Sep 11, 2013

Goodbye, to My Sweet Little Mama...



Surrounding myself with the peaceful beauty of my childhood home on Douglas (Island) Alaska, as I mourn the passing of my 88 year old mother who died Sunday morning of end stage Alzheimer's Disease.



I miss her deeply but am comforted by the l knowledge that she is finally at peace, and free of the challenges of such an unbelievably, awful disease.

And I am deeply grateful that I was able to make the arrangements to fly up here on the very same day, and be able to kiss her goodbye on the next.

Bless you, thank you, and love you, so very much, my sweet little mama.








photos:
My mother, Nell Grace Pelletier/Peltier Savikko
born 9-1-25 in St. Martinville, Louisiana to French Immigrants who first settled in Canada, then migrated to Louisiana...." Acadians..or Cajuns"
died  9-8-13 died in Douglas, Alaska in  our childhood home, surrounded by family after 8 going on 9 years of Alzheimer's and many years of dedicated love and care giving among all of us.


The road past Savikko Park to the right and the Douglas Boat Harbor to the left. I walked down in the early morning light at 5:30 a..m. on Monday, the 9th,  to feel the peace and the beauty of a life well lived and well loved.


A life where my pioneer Alaskan father and my Cajun French mother, hiked, boated picnicked and worked very, very hard as they raised 5 children in a land of great beauty but many challenges, as well.




A challenging but magical life in an incredibly beautiful land. We grew up surrounded by cousins, aunts, and uncles. With family dinners and family visits to one another's homes almost every Saturday night.

A rich life in do many ways. I treasured the people. the mountains, the beaches all around my Douglas Island home.

But most of all I treasured my family and my rich heritage and pioneer spirit. Gifts I value and carry in my heart forever.



Michele Bilyeu blogs With Heart and Hands as she shares a quilting journey through her life in Salem, Oregon and Douglas, Alaska. Sewing, quilting, and wildcrafting, with small format art quilts, prayer flags, and comfort quilts for a variety of charitable programs. And best of all, sharing thousands of links to Free Quilt and Quilt Block Patterns and encouraging others to join in her Liberated Quilting Challenge and make and donate small art quilts to the Alzheimer's Art Quilt Initiative (AAQI) Help us change the world, one little quilt at a time!

45 comments:

Angie said...

Oh Michele, I'm sending the tightest of hugs and shedding tears with you...

MARCIE said...

Michele, you are a wonder. I admire you so much and the strength that you always seem to possess in every circumstance. My heart goes out to you as you bid your mother a final farewell. I am glad for your faith and knowledge of the peace that your mother can now feel after her long struggles. All this on top of your daughter's wedding. My prayers are with you and your family, and I hope you can get some rest when this is all over. Hope you are feeling the love my friend!

julieQ said...

I am so sorry, Michele. God's loving grace be with you and your family.

Darlene said...

Oh, Michele, I am so sorry to hear of your loss. Your mother raised an incredible woman.

Sending thoughts and prayers. May your Mom rest in peace.

Mrs. Goodneedle said...

My dear, dear Michele... I am so very sad to read of this loss and know that you and your great strong, faith will see you through. I am praying for God to strengthen, support and sustain you through these difficult days, and to bring peace to you and your family. Sending hugs and heartfelt sympathy.

Debra Dixon said...

I know your mother felt the daily love you gave her. May she rest in peace with our Lord now.

Sujata Shah said...

Dear Michele,
I am so sorry to hear about your mama's passing. I know how much you loved and cared for her. So glad you were able to reach there and say goodbye.
Hugs to you my friend.
Sujata

Frederika said...

Oh, Michele, I am so sorry to hear of your loss.

Frederika

Karendianne said...

Bless you Michele. I send my warmest, heartfelt sympathy and love.

Karen said...

Dear Michele....I'm so sorry for your loss, but of course glad your Mom is in a better place and at peace. Sending love and cyber-hugs to you and your family.

Love, Karen Lange

Brenda said...

Hugs and prayers to you as you mourn the loss of your mother.

Silvinha said...

Good afternoon, I saw your post on facebook and I am very sensitive to your pain.
My mother also died of the disease, with 93 years old, she was bedridden for two and a half years.
I live 621.37 miles away, in my country air transport is very expensive, and every 15 days I needed two buses on bad roads to get to her and stay with her Saturday and Sunday. It was a difficult time but only love explication .
But today I know that she is with God, and where is she know I did the best I could. Having small children yet, and working out. I hope your brothers are good people and that your family will be always together. Well unfortunately I did not have such luck.
hugs from heart
Silvia
http://tearpiaocupacional.blogspot.com.br/

Quiltdivajulie said...

Sending hugs and blessings to each and every one in your family . . . it has been a very, very long journey.

Kathy MacKie said...

Hugs and caring thoughts sent your way!

Annie said...

So sorry for your loss. Big virtual hugs for you.

u-woman said...

My deepest sympathy goes out to you and yours. Hugs, Ursula

Joyce Carter said...

I am truly sorry, Michele.It is very painful losing a parent so I hope you find comfort knowing that she is in a wonderful place where there is no more pain or sorrow. May God Bless You and I will keep you in my thoughts and prayers. Big hug.

Celia said...

Keeping you and your family in my prayers Michele. Your journey with your Mama was amazing, thank you for sharing it with us. Peace and love to you.

West Michigan Quilter said...

Oh, Michele, I'm so sorry for your loss. My heart goes out to you. I know the troubles your mother had and it has not been easy for you, but it still hurts and your will miss her terribly. Peace and love to your and your family. And a big warm hug to you.

Deborah Hamilton said...

I'm so sorry.

Josie McRazie said...

Prayers for your healing and understanding in Gods plan!

Jocelyn said...

I am very sorry for your loss. May your family find peace and comfort in the days to come.

Jan said...

Praying for you and your family on the loss of your Mother.

CathyK said...

My thoughts and prayers are with you at this most difficult time.

O'Quilts said...

Sending hugs from Charlotte,North Carolina. In the beginning and in the end, it is all about the love.

Cher said...

so glad you could fly up and kiss your beloved mama good bye...she is at peace now and she will always be with you. The first year is the hardest...lots of loving energy to you my dear friend.

stitchinpenny said...

So happy that you got home so quickly. Praying for you.

quiltmom anna said...

My dear Michele,
what a journey your beautiful mother Nell travelled. I am sure that she knew how well loved she was and how much you grew to treasure your special relationship. Just wanted to send my sincere condolences in her passing. May you also know how much your love and concern has helped others who have faced this difficult illness.
You might be interested to know that we had a grand niece born on Sunday afternoon. Her name is Eleanor Margaret and she is a beauty...
With sincere sympathy,
Anna

libbyquilter said...

sending thoughts of peace your way as you get through the 'journey' of mourning.

hugs
libbyQ

Anonymous said...

I am so sorry for your loss Michelle. Wishing you lots of strength
Dutch hug
Dya

Diane said...

I too send my heartfelt condolences and love, Michelle! I know that your mother was a wonderful woman because she raised a wonderful daughter. May you find peace in your memories of her.

Melziebelle said...

I am so sorry for your loss <3 may the peace that passes understand come to you now in your time of need.
xoxo melzie

Anonymous said...

I send you my sincere condolences on the loss of your mother. I lost my father to end-stage Alzheimer's many years ago. I lost my mother to cancer before that.

You have paid a wonderful tribute to your mother and have turned lemons into lemonade, bloomed where you were planted, and so forth. I am thankful for stumbling upon your website and for your tenacity and strength and faith through all you have faced and for all you have done.

Godspeed,
senstrings (@) yahoo (.) com

Alice said...

So sorry Michelle-
You have always been such a rock through all her trials and I know she was aware of that.
Glad you had a chance to say good-bye!
Prayers and thoughts are sent to you
Alice

Barbara Sindlinger said...

So sorry for the loss of your mother. Although it is a blessing that she is at peace, that doesn't take away the pain and loss of not having her here on earth with you. Bless you.

Anonymous said...

I'm sending your my hugs, prayers and sympathies! I lost my mother in 2010...and I know it is bitter sweet~ Your memories will keep you warm and comforted! ♥♥♥

Scrappy quilter said...

I'm so sorry to hear of your loss. Sending lots of hugs your way.

BillieBee (billiemick) said...

I'm am so sorry as well, but I'm glad your Mom is free. Prayers from Texas

Lynne said...

Oh, Michele, I am so sorry to read your news. God bless and warm hugs.

Frugally challenged said...

Dear Michelle, I read your blog at my home in England and you come over as such a warm and loving person so I'm sure that your mother, the lady who formed you, loved you and blessed you on your way, must have been a loving person too. You will miss her, but she was only lent to you by God and she is now where she truly belongs. Every blessing to you.

Exuberantcolor/Wanda S Hanson said...

I'm happy to hear you were able to be there to say good-bye to her. We have to let them go to the peace that is their reward for a life well lived.

Nyima said...

Dear Michele,
Know that your mother and you are surrounded in love, always — here, there, everywhere, eternally.

And we your friends hug and kiss you from wherever we are.

xoxoxoxo nyima

jenclair said...

What a lovely photo of your mother. I know you've been grieving for a long time and that you will continue to feel her loss. My thoughts are with you, but you've shown such courage and compassion, and I know both of your parents are proud of you.

Lurline said...

I admire your strength Michele - God bless you all!
With love - Lurline!

Irene said...

Dear Michele - I am so sorry for the loss of your mother and for everything you both went through before she was finally at peace. I'm so glad to have found your blog - your writing is beautiful. My mother too has Alzheimers so I can relate to what you have gone through. Sending hugs and prayers to you.