Hey Chris, I’ve been calling your mom for 2 days and she’s not answering. Is everything okay?
I called her house. No answer. I got in the car and drove over. It was after 6pm and her house was completely dark. A package was still on the porch. That wasn’t like her to leave something out there. This wasn’t looking good.
She had passed away about a day before. I found her in her bedroom. The police said she died of natural causes, probably in her sleep.
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| Mom with Lorenzo 12/21/25 |
She was less than a month away from turning 81, and it felt as if she was doing fine. I didn't see this coming though I know she was in pain. She had arthritis pain for years. Moving was hard, but she was able to walk around, and used a cane or a walker.
We had gathered for the holidays and everything seemed fine. We went over to my Godmother Cathy's to celebrate Christmas eve. My cousin Lauren, Lorenzo's godmother was there as well as me, Ramona, Lorenzo and my mom. Things were nice, we had a good meal and shared presents.
| Xmas Eve 2025 |
The next week was busy as I was trying to get work done to prepare for the upcoming spring semester. That was a typical thing and so I didn't usually talk much with family including my mother.
I had forgotten my mother's presents at my godmother's house, and stopped by on December 28th to grab them. I would bring them by my mom's that night so she could use the warm blanket and shawl we had gotten her. She was cold and was happy to have them. I said goodbye and gave her a kiss. Unknown to me this would be the last time I would embrace her and see her.
On New Year's eve, we had invited my mom to come with us to Ramona's grandmother's house. She wanted to but wasn't feeling up to it. I called her and wished her Happy New Years. I called the next day to check on her. The call lasted two minutes, probably talked about nothing, but wanted to see how she was doing. It was the last time we would talk.
