Randy Keho

7 years ago · 2 min. reading time · ~10 ·

Blogging
>
Randy blog
>
Mom's Returned to the Land of Castles and Step Dancing

Mom's Returned to the Land of Castles and Step Dancing

33b5590b.jpg

I received the inevitable call Friday morning. 
My mother's time in this world was quickly coming to an end. I was encouraged to get to the nursing home as soon as possible. She'd been under hospice care for nearly six months.
I was too late. She passed before my daughter, Meghan, or I could get there. My son, Patrick, who lives 30 miles away, never had a chance.
And, just like that, she was gone. Her name was Ellen and she was 86 years old.
They hadn't told my 90-year-old father, who resides in the same nursing home. Like her, he suffers from dementia and is under hospice care. His time is coming to end, as well.
I wasn't upset. I'm a rational being. I had to keep it together. I'm an only child.

b65bef8c.jpg

Shortly upon arrival, my daughter went to my father's room and brought him down to her room. 
With the help of a hospice nurse, we explained to him that she had passed.
He simply took a seat next to her bed and gazed upon her lifeless body. He didn't say a word.
She hadn't recognized him as her husband or my father for the past 10 years. That's why they were in separate rooms.
He is what they call a "Fallen Catholic." He had been raised in the Catholic Church, but only attended mass on Easter and Christmas with a good friend. Ironically, one of the aunts who raised him had been a nun who taught school.
As I watched him silently sit there, he appeared to have said a prayer, but he made no sign of the cross.
My mother, on the other hand, was Protestant and raised me in the same fashion.
Their 60-year relationship had appeared to defy the odds. Two Irish-Americans, one born and raised Protestant in Belfast, who became a naturalized citizen. The other, born in Chicago with an Irish ancestry of his own, was  raised Catholic.
How could they possibly coincide under the circumstances?
Back in the day, a combination of those particular religions in Northern Ireland was highly frowned upon and downright dangerous. They're still at odds, but the senseless bloodshed has ceased -- for the time being. They've compromised.
As a young boy, I had asked my mother about the "Troubles" in her hometown. I had read about them in the newspapers my relatives would send us. There were nonstop bombings and killings. The graphic images were quite disturbing.
Where she had grown up and where my relatives still live was smack dab in the middle of the war zone. 
She calmly told me that it really had nothing to do with religion. It was economics. 
Under British rule, the protestants were the haves and the Catholics were the have nots. That was the main difference.
However,  in her neighborhood, she added, the Protestants were not any better off than the Catholics. The majority got along just fine. In fact, some of her best friends were Catholic and vice versa.
She left it at that and we never really spoke about it, again.
Today, I thank her for those words of wisdom. I believe they've made me a better man.
We all have our differences and most of us, like her, can cut through the crap and expose "troubles" for what they are and not what they appear to be or what someone wants us to think they are.
Perhaps, there's hope for us all.
I'd like to think she's back home now, revisiting the places she kept close to her heart: the castles of Northern Ireland.
I'll bet she's been dancing a few jigs. too, having been an award-winning Irish dancer in her youth.
I'd give anything to watch her dance again. It's been a long time.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    

""
Comments

Sara Jacobovici

7 years ago #12

Dear Randy Keho, my thoughts and prayers are with you and your family and I wish you continued strength. I am very sorry for your loss. It was great to read your earlier story when she was still alive and am grateful to you for sharing her passing and learning more about her.

Milos Djukic

7 years ago #11

A great person deserves no less: Ellen, Randy Keho mother and she dance again.

Kevin Pashuk

7 years ago #10

Truly sorry for your loss Randy. It sounds like your family has a lot of stories that your mother gave you. Thank you for letting us share this time with you.

don kerr

7 years ago #9

Randy Keho what a lovely testament. Dance on my friend.

Harvey Lloyd

7 years ago #8

Randy Keho what a heritage, i can only imagine meeting your parents and the stories they could tell of life. I know they will be missed. Their heritage is now in you to carry the torch of their journey. Thanks for sharing, my time is coming for these events to happen with my parents.

Pascal Derrien

7 years ago #7

Sorry to hear this Randy Keho, I am an only child too and don't live too far from your mum's birth place (relatively speaking) Suaimhneas síoraí di

Randy Keho

7 years ago #6

#6
Thank you Aurorasa Sima But, I was forced to come to grips with virtually losing her to dementia a year ago. By then, I was the only one she continued to recognize. Then, she didn't.

Randy Keho

7 years ago #5

#4
It was a blessing, Phil. She hadn't been the stereotypical Irish mother I had known for more than a decade.

Phil Friedman

7 years ago #4

Randy Keho, sorry for your loss. Unfortunately, there is nothing for the pain except time... and acceptance of the fact that it is the price we pay for the years we have together.

Randy Keho

7 years ago #3

#2
Thank you, She's finally at peace.

David B. Grinberg

7 years ago #2

Randy, please accept my deepest sympathies for your loss. Having lost my father three years ago, I know what a truly difficult and challenging time this is for you and your family. Therefore, I will keep you in my thoughts and prayers. Stay strong, my friend, and know that your mother is at peace in a better place with the good Lord in heaven.

David B. Grinberg

7 years ago #1

Randy, please except my deepest sympathies for your loss. You deserve accolades for writing such a personal and heartfelt post. Having lost my father three years ago, I know what a difficult time this must be for you and your family. Please know I will keep you in my thoughts and prayers.

Articles from Randy Keho

View blog
7 years ago · 4 min. reading time

I don't read as much as I used to and, · looking back, it's probably a good thing. · Good or bad, ...

7 years ago · 1 min. reading time

Fidel Castro is dead. Keith Richards is alive. · Donald Trump is the president-elect. Bob Dylan won ...

7 years ago · 0 min. reading time

It's 5 O'Clock Somewhere · "

Related professionals

You may be interested in these jobs

  • AutoZone

    Delivery Driver

    Found in: Jobrapido US C2 - 13 hours ago


    AutoZone bourbonnais, United States Full time

    Auto · Zone - 648 N CONVENT ROAD [Non-CDL / Route Driver] As a Delivery Driver at AutoZone, you'll: Drive delivery vehicle to transport parts to commercial customers; Load and unload parts; Pick up re ...

  • Panera Bread

    Baker

    Found in: Jobrapido US C2 - 13 hours ago


    Panera Bread reading, United States

    Panera Bread Paper Mill Road [Kitchen Staff / Pastry Cook] As a Baker at Panera Bread, you'll: Bring your skills and craft to create the breads, world-class cookies and artisan pastries; Be held to th ...

  • Costco Wholesale Corp.

    Cake Decorator

    Found in: Jobrapido US C2 - 13 hours ago


    Costco Wholesale Corp. roseville, United States

    Costco Wholesale Corp GRATIOT AVENUE [Bakery Clerk / Team Member] As a Cake Decorator at Costco, you'll: Cut, fill and ice cakes; Decorate and write messages on cakes using pastry bags and tips; Packa ...