The Good and the . . .? Part One

Mary Elizabeth Swailes Stenger 1910-1994

The feel of a warm hug, the comfort of a cool hand on a fevered brow,

The sweet kiss of love, the loving care when ill - This was Mother.

A person who loved flowers but hated weeds

Was tender and sensitive that no person or animal suffer, -This was Mother.

She loved her own child, foster children, giving of herself,

She was fond of her cats and her cow which she milked by hand, - This was Mother

She helped in the field when needed, raised rabbits, Guinea pigs, and chickens

She sold eggs to the community and tended a garden, -This was Mother

Teaching her children manners, how to write a letter of thanks

How to set a table, to be respectful to elders, -This was Mother

A good cook-dumplings, pot pie, Harvard beets, sugar cookies

Home canning-beans, corn, apple sauce, peaches, -This was Mother

The daughter of a butcher, she helped and guided her husband in cutting up meat

On butcher days, preparing meat for hamburger, wrapping meat for freezing,- This was Mother

A foster mother of approximately 16 children for various lengths of time

She cared for bed wetters (never scolding), diabetics (giving shots and watching diets)

-all without the modern conveniences of hot water, automatic washer or dryer,

Central heat or inside bathroom,- This was Mother

A hands-on grandmother, keeping the grandchildren occasionally at Grandma’s house!

A humorous, fun-loving “youthful” person, -This was Mother

Full of down-home wisdom: quaint sayings – “I can’t never did anything”

“Pretty is as pretty does,” “Beauty is only skin deep” -This was Mother

When ill and experiencing limited abilities, still cheerful and pleasant

Always concerned about the other person, -This was Mother

Mother has gone away from us, but she has left a heritage of love and caring,

And even though she is gone, she still remains in our hearts and memories forever.