Yesterday,  Jared and I traveled to South Jersey to say goodbye to my life friends’s mother.

Mama Stein was one of the sweetest most caring woman I have ever known. So many good memories as Shari Murray , Karla Curry and I have been friends since we were 4/5 years old. We did so much together growing up. Girls scouts, Softball, going to movies and shows at the community college, canoeing in a storm on the wading River, working several jobs together. We were inseparable in high school. Then we hit college. I was in north jersey but on breaks and when summer hit we again were always together. Mama Steins house was the house we always gravitated to. How she put up with all our antics I’ll never know. Always a house full of young kids then young adults. Never once complaining about the all night D&D quests. The cake batter fights. The spaghetti noodles on the wall. The any number of kids/ young adults sleeping on the couches and floors. The endless talks about Star Trek conventions. Watching One of her favorite movies Oliver Twist with her. Shari introduced me to Jared (they all met at a Star Trek convention) I remember Shari calling me and saying hey hurry up and come over I’m talking to Jared. Me rushing over then sitting for hours on their stairs talking to Jared all the while mama Stein sitting in the living room watching her shows just smiling away. When Jared and I got married mama Stein had my mom and I come over so she could help me and my maid of honor Shari get ready. Always a smile on her face.

Mama Stein was a saint. I will say this again. I don’t know how or even why she put up with our shenanigans. We weren’t a bad group but boy could we get wild and crazy. The laughter in the house never stopped and I will always remember her shocked reaction whenever one of us did something crazy. We are all a little sadder that you are gone but our memories will never let us forget what a wonderful woman and how many hearts you touched.

Mama Stein you will be missed but you will never be forgotten

Another memory I’d like share is our yearly ritual of putting up Christmas lights and decorating the house on Darmstadt Ave.

Someone had to get up on the roof and put up all Mama’s icicle lights and of course she’d always have to watch and worry that they’d fall and it would be all her fault. Now, you need to understand that these rants of worry and disclaimers were a fairly regular thing that we were all very accustomed to, and Neil Murray (Shari’s husband) loved nothing more than to amuse everyone by teasing his mother-in-law.

He is also very adept at changing song lyrics on the spot… so the classic hit was born “Up on the roof like a brainless clod, putting my life in the hands of God…”

"Where there is a will, there is a way."

You taught me this from an early age, but more importantly, you modeled it.

You told me, "God makes things straight with crooked lines." Your life story, proves He does indeed.

The happiest moments in my life, were spent with you.

Working by your side in Tanglewood, inspired by your presence, the land and labor, those remain my most cherished memories.

Your quiet strength, will power, and resilience made you a force of nature.

Your genuine kindness endeared you to all.

I want to thank you for the privilege of being your son.

You are the very best of me, and you will reside in my heart, forever.

Your Loving son,

Karl