It is with great sorrow that I share with you the tremendous loss happening in our Irish home. After several months of illness, my wonderful mother-in-law, Mary Rose, passed away peacefully on the evening of 8 April 2015 surrounded by her loving family.
Mary Rose was our matriarch. Her beloved husband, Dan, passed away some time ago. She was in her ninety first year when she left this world and she is remembered with love by her twelve children, their husbands and wives, her twenty-eight grandchildren and her eight great-grandchildren.
Mama (the name her family called her by) was a woman of strong Catholic faith. She passed the tradition she felt so passionately to her children and their families. She attended mass daily until she was no longer able and for many years she participated in the Perpetual Adoration of her local church. She prayed the Rosary every day.
As those of you who have followed this blog for a long time will know, I was blessed to learn much from Mama. She gently encouraged and showed me how to cook, bake, garden, knit and sew. She was before her time in thinking about eating organically and maintaining good health ~ a passion we shared. In her quiet way, Mama also showed me how to be a good mother. Once, when I asked her how she managed to hold back her tears as she said goodbye to her children when they left Ireland, she told me a mother should never burden her children with such sorrow.
We will miss Mary Rose greatly. I leave you today with a poem that was read at her funeral mass:
Miss Me – But Let Me Go
by Edgar A. Guest
When I come to the end of the road
And the sun has set for me
I want no rites in a gloom-filled room.
Why cry for a soul set free?
Miss me a little but not too long
And not with your head bowed low.
Remember the love that we once shared,
Miss me but let me go.
For this is a journey we all must take
And each must go alone.
It’s all a part of the Master’s plan,
A step on the road to home.
When you are lonely and sick of heart
Go to the friends we know
And bury your sorrows in doing good deeds.
Miss me but let me go.
In an Irish Home 
Thank you for sharing Kim. That was very thoughtful of you.
Ah, Jed! So glad you read the post. Thank you for taking time to reach out with your kind comment. It was a beautiful ending to a beautiful life. The service was filled with many touching moments. Standing at the graveside was peaceful for us all. Mama is with Dada now and we are thankful to have had such a long time with her in our lives. Hope you are well. Think of you often!
She sounds like a wonderful lady, and I hope your memories of her help the sadness.
Hello Joan. Thank you for taking time to read about Mary Rose and for reaching out with kind words. The great joy of someone living such a long life is they have many occasions to leave lasting memories. You are right…she was a wonderful lady. Now we know she rests in peace with her beloved husband and that, above all else, eases our sorrow. Thanks, Joan.
A beautiful tribute to your beloved mother-in-law. Our prayers are with you and your family.
Many thanks, Susan. I appreciate your taking the time to reach out. We appreciate your prayers. God bless.
A wise and wonderful woman. Beautiful sentiment. May your sorrow be lessened by fond memories.
Thank you so very much for your kind words. It is good of you to take a moment to write. Mary Rose was a very special woman. I was blessed to know her.
I am so very sorry for your loss, Kim. She lived a very good life. Sending fond wishes.
Thank you, Maureen. It’s so kind of you to reach out. Hope you and your family are well.
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