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IN LOVING MEMORY MARY BRIDGET KENNEDY DeROSA "OUR NONA" The greatest, gentlest, kindest and bravest wife, mother, grandmother and friend who ever graced this universe. "To laugh often and much: To win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children: To earn the appreciation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends: To appreciate beauty: To find the best in others: To leave the world a little better place than we found it, whether by a healthy child, a garden patch or a redeemed social condition: To know even one life breathed easier because you lived.... This is to have succeeded." The young mother set her foot on the path of life. "Is this the long way?" she asked. And the guide said, "Yes, and the way is hard. And you will be old before you reach the end of it. But the end will be better than the beginning. But the young mother was happy, and she would not believe that anything could be better than these years. So she played with her children, she fed them and bathed them and taught them how to tie their shoes and ride a bike and reminded them to feed the dog & cat and do their homework and brush their teeth. The sun shone on them and the young Mother cried, "Nothing will ever be lovelier than this." Then the nights came and the storms and the path was sometimes dark, and the children shook with fear and cold, and the Mother drew them close and covered them with her arms, and the children said, "Mother, we are not afraid, for you are near, and no harm can come." And the morning came and there was a hill ahead, and the children climbed and grew weary, and the Mother was weary. But at all times she said to the children," A little patience and we are there." So the children climbed and as they climbed they learned to weather the storms. And with this she gave them strength to face the world. Year after year, she showed them compassion, understanding, hope, but most of all, unconditional love. And when they reached the top they said, "Mother we would not have done it without you." The days went on, and the weeks and the months and the years and the Mother grew old and she became little and bent. But her children were tall and strong and walked with courage. And the Mother, when she lay down at night, looked up at the stars and said, "This is a better day than the last, for my children have learned so much and are now passing these traits on to their children." And when the way became rough for her, they lifted her and gave her their strength, just as she had given them hers. One day they came to a hill, and beyond the hill, they could see a shining road and golden gates flung wide. And the Mother said, "I have reached the end of my journey. And now I know the end is better than the beginning, for my children can walk with dignity and pride, with their heads held high, and so can their children after them." And the children said, "You will always walk with us Mother, even when you have gone through the gates." And they stood and watched her as she went on alone, and the gates closed after her. Rest in Eternal Peace with Poppa (Capt. Louis De Rosa - April 9, 1975), dearest son Lou (September 18, 1968), loving daughter Julia (September 23, 1996) and cherished daughters-in-law Aline (November 2, 2000) and Betty (June 30, 2002). Forever, Your loving son, Michael: Your Monica and Mikey: Micheline, your children John, Philip, Ursula, Patrick and their spouses, your grandchildren, great-grandchildren and many friends. October 31, 1992. Published in the Montreal Gazette on 10/31/2007