"Anytime we can honor mothers we should always do so."

These words, shared by our pastor (Fr. Chris Koehn) at 5pm Mass last night, especially resonated with me as our family celebrates Mother's Day with Kathy not being physically with us for the very first time.

So today, I choose to honor and remember my Mom - Kathleen Zera Meyerl - by remembering her in spirit, treasuring all my memories and pondering them in my heart.

Married for 59 years on September 30th, Kathy was a mom for 57 of those years. She said on multiple occasions that she loved being a Mom more than anything else in the world. She believed being a Mom was her life's vocation and calling. And the love that she showered on me, Keith, and Beth as her biological children provided each of us with a loving home and the foundation for which we brought to our own families. Mom was also a "second Mom" to many of our friends - even to the point of allowing Amy Beech Iori and Marissa Sciabarra to temporarily move in with Mom and Dad - Amy in the late 1980's and Marissa in the summer of 2019. 

My childhood memories take me down many roads: Dougherty Ave in Sharon, PA, Bayberry Road in Versailles, KY, Rosemary Lane in Charlotte, NC, and Kilarney Drive in Cary, NC. You wanna talk about sacrificial love? Mom was always on the forefront of helping us kids make the most of each of life's transitions - little did I know back then that we'd be reversing roles and experiencing an inverted relationship for the last six months of Mom's life, as we ultimately helped Kathy prepare for her transition into eternal life.

Despite life's struggles and strains, Mom looked at every day that she had on this earth as a blessing. Her faith in God and intimate relationship with Jesus Christ and his blessed mother, Mary, gave Kathy the lens through which she viewed the world and ultimately shaped her relationship with all those entrusted to her care. Whether Mom was caring for us kids, doting on her beloved husband, Alan, preparing homecooked meals, serving at the Church, decorating the house for Christmas or reaching out to her nieces, nephews, or grand-daughters as Aunt Kathy or Grammy,  Mom had a way of making you feel like you were the most important person in the world. 

I overheard a friend comment yesterday that for a mom, "Every day is Mother's Day". And so it is on this day - Mother's Day 2021 - that we pause with heavy hearts filled with loving memories and gratitude to remember and honor Kathy, Mom, Aunt Kathy, Grammy, Cous and Mrs. Meyerl.

I love you Mom!

Gary
09May21