Dear “Mom” Barrons:
Thank you for taking me into your home. 1705 North Logan became home for me…because of you and “dad”.
Thank you for the kitchen in that home that was so full of family.
Thank you for the basement in that home that was so full of life and the very place where your family introduced me to this guy named “Pat Iding”.
Thank you for giving me jobs to do while I was there. It made me feel even more at home. Even when we had to do extra cleaning when you were hosting the circle meeting.
Thank you for teaching me how to make pasties…authentic ones. And for teaching me to love rutabaga.
Thank you for letting me call you “mom” when my mom died almost 40 years ago. It seemed so natural to call you mom…and brought more comfort than you know. It still does.
Thank you for telling me “You are like one of my own.” Thank you for saying that just a few weeks ago when we had our special cookie visit. (I realize you say that to a lot of people but it always felt like it was just for me.)
Thank you for letting me share your family pew at Holy Cross Church. I love that church…still. I fell in love with the Catholic faith there. And “Make Me A Channel of Your Peace” became ingrained in my heart there…and then became my favorite lullaby for my boys…and now for Brooklyn Adele. Every time I sing it I think of you and dad. You lived the words of that song.
Thank you for visits to Paul’s Pastry after mass and Sunday morning breakfast with you.
Thank you for sharing your children with me. They became more than friends…they became sisters and brothers to me…and aunts and uncles to my boys. Family.
Thank you for sharing dad with me. I know when he hugged me and told me “I love ya, doll! You’re beautiful!” that he probably first said those words to you and you let him share those words with all of us. I can still hear his words. I can still feel that hug. I think I always will.
Thank you for being “Grandma B” to my boys. Every card they ever got from you was signed lovingly (in perfect penmanship) “Love, Grandma B”. It meant a lot to each one of them. Thank you for the prayers you offered for them. I know God heard them.
Thank you for our last visit on Thursday and telling me my hands were cold…and touching my face and saying “Love you, dear.” as we said our final goodbye. I will carry that “Love you, dear” and that pat on my face forever.
Mostly, thank you for your amazing faith-filled life because I know it took you safely home to “dad” and to your Father in heaven. I know God must be so proud of you but I envision Mary, the ultimate mother, greeting you in heaven. She must be so proud of the mother you were to your family…and to this humble person who was honored to call you “mom”.
You are loved…always.
Sheila