Ron Jankowski
A Wonderful Mother & A Great Friend
Ruth and I went to visit our grandchildren last weekend Sam & Max. Sam came up to me and asked me if I had a good day at work. I said I did not work today but I had a wonderful day being here with you guys. He took my left hand and with his washable dark green marker, drew a large happy face on the back of my hand. I felt love and the softness in his talk, which left me with an impression that warmed my heart.
Ma left those kinds of impressions on people she met. In her 99 years, 5 months, and 11 days on this earth she left a lot of impressions on people she cared for. When she was young, she worked in her father’s store in Weyerhaeuser. Farmers would come in once a week to shop. They had a horse barn near the store 10 or 12 stalls, the last two were for the icehouse. So, Ma met many, helping in the store. She always loved going back home to visit family. Ma, mentioned to me a few times, that back when she was young a boy offered her a nickel if she would stick her finger in a fresh pile of cow poop. She did. That’s all I remember her telling me.
Every chance she could, we would go back to Weyerhaeuser, Weddings, funerals or town centennials, Ma’s happy place sharing stories with her mother, brother, and sisters.
After Ma got a job at Beaumont she was rewarded with PTO (paid time off) she never got this before and she loved it. Put in for her vacation, her and Ann went so many places together. Whether it was a drive downtown or to Tennessee, they went everywhere. Ann has always been there for Ma. The best sister one could ever have.
Ma’s baking was out of this world, from crescent rolls, ton of cookies, brownies, and fudge. I am surprised we all were not 300 lbs. by the time we left home.
Ma was an easy person to get to know, would listen to many stories told to her and share her thoughts if it was appropriate. Also, compassionate, a very caring, dedicated, trusted honest person. Her heart was full of love she gave freely, during her fun times growing up, through her tuff times when she first got married, during her wonderful times experiencing her children marrying and welcoming everyone into the family and to her exciting times when she realized she can go places and see things and enjoy her life, because it always wasn’t the best of times.
Everyone mentions their mother is the best in the land, and they are correct, there can never be a mother like your own. One who cares about your every step, interested in everything you do and want to share, to be together in a family get together to share stories and laugh a lot. And to thank God everything is Great, and it could not be better. We had that, we received so many of Ma’s good habits we all can be thankful for. Yes, Ma left good impressions on many people, if she didn’t outlive 90 percent of them and we didn’t have this covid crisis she would probably fill up this room and then some.
For her being 99 years 5 months and 11 days, we think WOW! Breaking it down, 36,324 Days or 871,776 hours 53,306,560 minutes That’s a lot of time to give love, to her children and the others she has loved. We’ll miss her, but her stories will be told and the laughs will continue.