February 13, 1948 to October 3, 2010
My mother was born on a Friday, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, "during a snow storm." Her mother and her future mother-in-law worked together in Pittsburgh. The newly introduced couple began dating after my father returned from being drafted to serve in the Vietnam War. They relocated to New York City where they were married during her lunch break at City Hall on September 11, 1970. She wore a red satin mini-skirt with little white stars. In 1971, when my father received his Vietnam War pension they took a long European honeymoon to Italy. They also traveled extensively across the United States and Canada.
She graduated from Earl Wheeler Business School in Pittsburgh and attended Hunter College in New York City. During her time in New York City she worked as a receptionist for Revlon and the Metropolitan Opera. On July 17, 1976 they welcomed their first and only daughter. In 1977 their new family returned to Pittsburgh. On July 22, 1984, Connie lost her 37 year old husband to Hodgkin's disease due to Agent Orange exposure during his service in the Vietnam War. She was only 35 years old. The following year, Connie and her 9 year old daughter relocated from Pittsburgh to Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Being a single mother and seeing great value in education, she worked very hard to ensure that I would attend and graduate from college. While raising me, she fought bitterly with the United States Army to recognize her husband's death as service related. In 1994, she triumphed and was awarded her deceased husband's past and future military benefits. This ensured that I would receive assistance for college expenses from the G.I. Bill on behalf of my father.
Over my birthday in the summer of 1996, while in my sophomore year of college, my mother was diagnosed with stage IV breast cancer. It had spread to her lymph nodes. She spent some years in remission but eventually the cancer returned. It spread to the lining of her uterus. Finally, the cancer spread to her vertebrae. On my birthday in the summer of 2010 she completely lost her ability to walk or stand. She battled cancer very bravely. She was so beautiful. I do not think anyone could tell how sick she was because she was so beautiful. She had stunning blue eyes. She never complained about the pain she was in. She loved to travel, sew, sing karaoke and paint with watercolors. Most of all she loved being a mother. She was the sweetest and kindest woman. This was evident to everyone who knew her as they admired her strength and beauty even during her time of pain. She had an amazing will to live. I am very proud of my mother.
Connie took her last breath on Sunday, October 3, 2010. After her passing, I was contacted by the Northeast PA Lions Eye Bank, Inc. I recalled a family visit to Pittsburgh in 2009 when Connie and I heard a story from a relative who was legally blind but received donor tissue to save her eyesight so she could take care of her young children. When asked for permission to donate my mother's corneas, I hesitated as she was not an organ donor, but knew she would soon be cremated. I wanted to gift this precious resource to someone in need. I have since read The Pope has declared tissue and tissue donation is an acceptable practice. I was told my mother's corneas traveled to a recipient in South Africa, which is fitting because my mother loved to travel. I can only hope that recipient will be able to see the beauty in the world from where they are through the help of my mother's gifted corneas.