Remembering Marie

In 2009, we were living in a rental house in Punta Gorda; Marie was still living 100+ miles north in New Port Richey. That December, Marie, Joanne and I flew to New York City to experience the city in its holiday glory. Marie at age 89 walked all around unaided with no trouble at all. She didn’t look a day over 70.

I can see her now silently reminiscing about her early days when she worked in Rockefeller Center as we stood in the plaza and walked the streets. She had attended the Rockettes debut in 1932. Now she was back for the Rockettes Christmas show. 

When I remarked about the high price for a beer at the Tavern on the Green for lunch, Marie, always tight with her money, smiled saying “We didn’t come to New York to save money!”    New York City

In 2010, the family celebrated her 90^th birthday at the Isles Yacht Club. Earlier in the year, she attended her grandson Brian's wedding on Naushon Island.   

 Marie at 90

In June 2011 Marie moved to South Port Square, a retirement community located about 5 miles from our home in Punta Gorda. This was a good move as almost all her neighbors in her condo development abandoned Florida in the summer. At South Port she made friends and traveled with fellow South Porters to theaters and casinos.

I remember pushing Marie in a wheelchair around Disney World during the Christmas 
Holidays. She could still walk but not the many steps Disney World requires to get around.

Christmas 2011

At age 92, Marie flew to Rome and visited the Vatican before attending her granddaughter's destination wedding in Ravello.

Marie in Rome

Escorted to the Reception

The year 2013 brought another wedding, this time in California.

Marie in California for Ben's wedding.

Veteran's Day 2013 

Marie remembered every turn as we drove to Paul's home in Charleston for a mini family reunion at the Isles of Palms. Earlier in the summer, she flew to Washington DC on an Honor Flight. 

2014 - Honor Flight

2014 - Christmas at the Yacht Club

 We celebrated Marie's 95th birthday at South Port Square in style. See 95th Birthday 

2016, Marie, Bleu Kitty, Joanne and Richard flew to Connecticut for Thanksgiving with Mary and Al.  See Thanksgiving in Connecticut.

October, 2017 -  Marie fell and broke her arm while we were in China.  Due to her age, an operation was not advisable so she was left to heal on her own in South Port's Assisted Living facility. Upon our return, I asked her how she was doing. She answered "I'm on one wing" but, restricted to her bed, she looked like death warmed over.  Michele flew over and encouraged the South Port staff to up their level of care.  Eventually, Marie's arm healed as best it could and she returned to her apartment in independent living.  

Marie had most probably fallen a number of times prior to this one but kept the falls to herself. She was deathly afraid of being forced into assisted care and rightfully so. This fall was perhaps just a step along a slow deterioration in Marie's mobility. However, her mind remained as sharp as ever.

Christmas 2017 on Lido Drive

Over the years, Marie would drive her car to church on Sunday and then drive over to our house to spend Sunday afternoon and evening with us, returning to South Port after 60 Minutes.  Sometimes, I would ride home from church with her.  She was always way over on the right side of our street but never clipped a mailbox.  Nevertheless, Joanne was always worried about her mom's driving. After she drove through a stop sign without stopping with me in the right seat, Joanne convinced her to give up driving. Marie gave her car to her son, Kevin. 

You can see in the picture below that Marie is using a walker at age 99.

2019 - Marie with Kevin and Joanne at a Stone Crabs Game.

2019 - Marie with Pilgrims at IYC Thanksgiving Dinner

Visiting Cousin Bill in Naples                                Paul & Diane Visit

Birthday Dinner with Norma Jean                      D Day Celebration at South Port

Jake and Claudia Visit                                      With Tony and Karen

April  2020 - The Coronavirus pandemic hits home.  Punta Gorda closes its parks. Restaurants close.  People freak out and move way over as I ride by on my bicycle.  South Port locks down.  People die at Southport - but not very many.  

As Mass was suspended at Sacred Heart, Father Jerry turned to YouTube. Marie watched from South Port and we watched from home.  It was great to be able to attend Mass in this safe way.

Bleu Looks at his Grandma

Each week, Joanne filled Marie's grocery order at Publix and I took the goods over to South Port for the guard to call someone to deliver it to Marie.    The guards got a kick out the label I added to the bag for each delivery -  For the Inmate in G410!  

We were allowed to pickup Marie for a Sunday afternoon and evening at our house each week.  Using her walker, Marie required a long time to come down the building's hallway from her room to the lobby but she made it every time without complaint.  

At South Port, temperature checks were mandatory.

Marie celebrated her one hundredth birthday with a dinner at the Isles Yacht Club. We "pulled out all the stops" to give her the "Treatment."   From long distance, Al prepared a slide show that played at the dinner.  I uploaded it to You Tube after deleting the accompanying copyrighted music. Michele recorded Marie reminiscing about her remarkable life: Marie on Turning 100.  Click to listen in.

  

Memorial Day 2021 - Joanne served as IYC Chaplin. Marie (Joanne's 100 year old Mom) was recognized for service in World War II receiving a standing ovation. Many attendees thanked her warmly for her service. 

November 2021 - My Mom, Marie McDermott, made it "in style" to 101 years young today.  Yesterday evening we headed out to the Isles Yacht Club to celebrate.  My brother, Paul, and sister-in-law, Diane, visited for Thanksgiving and were here to help with the festivity.  Also in attendance was Norma Jean Rich, Mom's best friend at South Port Square.  Mom ordered her favorite prime rib while most of the rest of us opted for the sumptuous seafood buffet with made to order pasta.  Yum!   

This is What it 101 Looks Like 

The band, Commodore, and many others wished Mom well and sang Happy Birthday.  The highlight was Mom dancing with Paul and me (Joanne) to "How Sweet It Is to be Loved by You."  It was a special day that I will treasure and always remember - Joanne.

December 2021 - As Marie's ability to walk down the hall to South Port's dinning room deteriorated, she purchased a mobility scooter.  She on her red scooter in action:  Hot Chick in a Red Convertible. 

2022 - April 17 -  We took Joanne's mom, Marie, to Mass after which we enjoyed Easter brunch at the Isles Yacht Club.   

2022 - May 8 - At Mass, Father Jerry recognized Joanne's 101 and 1/2 year old mom, Marie, on Mother's Day. Marie responded with her classic wave as the whole congregation applauded. 

            Easter at IYC                                                  Mother's Day at IYC

In September, Marie moved to the Assisted Care Unit at South Port as she could no longer manage her medications, get to the dining room or sleep in her bed due to its height above the floor.  See Moving Mom

South Port experienced difficulty finding staff both for food service and resident care. As a result, dining service on weekends was suspended; meals, not very appetizing, were delivered to the residents' rooms instead. 

We continued to bring Marie over on Sunday afternoons. When she could no longer manage with her walker, I built a ramp so that we could wheel her transport chair into our house.  Sunday dinner. 

When  Joanne could no longer lift her even with my help from her chair to the transport chair, we brought our Sunday dinner to South Port and the three of us had our dinner in a common room. Other residents stopped by to chat. Sadly no one ever visits some of them.  It is surprising how many residents have no one visit them.

In November 2022, Marie was honored for her service in the Navy at the Military Heritage Museum in Punta Gorda. She was the only World War II vet in the group who were honored. Each of them received a Quilt of Valor.

Quilt of Valor

Marie at 102 

After South Port resumed dining room service, we stopped bringing over dinner but wheeled Marie around the grounds and over to the independent living building each Sunday. 

On July 3, 2023 Mary alerted us that Marie was incoherent on the phone the past evening. No one from South Port had called us. We went over on July 4th to find her in very bad shape.  She did not have a fever but was indeed incoherent. We suspected a UTI, confirmed at the Millennium Walk-In Clinic the next morning. Marie responded to antibiotics and was soon back to her old self minus the memory of the days she was sick. 

I expected her to live at least a few more years.  She passed away unexpectedly.  It was miraculous that her oldest M.D. granddaughter decided to visit at that time.  Michele was able to explain that she probably had a bowel obstruction which at her advanced age, was inoperable.  She left us in the middle of the night around 2:15 am on 9/1/23.  We will never forget her.

More to follow.

2009  

https://saileagleswings.blogspot.com/2009/08/oregon.html  

https://saileagleswings.blogspot.com/2009/03/marie-attends-retiree-luncheon.html

https://saileagleswings.blogspot.com/2009/11/mcdermot-thanksgiving.html

https://saileagleswings.blogspot.com/2009/12/new-york-city-dec-7-10-2009.html

2010

https://saileagleswings.blogspot.com/2010/06/wedding-on-naushon-island.html

https://saileagleswings.blogspot.com/2010/03/lipton-lunch.html

https://saileagleswings.blogspot.com/2010/04/crescent-street-boat-yard.html

https://saileagleswings.blogspot.com/2010/09/burger-monger.html

https://saileagleswings.blogspot.com/2010/11/maries-90th-birthday.html

2011

https://saileagleswings.blogspot.com/2011/06/moving-marie.html

https://saileagleswings.blogspot.com/2011/12/maries-91st-birthday-dinner-at-south.html

https://saileagleswings.blogspot.com/2011/12/christmas-2011.html

2012

https://saileagleswings.blogspot.com/2012/05/roma.html

https://saileagleswings.blogspot.com/2012/05/ravello-destination-wedding.html

https://saileagleswings.blogspot.com/2012/05/mother-daughter-fashion-show.html

2013

https://saileagleswings.blogspot.com/2013/05/a-tribute-to-my-mom.html

https://saileagleswings.blogspot.com/2013/08/ben-addies-wedding-day-8113-santa-cruz.html

https://saileagleswings.blogspot.com/2013/11/veterans-day-honoring-women-in-military.html

https://saileagleswings.blogspot.com/2013/12/thanksgiving-and-christmas-holidays-2013.html

2014

https://saileagleswings.blogspot.com/2014/12/at-selby-gardens.html

https://saileagleswings.blogspot.com/2014/06/honor-flight-for-mom.html

https://saileagleswings.blogspot.com/2014/09/family-time-at-isle-of-palms-sc-beach.html

https://saileagleswings.blogspot.com/2015/01/holidays.html

2015

https://saileagleswings.blogspot.com/2015/04/catching-up-on-punta-gorda-life.html

https://saileagleswings.blogspot.com/2015/11/blog-post.html

2016

https://saileagleswings.blogspot.com/2016/12/thanksgiving-in-connecticut.html

2019

https://saileagleswings.blogspot.com/2019/06/kevin-comes-to-town.html

https://saileagleswings.blogspot.com/2019/12/end-of-year-festivities.html

2020 

https://saileagleswings.blogspot.com/2020/03/our-life-has-changed-courtesy-of.html

https://saileagleswings.blogspot.com/2020/04/pizza-with-marie.html

https://saileagleswings.blogspot.com/2020/11/marie-centenarian-wonderful-celebration.html

2021

https://saileagleswings.blogspot.com/2021/05/2021-first-quarter-january-through-april.html

https://saileagleswings.blogspot.com/2021/11/this-is-what-101-years-young-looks-like.html

2022

https://saileagleswings.blogspot.com/2022/05/easter-and-mothers-day.html

https://saileagleswings.blogspot.com/2022/09/moving-mom.html

to be continued