My mother passed away on March 1st on her 80th birthday. If a death can be described as beautiful, this one fit the bill .Never in my life have I felt the atmosphere of complete love that permeated the room.

 My most recent blog post titled "My Mother's Will" told of the great love and admiration that my mother both gave and received during her life. The Eulogy  I gave was based on that subject. It was simple as she lived her life.

During the final week of my mother's life she was surrounded by all of her adoring  children and most of her grandchildren as well as nieces, cousins,and the various spouses of the aforementioned.

She spent her entire life in the Buffalo, New York area as do most of the family with the exception of my sister Pat and her husband Marc and their three children who live in South Carolina. My brother Matt and myself along with our family's live in San Diego, Ca.

I arrived along with my daughter Christa late Friday evening and we happily joined the 24 hour vigil.

 On Saturday, the day before her death the room where she stayed at the nursing home was bursting inside and overflowing into the hallways. The hallway itself  was  adorned with various chairs and other furniture borrowed from all corners of the facility. it resembled a hospitality suite at a Knights of Columbus or Shriner convention.

At midnight as she turned 80 we all sang happy birthday to mom and then to my sister Peg who was born the same day.

She peacefully passed at 1:50 A. M. surrounded by us all.

My sister Mary was holding her right hand and stroking her head. My sister Peg was rubbing her left arm. I mention this because they were both the beneficiary of a jolt of energy the instant she left for heaven.

We have no doubt that she was carried away by angels to meet her heavenly Father.

My faith in God and my zest for life was strengthened both by her life and death.