My mom passed away this week. A holocaust survivor. A nurse. A baker. A chef. Mom to 3. Grandmother to 8. Great-grandmother to 2. She died peacefully, on her very adamant terms, surrounded by her children. At her burial, my youngest niece said “she escaped the ultimate horror of our time, came here speaking no english, built a life and a career, raised three boys, and nurtured us all to love people, do good things, work hard, fuck the nazis. She was an unapologetic badass.” Mom was 92.
3/3
15 minutes later my brother texts “hey mom wants to make sure you wanted her ITALIAN meatball recipe because thats what she gave you”. It was. They were fucking delicious. It was the last time I spoke to her. Thanks mom, the wet bread and parmesan made all the difference.
Rebuild of 1/3
For those kind enough to have requested stories of my mom, for now, my favorite story is the very last one. Brother texts me from hosp and says “mom is scared and disoriented can you call her?” I call, brother answers but says mom doesnt want to talk, shes scared and doesnt want you to hear her that way”. I cant just not talk to her because i am starting to think i wont get another chance. I said, “tell her i need her meatball recipe”.
1/3
strength to you, your family, and honor to her memory.
❤️
~~~~~~
"What is death you ask.
Death is perfectly safe, it's the only perfectly safe thing I know.
We’re all just walking each other home.”
~ Ram Dass
🙏🏽
@MPCavalier very sorry for your loss. May your beautiful memories and the courageous life she led give you comfort.
@MPCavalier my condolences
Condolences to you and your family. Thank you for sharing about your amazing Mom. She sounds like the kind of person anyone would be honored to know. ⚘
@MPCavalier I am so sorry for your loss. Thank you for sharing your story of your Mom, and I would love to read more about her if you feel like sharing memories. 💜
@MPCavalier
What an inspirational woman! Your niece did her justice. I hope some day you can share more about her life with us. May you find comfort in your memories and comoft in the shared love of your family.
@MPCavalier I'm very sorry for your loss. May her memory be a blessing.
@MPCavalier She was a legend. So sorry for your loss.
@MPCavalier
My daughter called one day, she had a flat tire needing changed. I said I could be there in an hour. She replied I don't want you to change the tire, I want you to talk me through doing it myself.
I was SO proud of my grown up little girl.
@MPCavalier great story. So sorry for your loss.
May her memory be a blessing to you. 💕
@MPCavalier I’m sorry for your loss of your amazing mom. I love this story, what a beautiful memory. Have you seen the headstones where they carve in a family heirloom recipe? Something to think about maybe. 🌹
@BeccaL
I am trying to convince my brothers to put “Unapologetic Badass” on her headstone. In a Jewish cemetery, she’d be the talk of the afterlife.
@MPCavalier @BeccaL if people can put an entire cookie recipe on a headstone, you should be able to put "Unapologetic Badass" on it.
@MPCavalier my brother wants “Asshole” on his. That’s what all his friends call him. He walks into the bar and everyone hollers “asshole”. Bro thinks it’s a hoot. He’s pushing 80 so he might get his wish soon.
I’m so sorry for your loss 💜
Your mom sounds like an extraordinary woman who left a special family legacy.
Your story of your final conversation is so touching—her essential caretaking drive was present all the way to the end. What a gift to all of you 💜
@Minholkin
yeah - i am so glad it was something of substance, a shared love of cooking, and not just a perfunctory discussion about how everyone was doing. Thank you so much...
@MPCavalier
She sounds incredible. My condolences on your loss. Loved your nieces' eulogy. Badass indeed. 💔
I'm so very sorry. What an amazing mother you had. Sending peace to you and your family.
After my mom died in 2004, my younger brother turns to me and says, "We're orphans now. We can be as bad as we want."
😎 🤠 😎 🤠 😎
@MPCavalier May her memory be a blessing.
@MPCavalier ahhhh, that was just what she needed... A distraction and a way to share love the way most old-fashioned moms know how , through food. 💗
@MPCavalier May your memories of your dear Mom nourish your spirit as did her food for your body. Thank you for sharing her passing. As John Donne’s poem went…do not send to know for whom the bell tolls. It tolls for thee and me, and all of us.
Mom gets on the phone and sounds like its 30 years ago, without missing a single measurement she walked me thru her unique recipe including the math (she cooked for 5 and i cook for 6). It was amazing. I was missing an ingredient and she said “what do you have” and she said “ok a half tablespoon of this and a tablespoon of that” as a substitute. It was like she was talking me dismantling a bomb. I thank her profusely and she tells me to send a picture and she loves me. The phone hangs up
2/3