Ernestine S

My hero was my mother Ernestine. She was the strongest person in the world. She was a mother until she took her last breath. She raised 6 children alone. None of us ever went to jail, did drugs or got in any trouble. She used to always say, "The same way you act when I'm with you is the same way you act when I'm not." I never heard her complain, yell or swear in my life. My oldest sister and I were talking one day and she told me that we were poor. I said no we weren't. She asked, do you remember when we would wake up and all of us had a new school clothes? I said yes and I was so happy. She said that was because mama didn't have money to buy detergent so she would measure us in our sleep, make patterns out of newspaper and make us something to wear for school. She would stay up all night. I couldn't believe it. I remember Mama would say "Just because you're on welfare doesn't mean you have to look like it." I always thought we were rich. We never wanted for anything. All of our meals were home cooked and we were always clean and pressed. ALL OF US! She was always there for us. She had 10 grandchildren and 14 great grandchildren that all lived in different states. She would fly to see them all. She never missed an activity. My mother said she never wanted to be on life support. She was hit by a bus and lived. Then she got an infection. The doctors said she would go as soon as they removed the machine. This was on a Monday. We drove to Minnesota and they removed the machine. Nothing happened. My mother gave all 6 of us her final life instructions. She and I used to have coffee every day on the phone at 5am. She asked for a cup of coffee. It was our last cup together. We all left and we came back to Indiana to take care of some business and go back. It was Friday morning when we got the phone call that mama had passed away. It was my oldest daughter's birthday. The ironic thing is I used to say if mama passed away I didn't want to forget the date and I guess I never will. She loved everyone she met and everyone she met loved her. I Love and miss you, My Mother, My Friend, and MY HERO.

Submitted by Anonymous

Strength