believing in them when no one else did. She said that kids need to know where they came from, to have a sense of identity and belonging.

At the same time, she believed that kids should be encouraged to be kids. She nurtured the curiosity, play, creativity, and the freedom of childhood.

I never doubted that I could be anything I wanted to be.

Mom was a confident power-house who took a stand and walked the walk. She organized town events, took community advocate positions, built a community center for children. She created family and community traditions like sleigh riding, arts and crafts events, and even organized town fairs with bullfrog jumping contests that the whole town attended.

Mom was my first grade teacher in Glen Gardener. She set up a "magic carpet" in the classroom where make-believe became real. She believed education was the key to freedom and power.

She valued and celebrated people's differences and curiosity about one another. As a child, I never knew racism, and equal rights were never in question.

She was a high achiever in high school and college. In addition, she sang in her school quoir. I remember listening to her performances on a 78 record. In high school, she was Class Queen. I never would have known this if I hadn't found a newspaper clipping today. Looks were of low importance to her; she rarely spoke of it. A few years ago, an old friend of her brother's told me she was the hottest chick in high school.

That said, she found it important to present herself nicely and with a little flare. She placed higher value on speaking properly, looking people in the eye, being 'seemly', showing respect, and adding humor. Because of this, I had such direct eye contact that some people told me I freaked them out! I didn't know any other way. It really did change the quality of my life.

When I was afraid or wanted to give up, she stood for my follow through. She told me I could do it. I achieved some scary things with her strength behind me.

She was also fiercey protective, always worried if everyone was OK. I understand that is the love of a deeply devoted mom, Grandy, and friend.

She taught me to cherish animals. She and Fritz gave my best friend Buddy three of the best years of his life.

My mom easily and often said I love you and meant it. She was a warm person. She believed that the family dinner was the most important part of the day. She made the simple things special.

Mom's father was a clockmaker who came here from Germany. Her mother was Irish. She had a wonderful childhood filled with family members who adored her, especially Gran, uncle Harold, Pop-pop, and aunt Sally. She said "life was in technicolor at the shore". She spoke of "warm summers, wet sandy bathing suits, crabbing, shucking clams, sleeping on the front porch listening to the crashing waves". Later, she encouraged me to "play in the muck in the river", catching fish, and exploring, because "kids should play outside".

As a child, she climbed the sea wall looking for U-boats. She helped assemble the family television, and the whole block came to watch it. She spoke of "cranking the handle of the huge Victrola that played records while everyone sang in harmony". Her father played guitar, and her brother Wally played guitar in the band "The Mods". She could be the life of a party, and loved to dance.

She was generous and gave everything of herself for her daughters and her grandkids Sean and Evan. She instilled integrity in her grandsons and often commented "they are good men". She adored her brother Wally and her old and new friends.

It was her pride and personal duty to be concerned about the world and the stakes were high. Her firey spirit and her drive to contribute lead to lively debates or exchanges of ideas. She stood for people's right to choose, but wasnt afraid to fight for what she believed. She was fully self-expressed. Her strong personality was matched by her huge heart.

She instilled my quest for freedom, exploration, and learning, and gave me the gift of empathy. I may never achieve her self-assurance, but I know what it looks like.

Mom was not afraid to leave this world. She believed that her spirit would always be with us whenever we spoke to her.

I love you Mom. You are beautiful, and I miss you.