“We are born to die,” was a frequent expression my Mother shared with my sister, Dawn, and I growing up. On some level that was her way of helping us understand the circle of life. But despite intellectually grasping that concept, the loss of a loved one still hurts.
Children are mostly a reflection of who their parents are (or were). It's clear yours were people of good character and human qualities. Condolences, Dean.
My wife and I lost our son, a paramedic working for FDNY in the Bronx during the pandemic, in 2020 to a PTSD related suicide. We often tell each other the smile before the tears will come soon. It seems to evade us. Some day, though, we will smile first.
That's a beautiful eulogy, Dean. You've spoken about your mom many times on the show and it's apparent how much love there was in the family. She raised a great kid.
I lost my mom last August. She was a fierce progressive whose number one concern was the absurd proliferation of guns in the USA. She supported that cause even before Columbine began the mass killings that are now more than a daily occurrence.
So deeply sorry for your loss! It’s never easy to lose a parent no matter how long you’ve had together. I lost mom in 2015 at 92 and dad in 2017 at 95. I’m still grieving.
Dean, I am so very sorry for your loss. I lost my own dear mother 18 months ago. It feels like a lifetime ago, and it feels like yesterday. I have lost my anchor, and my greatest cheerleader. I take comfort in knowing that I continue to carry all of the “gifts” she imparted on me, and by extension I carry HER with me every day.
Paisan, I wish I could offer my condolences in Sicilian. My maternal family was Sicilian, from Trenton.
My grandfather also knew some of "those guys" and pointed out their families to me when I was young. It wasn't til later I recalled many of the surnames of old neighbors whom my "Pop" either greatly respected or avoided. Today I will prepare an eggplant dish in your mother's honor.
We are blessed to benefit from the passion of your amazing family. Abbrazzu, sb
Dean thank you for sharing this beautiful story of your family. Condolences to you and yours. Lost my Mom almost 40 years ago, still think about her every day. She inspired me too, volunteering with hospice and taking a sabbatical to volunteer doing the same in India. So they live on. My Dad who spent two years in a Nazi POW camp lived until 90. He inspires me so much in the current environment. Their strength and courage lives on in all of us and we honor them. Bless you.
Wishing you peace and comfort. Thank you for sharing this. My father's only real advice to me was "Never let your heart grow hard." As a medic in WWII, his job was to reassemble the dead on Omaha Beach after D-Day. He was 19. Every year of my life, on D-Day he raised a toast: "Here's to the boys on Omaha Beach." We continue this tradition in his honor. I will always miss him.
May 8, 2023·edited May 10, 2023Liked by Dean Obeidallah
Dean,
I am so sorry for your loss. Thank you for sharing memories of your Mom and Dad. I lost my father at 94 years old and my mother at 93 1/2 years old. Your story sounds so much like mine. I am from upstate New York, Syracuse, and both of my parents were born in Syracuse from Sicilian parents who immigrated here from the same town, Linguillossa, Italy. However my grandparents didn’t meet until they came to New York, and then migrated upstate. My parents lost their first child, a son at age 3, and then my sister and I were born in Syracuse. We were raised Catholic and we didn’t know our grandparents, as they died before we were born. My parents, both struggled to put food on the table for us, as my dad drove a produce truck from Philly and NYC to Syracuse , and then a dump truck, but was unemployed for six months out of the year due to the bad winter weather. Coincidently my mother worked for Sears for 17 years, in the service department taking calls for service repairs, and part time job at the local pharmacy. Their wages were minimal , but they always somehow provided MUCH food, love, laughter, big dinners with our large family of relatives. And there were always Holiday celebrations and Birthday Parties. I pray that the wonderful memories you shared about your parents, will give you peace and comfort, knowing that they’re both together in heaven, forever and that someday you will meet them again. God Bless You! ❤️🙏
Your parents are adorable! What a great heritage of cultures and love they provided for your family. I am imagining they both had strong personalities yet complemented each other well. You will never forget their gifts to you and your sister and your families.
What a beautiful homage to what sounds like a truly amazing woman, strong and kind. And feisty...what a great word and compliment from a son about his mother. I am so sorry for your loss, but it sounds like she'll be with you for a long, long time. May her memory be a blessing and a light. My mother was "feisty" and strong, too, but in a Jewish kind of way (lol) and raised us to be. strong, funny, and, yes, question authority, and to go after what we wanted, and to be independent. I'm always amazed that women of their generation have the stereotyped reputation of being the opposite of what they really were and had to be. Thanks for sharing your mom's story, Dean, and reminding me of my own mom's story and what she gave to me.
I'm so very sorry for your loss. And your parents love is *SUCH* a Jersey story. My wife and I decided AGAINST moving after I retired. Why??? COVID! When COVID was raging, our neighbors on either side (One set were Indian immigrants, on the other side Chinese), at different times sat us down and told us we were NOT to go grocery shopping--they would take care of us. And they did until July of 2020, when we figured out it was safe enough for me to shop IF I wore a mask. THAT's real neighborly love. We're one of the most diverse states in the USA, and I think it's the DIVERSITY that makes NJ a great state. Again, my deepest condolences to you and your family. My your mother's memory be a blessing.
Children are mostly a reflection of who their parents are (or were). It's clear yours were people of good character and human qualities. Condolences, Dean.
My wife and I lost our son, a paramedic working for FDNY in the Bronx during the pandemic, in 2020 to a PTSD related suicide. We often tell each other the smile before the tears will come soon. It seems to evade us. Some day, though, we will smile first.
Keep smiling, Dean. Your Mom's watching. :)
...beautiful words!!
That's a beautiful eulogy, Dean. You've spoken about your mom many times on the show and it's apparent how much love there was in the family. She raised a great kid.
I lost my mom last August. She was a fierce progressive whose number one concern was the absurd proliferation of guns in the USA. She supported that cause even before Columbine began the mass killings that are now more than a daily occurrence.
So sorry for your loss.
So deeply sorry for your loss! It’s never easy to lose a parent no matter how long you’ve had together. I lost mom in 2015 at 92 and dad in 2017 at 95. I’m still grieving.
Dean, I am so very sorry for your loss. I lost my own dear mother 18 months ago. It feels like a lifetime ago, and it feels like yesterday. I have lost my anchor, and my greatest cheerleader. I take comfort in knowing that I continue to carry all of the “gifts” she imparted on me, and by extension I carry HER with me every day.
Peace to you and your family.
Paisan, I wish I could offer my condolences in Sicilian. My maternal family was Sicilian, from Trenton.
My grandfather also knew some of "those guys" and pointed out their families to me when I was young. It wasn't til later I recalled many of the surnames of old neighbors whom my "Pop" either greatly respected or avoided. Today I will prepare an eggplant dish in your mother's honor.
We are blessed to benefit from the passion of your amazing family. Abbrazzu, sb
Dean thank you for sharing this beautiful story of your family. Condolences to you and yours. Lost my Mom almost 40 years ago, still think about her every day. She inspired me too, volunteering with hospice and taking a sabbatical to volunteer doing the same in India. So they live on. My Dad who spent two years in a Nazi POW camp lived until 90. He inspires me so much in the current environment. Their strength and courage lives on in all of us and we honor them. Bless you.
Wishing you peace and comfort. Thank you for sharing this. My father's only real advice to me was "Never let your heart grow hard." As a medic in WWII, his job was to reassemble the dead on Omaha Beach after D-Day. He was 19. Every year of my life, on D-Day he raised a toast: "Here's to the boys on Omaha Beach." We continue this tradition in his honor. I will always miss him.
Very sorry for you and your sister’s loss. What a beautiful tribute to your mom!
Eloquently said Dean. While we may be born to die that does not make parting any easier. Hugs and prayers.
Dean,
I am so sorry for your loss. Thank you for sharing memories of your Mom and Dad. I lost my father at 94 years old and my mother at 93 1/2 years old. Your story sounds so much like mine. I am from upstate New York, Syracuse, and both of my parents were born in Syracuse from Sicilian parents who immigrated here from the same town, Linguillossa, Italy. However my grandparents didn’t meet until they came to New York, and then migrated upstate. My parents lost their first child, a son at age 3, and then my sister and I were born in Syracuse. We were raised Catholic and we didn’t know our grandparents, as they died before we were born. My parents, both struggled to put food on the table for us, as my dad drove a produce truck from Philly and NYC to Syracuse , and then a dump truck, but was unemployed for six months out of the year due to the bad winter weather. Coincidently my mother worked for Sears for 17 years, in the service department taking calls for service repairs, and part time job at the local pharmacy. Their wages were minimal , but they always somehow provided MUCH food, love, laughter, big dinners with our large family of relatives. And there were always Holiday celebrations and Birthday Parties. I pray that the wonderful memories you shared about your parents, will give you peace and comfort, knowing that they’re both together in heaven, forever and that someday you will meet them again. God Bless You! ❤️🙏
Dean I knew your mother growing up “Honey”.
She lived on the next block backyard to my aunt Lauretta Cirinelli. I’m Mike’s Mom. She was a tough cookie!
Your parents are adorable! What a great heritage of cultures and love they provided for your family. I am imagining they both had strong personalities yet complemented each other well. You will never forget their gifts to you and your sister and your families.
What a beautiful homage to what sounds like a truly amazing woman, strong and kind. And feisty...what a great word and compliment from a son about his mother. I am so sorry for your loss, but it sounds like she'll be with you for a long, long time. May her memory be a blessing and a light. My mother was "feisty" and strong, too, but in a Jewish kind of way (lol) and raised us to be. strong, funny, and, yes, question authority, and to go after what we wanted, and to be independent. I'm always amazed that women of their generation have the stereotyped reputation of being the opposite of what they really were and had to be. Thanks for sharing your mom's story, Dean, and reminding me of my own mom's story and what she gave to me.
I'm so very sorry for your loss. And your parents love is *SUCH* a Jersey story. My wife and I decided AGAINST moving after I retired. Why??? COVID! When COVID was raging, our neighbors on either side (One set were Indian immigrants, on the other side Chinese), at different times sat us down and told us we were NOT to go grocery shopping--they would take care of us. And they did until July of 2020, when we figured out it was safe enough for me to shop IF I wore a mask. THAT's real neighborly love. We're one of the most diverse states in the USA, and I think it's the DIVERSITY that makes NJ a great state. Again, my deepest condolences to you and your family. My your mother's memory be a blessing.