February 29, 1928 – April 16, 2020
Jewel Elizabeth Walters Pizzimenti (aka mom)
On this snowy April morning, I greet you with a few of my mother’s “Jewels” –
💎
“Here’s to you as good as you are,
and here’s to me as bad as I am,
but as good as you are and as bad as I am
I’m as good as you are, as bad as I am.”
oh and let’s not forget-
💎
“There is so much good in the worst of us,
and so much bad in the best of us,
that it hardly pays any of us to talk about the rest of us.”
My mother, Jewel, left Earth early this morning. She is now fully present to the presence of God and a host of loved ones…including the love of her life, my dad. She has been in lockdown at her assisted care home during this pandemic and was in hospice care since Tuesday. Gratefully the ban was lifted for my siblings and me, so we went in (full PPE) and all were able to say goodbye to our precious mom, Jewel, either physically or through video chat.
Among the greatest gems my mother gave me are her continual mantras-
💎“Don’t judge” arose anytime it sounded like someone was about to go there, you got that one along with that fabulous raised eyebrow that could humble you in a heartbeat!
and –
💎 “Your children come not from you but through you” had the same impact. This “jewel” was on the tip of her tongue any time one of her children succeeded, or she received a thank you for bringing them into the world.
While the words above have an original source before my mother uttered them, they belonged to her and now to us as “jewels.”
Finally, the greatest treasures she gave me are my five siblings(💎💎💎💎💎.) As an only child, she was sure she didn’t want her kids to be alone…and we have never been!! She gave birth to 6 strong, empathic, and devoted children. My brothers and sisters love fiercely. Did I say fiercely? yep. to. the. end. Watching each of them care for my parents and one another through the years, and especially right here at the end is breathtaking.Â
So now, I’m going to catch my breath… bow my head, and thank God that her faith grew as her body diminished. Her love for prayer, butterflies, sunsets, squirrels, art, and everything beautiful will remain with me, my family, and my children’s children. I am me because of the indescribable gift of Jewel <3
