A NATURAL MOTHER by Michael Josephson
Michael Josephson
Ethicist-CEO/Founder: Josephson Inst. of Ethics, CHARACTER COUNTS!, Exemplary Policing series
. In the process of a daunting project of collecting and sorting writings and photos I came across a short tribute speech in honor of my step-grandmother Dora Wisotsky in celebration of her 80th birthday in 1986. Twelve Years later I delivered a eulogy for this dear woman. I attach both here because I think it can useful to any of you who have need for a tribute or eulogy. Feel free to use it in any way you wish with my blessing.
A NATURAL MOTHER by Michael Josephson
Some people grow into the position,
some never do.
Being a mother, a grandmother, a great grandmother just isn't a natural thing for some people.
It is for this lady.
Whether she is called, "Maaaa!"
(usually with a tone of frustration trailing at the end),
"Grandma W." or even "Auntie Dora",
We know this woman as a universal mother.
Caring and compassion are in the blood that flows from her heart to us.
Her job is to worry,
to remind us to wear jackets,
to warn us to be careful,
to wish us health and happiness.
Her tender soul connects her to her children with invisible threads
and she feels our hurts,
suffers our pains
and, when she allows herself the luxury, experiences our joy.
It is not always easy to be loved so much.
Sometimes we turn away from the responsibility.
Sometimes we struggle to assert our independence.
But who can feel the unfiltered, undiluted power of her love
and not be the better for it?
Who can experience the exuberance of her joy without smiling?
Who can know her and not love her?
Nobody in this room.
from Michael 1986
EULOGY FOR DORA WISOTSKY
?Dora Cannot Leave Us
?Dora Wisotsky was ninety something when she gave up her frail body
?As we would expect she did not give up easily
She went on her own terms
In her own apartment,
In her own bed
With her children, Beatrice and Marvin nearby and Edith always in her heart
?Dora Wisotsky's body is gone,
But she has not left us
She cannot leave us
The outline of her spirit is etched in our consciousness
???????????????As if chiseled into a stone wall
?She cannot leave us because she is a part of us.
?She was sugar, salt, pepper and even a little vinegar
Sweetening and seasoning every encounter
with her own distinctive touch
?If she had a coat of arms, the three words you might see are
Family
Faith
Worry
Her family was her life
Her faith was her foundation
And worry was her job
?Each of us has different portraits and snapshots of
Ma
Grandma
Auntie Dora
Dora
Close your eyes, breathe in deeply and a picture will come to you
and another, and another
?Freeze on one of the images and in a moment
???????????????The sounds and smells
???????????????The feeling will also return
?And you are with her again
And she is with you
????????????????With love, Michael January 25, 1998
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