What can I say about Mom? She was a free spirit, and she embraced her life even in her person. She loved family and was planning on spending more time with her children and grand children. She did not live long enough, but most importantly, she lived life “her way” to coin an old Sinatra song.

Right before Thanksgiving of 2011, Mom was in a terrible auto accident and spent over a month in the hospital. All of us wanted her to stay longer, wanted her to get the best care, but for some reason the doctor let her go home just about a week ago. Mom really wanted to be home too! She asked her doctor if he could get the treatment she needed at home. The doctor was unable to give her that soon enough. Instead, he let her go home without the proper scheduling being done. How sad is that? After much deep thought, I feel Mom was stolen from us. She may have been stubborn, but that is no reason to not give her the proper care she was entitled to.

In a few short months, I think she could have recuperated. They told me that she suffered a couple minor strokes but when they let her out she looked great and was cognitive and of great spirit. I know her spirit will always be inside us but I will miss her all the same.

She would not want to be a burden and I know that she is in a better place now. This last Christmas will always be a bittersweet memory for all of us who loved Mom so much. We were planning on spending it together with her belated, but sadly we did not, none of us thought that this would be our last Christmas with her. And we never got to have it.

She passed peacefully in her sleep between 4 and 6 am yesterday, January 5th, 2012. We serve an Awesome God! She did not suffer and later that morning I could swear I heard her say to me “Wow, this is cool! Hey honey, I am not in pain anymore. I love you!”. I will go to my grave knowing that she passed into the Arms of Our Lord because I personally witnessed her confess and receive Christ two times.

First in 1989 shortly after she was seriously injured working for Pacific Telephone. Mom was a line installer. Which for those of you who don’t know, is the person who fixes the high wires on telephone poles. Mom was amazing! She would actually climb way up there and fix the phone stuff just like the men! Mom was very self reliant and until she hurt her back she was on top of her world. But it happened she lost her job and the company did not want to give her disability and they cheated her grievously in the settlement which was dragging on. Mom called in tears and I drove to her apartment and told her if she would put her faith in Christ, that things will work out better. On her knees she cried “Yes Jesus Please Help Me, forgive me, I’m so weak. I will live for you.” Short but sweet.

A few years later, things had gone right for Mom for a while and then things went again very wrong for Mom. Money troubles, her Dad passing, Willy, her love for her children and her mom, caused Mom lots of anxiety and she must have lost sight of Him for a while because she just sort of started putting everything she had into working, and drinking, and running. She reached out to me once again. This time I asked her to repeat after me. I led her to Christ that time and she willingly accepted Him again. (I wasn’t so sure at that time so I figured twice can’t hurt!)

Even though the last decade and a half she spent with her sister, my Aunt Teddy who was an absolute blessing to Mom, should have brought her happiness, Mom still suffered from lots of anxiety and she must have lost sight of Him again and she went back to putting everything she had into working, and drinking, and running.

But I believe that this latest experience with the auto accident had really opened her eyes. I’ll never forget how happy and full of life she was the day I drove her home from the hospital! I want everyone to know that she had plans for good, and plans to love and give love.

I remember once when I was about 10 years old she had just bought a convertible Volkswagen Carmen Ghia and she drove my brother Ted and I across the Bay Bridge from Oakland to San Francisco and back one evening. I can still see her huge smile and her long hair waving as we sped across the bridge with the top off on that car!

Mom loved nature. I would actually say that she loved nature as much as any pure blood American Indian. She actually convinced my Uncle Bruce to build a real live Tee Pee in their back yard! Mom just loved that Tee Pee. But even though my Mom was very spiritual and into learning and even experiencing a wide range of beliefs, I believe that once saved always saved. Amen!

If anyone wants to send flowers or anything like that my Mom would have wanted the money to be sent to St. Labre Indian School in her name. That is what she would have wanted. You can click here for the giving page.

I will add more to this in the days to come. I will also be glad to add any words anyone else would like to add here. Love to the world.

Son and Reverend,

Douglas Hauptman

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Posted: January 6th, 2012 under Personal Stuff.
Comments: 2