Maureen's Pen and Ink Gazebo

Illustration ~ Maureen Potwin Noonan


Open Pantry Logo


18 June 2006

Dear Friends,

When I awoke this morning I remembered how difficult Father's Day has been for Mom since Dad died, in 1999, so I reached
for the phone - then remembered this past Mother's Day when Mom went to a hospital where she suffered a heart attack in the ER.

Later that day she was transferred to another hospital and I arrived just in time to accompany my unconscious mother
upstairs. An Emergency Medical Technician regularly squeezed life-sustaining air through a football shaped bellows.
Despite his optimism about her condition, I wondered if Mom would ever speak again.

The next day she regained consciousness and acknowledged her children and other loving family members and friends but a
breathing tube made it almost impossible to speak. Tuesday, without the tube, she did speak and all of my family members
were extremely grateful for the opportunity to hear her voice again. Throughout the week her critical condition continued to
improve despite the steady march of Congestive Heart Failure.

After consultation with Doctors and family members Mom returned home on Friday, May 19th, but resolved not to have
extraordinary measures taken to prolong her life. That evening Marion and I told her we wanted to move forward our summer
wedding plans. Mom agreed and suggested we use the backyard gazebo, which she enjoyed so much, for the wedding ceremony.

Knowing we had yet to think about rings, she then slipped my father's wedding ring from behind her own, gave it with her
blessing and offered hers to Marion. Former Open Pantry board President, Fr. Bill Dwyer, officiated our wedding the
following Tuesday May 23rd.

Although she couldn't reach the gazebo, Mom looked on from her wheelchair in the kitchen while we were married in front of a
small group of friends and family in the living room. After a reading from first Corinthians, Mom pointed to the "wall of
fame", photos of four generations of smiling family members, and said, "All my loves are up there on that wall."

Three days later, Mom passed away leaving what a friend termed "a giant hole to walk around." We all miss her terribly. Fr.
Warren Savage, reminded us at her funeral of how, in her love for us, she personified "Constance" by being constant,
steadfast, faithful and firm.

Mom valued and stressed the importance of family and each day she practiced the doctrine of her Christian faith, to love one
another. She was a natural born caregiver to people here and overseas. She had a gift for upholding people and, without
exception, making them feel special.

After her death we selected photographs for the slide presentation we used in the days surrounding her funeral and for this
website. Searching in and among the photos we came across a rarity, a contemporary shot of Mom alone. She is standing in
the doorway of the very same gazebo which, the day before she died, she had asked us to help her see one last time by rolling
her bed to a position in front of the window.

Looking at the photo I realized the gazebo has eight equal sides which not only matched the number of her children but also
symbolizes the equality of love she and our Dad gave to each of us. Our Mom may have left this world but she can never die
while we hold her memory in our hearts and live in the manner she in turn taught us, "to love one another."

Peace,

Kevin J. Noonan
Executive Director

Connie in the Gazebo