Crumbled Cheerios: Mom's Eulogy

I will be honest. I never...never pictured myself writing this... but here it is. For those of you not able to attend the celebration of my mom's life on December 28th, 2013. Here is what I wrote that was read there.

Janice Corwin Eulogy - Written by Stephanie Corwin Nichols

Our mother, Janice Corwin, was born into a loving Christian home in Rockmart, Georgia. She the second oldest of five children. Her childhood was filled with all the good things that life is truly about. Her sister, JoAnn, shared with me days before her passing mom told her "there is not a thing I would change about my childhood, it was perfect." Most of you who know her now may find in surprising she waas a tomboy and was always on her daddy's heels. Her daddy nicknamed her June Bug because she was born in June and always outside with him. The curly headed and blue eyed little girl spent her free time out side in their pristine garden learning from her dad or in the kitchen with her mom learning to cook, can and sew. Her little sister JoAnn remembers playing basketball and picking wild beans with her and pretending they were cooking like their mama. Her older sister Faye remembers her as the protector of their family always the first to stand up for any of her siblings. Her younger brothers remember her watching over them and following their mothers strict instructions to keep them clean before church, and of course my mom did just so. Over the last few emotionally exhausting days there is a silver lining. I was blessed to hear many stories about mom before I knew her, all of which I will cling to. JoAnn too shared with me in their high school days they rocked on their front porch and stared up at the stars and mom said to her " I wonder who my soul mate is? Wouldn't it be neat to know how our lives will end up?"

Some years later mom did meet her soulmate and it was truly fate. Our dad was working with an Atlanta law firm and asked by a co-worker to help out in an area of the Fulton Country Courthouse he had never been. That would prove to be the best favor he ever did for a friend. Dad walked in and began to work but noticed behind a desk clear across the room sat the most stricking women he had ever seen. He was determined to get his work done but just could not do so. She noticed him as well and shared with me later "well I definitely have never seen him in here before…I would have remembered." Dad, speechless for once, worked up the courage to ask mom to lunch. The two of them immediately shared something special. Their love has been such an example in my life always present and abundantly flowing in the house I have grown up in for years. Mom and dad were married for over 30 years and worked side by side in his office for over 17 years.

Together they raised my brother and I and for that we owe them everything. I remember nothing but good times with mom and dad they always were so free and in love. They always held hands and shared morning and evening kisses. It never got old to my brother or I but instead and example of the love we wanted to and now have in our own families. They were each others number one fans helping each other and working together to leave a legacy we would all be proud of. From their beautiful bond my brother and I learned and later brought 4 precious grand children into their lives. Mom has been a grandmother for 17 years and witnessed the birth all 4. She was there when they took their first breath and stood by them until she took her last. She hung on until she watched all of them open what would be their last gifts from their nana. She doted over her first grand child like no other and cheered Ashley on at many basketball games and bragged about her success on and off the athletic floor. She read Chandler books, watched him race and even helped him design his own roller coasters. She sewed John Brady's halloween costumes, made ramps for his trucks, took him to feed ducks and geese and of course gave him ice cream sandwiches. Finally, despite the news of her diagnosis she slept in the hospital with me after Beckett was born, rocked him to sleep and did the itsy bitsy spider with him making him laugh so hard he could barely catch his breath. What a wife, mother, nana and she has been.

In all of our eyes she was super woman. She was a woman of many talents. She had a love for the outdoors and I can only hope I can carry on her green thumb. Her garden was always over flowing with an array of beautiful flowers, herbs and vegetables. The hours she spent with her mom learning to sew carried on until weeks before her passing patching dads clothes, sewing grand children's halloween costumes or hemming my pants. Our home was always impeccably decorated she had everything placed in a perfectly perfect place but at the same time it was cozy and welcoming. Mom always wanted to entertain and have the ones who meant the most in our home laughing, sharing memories and her good food. She was truly the "hostess with the mostess" be it birthday parties, holiday parties, cheerleading sleepovers, my middle school fashion shows, wedding showers, baby showers…she did it all. All of us sitting here have been to one of those parties and know she didn't just throw it together everything was truly over the top perfection, only because she loved us all and wouldn't have wanted it any other way.

Somehow she found time to cook a lovely meal every night for her family all while cutting dad's hair for over 30 years and Drew's for the last 11 years. Mom was present every second. You would think a woman who cooked, decorated, cleaned, sewed and gardened must not have had time for her kids? WRONG…it was the exact opposite. She did all of those things with my brother and I and way more, which is why we consider ourselves the lucky ones. Chris remembers mom in the back yard teaching him to throw and catch, "keep your eye on the ball Chris" and how swing a bat. I know mom never missed an event I was in and I remember her teaching me a back walkover so it would be perfect in my upcoming gymnastics meet. Mom not once lost her patience with either of us although we probably gave her many reasons to over the years. Instead she lead by example showing us how to be kind, patient, and giving. Chris and I spoke the other day and share the same fear along with dad…we the fear her of her not picking up the phone on the other end when we call her one day by habit. She was the best listener and slow to criticize. She never spoke ugly of anyone and stuck by the golden rule "If you don't have something nice to say don't say it at all." So simple…so true. She listened to all of us and even some of you sitting in this room and always had just the perfect thing to say.

Mom loved to travel and see Gods wonders of the world and most recently made her first and last trip to Niagra Falls with dad, something they always wanted to do together. Some of my most vivid memories are watching broadway musicals in New York and finding live mussels in Maine and her teaching me how to clean and cook them. One childhood vacation memory I still laugh about is after dad and I riding Tower of Terror at Disney multiple times in a row somehow convinced mom, who hated rollercoasters, it really wasn't all that bad…WE LOVE IT MOM…come on!! Of course mom gave it a whirl and I looked over during the ride she was literally green about to pass out and I thought "oh no dad and I are in trouble now.." Needless to say that was the last time she listened to one of dad and I's bright ideas. It was okay that she didn't like coasters because that is still the only thing I can think of we don't share in common.

Mom loved to dance. After many times asking dad and Drew to dance with us we decided we were okay dancing with each other and liked it that way. While decorating we always rocked around the Christmas tree together…literally, did the pretzel to the calypso band in the bahamas and did the best break down to "She's a brick house" on the beach…so good dad decided to join. One of our most simple but treasured memories is playing cards. Mom, dad, Drew and myself have played thousands of times over the last 11 years. Two days before her passing she even shared with Drew how much fun she had playing cards with us always laughing and being competitive all in good fun and she hated we wouldn't be able to play anymore. Mom loved sitting on her screened porch and listening to the birds chirp. She loved the newness and blossom of a cool spring day and the coziness of a fall afternoon enjoying watching the trees turn many magnificent shades. She carried a purse we all called her Mary Poppins bag. It wasn't huge but somehow she had everything any of us needed. We could be hours down the road headed for vacation and anyone could ask her …"oh no - do you have blank?" It doesn't matter what it was she would pull it out and say "yes of course…mama is always one step ahead. " Mom loved to dress in the latest and has kept us all looking hip. She showered us all with fashion advice and the newest trend so we all felt special knowing she knew best. Mom loved Alabama game days and hustle and bustle of Tuscaloosa on a Fall Saturday afternoon. Her tailgate was the cutest and spot all of my friends wanted to be. I can still see her smile and laughter now as she would high five her friends in the stands and shake her pom and with her contagious smile and yelling Roll Tide.

Most of you all hear call her Janice, we were lucky enough to be able to call her mom. She was more than just my mom she was and still is my very best friend and idol. Even since her passing I feel her by my side more than ever. She told me a few days ago "My God, knows what is the best for me, it may not be what I desire. He made me, I am his, and I will be his faithful servant trusting him to take care of me. I know I will love my new home he is preparing for me." She was so worried about others even two days before her passing. While laying beside her a few days ago I asked if she was resting and wanted me to go…she said "no don't go I was just sitting here praying for you all." Warm tears trickled down my face knowing she has truly strived to be Christ like as long as we have all known her.

Mom asked for several days preceding her passing is it Christmas yet? Christmas morning came dad leaned over and wished her a Merry Christmas told her what a beautiful cold frosty morning it was and the boys were about to open their presents. I then told her we loved her Merry Christmas and Santa came to see the boys "I wish you could see their joy this morning mom." Moments later we walked the boys down the stairs and watched their faces survey the presents and walked in her bedroom to fill her in and she was gone. She had a smile on her face and looked so peaceful. We all cried and hugged knowing mom was celebrating like John Brady said " in Jesus' house while watching down on us. We believe she hung on as long as she could but couldn't bear the fact she couldn't see all over her loved ones on Christmas and that once we told her what day is was she let go to become one of God's angels. One of moms dear friends shared this text with me on the day of her passing which I will share with you today "Stephanie, I can't think of a better day to lose a loved one on. That, in my opinion is a tell tell sign that she was always the angel I knew she was. That God has bigger plans for her than we could ever imagine. I hope she sees my son and all her lost loved ones. They say it is a glorious reunion. I know you adored her. You are a spitting image of her and I always admired the relationship the two of you shared. Never have I ever seen a mother and daughter so close." I believe mom is smiling down on all of us and I can find comfort, even in this heartache knowing she is being cared for by the ultimate healer and she no longer has pain. Today I want to celebrate a beautiful life lived and as difficult as it may be try not dwell on the life lost.