My 101 year old mother died on New Year's Day

[medjuck]

My wife posted the following on her face book page:

"Faye Claener Medjuck (b. 1908), wonderful wife , mother, mother-in-law, grandmother, great grandmother--rest in peace. Died peacefully early morning this New Year's Day. We always marveled that Faye was the energizer bunny, even at 101, so we're not a bit surprised she saw the New Year in."

I managed to get back to New Brunswick a couple of days before she died. She was already in the hospital getting good care and being kept comfortable but even the Energizer Bunny eventually runs down.

The funeral will be Monday and my family is on the way but we've got a blizzard here and most of them are stuck in Toronto-- the last stop on their way here. One of my sisters has flown back from a vacation in Africa and will also spend in the night in Toronto.

So I'm in a a hotel room in Fredericton New Brunswick catching up on the always interesting news at the Organissimo Forums.

[Shrdlu]

Aww. my deepest sympathy.

I used to live in New Brunswick - Sackville.

Fredericton is way better.

[Harold_Z]

My condolences. No matter how old the loss is real and immediate. I'm glad you know you have a community of friends here you can relate to.

[Brad]

My condolences but it sounded like she may have lived a full life and I'm sure in her years on this earth she must have witnessed and lived through very interesting times.

[medjuck]

She definitely had a full life. Born in Russia and emigratied to Canada about 1913 (we think-- she never talked about it and implied (she never actually lied about it) that she was born in Cape Breton where she grew up. Moved to Fredericton after she married my Dad and lived here for more than 70 years.

[Van Basten II]

My condolences.

[mjzee]

May she rest in peace. My condolences to you and your family.

[Christiern]

Your loss may be less severe considering how long your mother lived and how energized she remained, but it is, nevertheless, a deeply personal loss. My sympathy goes out to you, your family, and the many friends your mother must have had.

[mikeweil]

My sincere condolences - 101 feels like a magical figure to me.

[mikelz777]

Just think of all the changes she's seen in her life time, it's truely remarkable. My condolences.

[Hardbopjazz]

My condolences in the loss of your mother.

[jeffcrom]

Sorry to hear about your loss.

[paul secor]

My sincere condolences. It may be too soon right now, but I hope you'll be able to reflect and treasure the memories of the time you spent with your mother.

[bertrand]

Please accept my deepest condolences.

Bertrand.

[Big Wheel]

Sorry to hear about this. Coincidentally, my great-grandmother (who lived to be 107) emigrated from Tolchin, Ukraine to Halifax via London around the time you describe, before eventually settling in Chicago by the time of my grandfather's birth in 1919. I wonder what the chances are of their having crossed paths...

[AllenLowe]

so sorry Joe - my grandmother was born in Russia and emigrated to the US around 1900 - we also don't know the exact date. Though they weren't precisely of the same generation (my grandmother was born in 1900), these were Jews who truly experienced a way of life and a way living that we can barely comprehend - especially that cross-ocean passage, which my grandmother, like yours, did as a child, on her own.

best to you and your family.

Edited January 3, 2010 by AllenLowe

[sjarrell]

Sorry to hear, Joe. But what an epic run! Glad you got to see her again.

[DukeCity]

My condolences to you and your family.

[GA Russell]

I'm sorry to hear of your loss, medjuck. But it's good to learn that she led a full life with a loving family.

[Matthew]

My prayers and sympathy go out to you and your family.

[jazzbo]

Joe, so sorry to hear this. Remember the love you shared.

Edited January 3, 2010 by jazzbo

[ghost of miles]

Joe, very sorry to hear this. I have a 92-yr-old grandmother who's in very good health, and it's become too easy to think of her as indestructible, when I know that it will ultimately be quite the opposite. Thoughts and prayers for your family, and my gratitude to your mother for giving us you.

[kinuta]

Sorry to hear about your mom, mine died in October so I understand how you must feel.

[papsrus]

Condolences. Hope that being with your family eases the pain a bit.

[Alexander]

I'm sorry to hear this. She had a hell of a ride, though...

My wife's grandmother died at 97 and my grandmother is still going strong at 91. Long life can be a curse, as well as a blessing. My grandmother complains (in a humorous fashion) about how she hadn't planned on living this long, and that it's really messed her finances up. She recently used her age to get out of Jury Duty. Her comment: "Why would they want 91-year-olds serving on juries, anyway? They'd just fall asleep...or die."

Seriously, my condolences. Remember the good times...