A Tribute to My Mom

Joanne with her Remarkable Mom

I'm honored to be the daughter of a remarkable woman from the “Greatest Generation."

My mother, Marie Walter McDermott was born in 1920, the year that Congress finally ratified the Nineteenth Amendment, which gave women the “right to vote.” I think that Mom must have sensed this female birthright because she never let the gender-biased restrictions of the early 20^th century of “being a women” prevent her from following her dreams.

For instance, she told me that her family was willing to finance the college education of her brother, but not for HER, because money would be wasted on a female who would only wind up married with kids. This was the 1930's mindset of many of that time, but it didn't stop Mom. After working long hours as a secretary in New York City's Rockefeller Center, she commuted via subway to Columbia and furthered her education by taking night classes.

When she was in her early twenties, World War II erupted and her younger brother was drafted into the Army. Against her parents' wishes, she heeded the call and enlisted in the Waves, ready to do her part for the war effort. She served her country proudly and even today tries to attend her fellow women vet meetings. As a young girl I was impressed by her stories of her Wave adventures - - and even more so, her travels after the war. Mom did not “settle down” as expected by her family. She boarded a bus with Wave girlfriends and traveled across the country and even worked in California for a time. Sometimes I chuckle when she wonders why her children live in different parts of the U.S. - must be something in the genes!

After the war, she met and married my Dad and settled into the role of wife and mother. But she was no traditional Mom. She juggled cooking, housework and more importantly, the raising of 5 children. Since my Dad was not very good at “fix it” jobs, Mom would tackle all kinds of non-traditional household tasks from repairing the toilet to painting a ceiling with young children in tow. I remember once that she literally saved the house from burning down by tossing blankets over a fire that my little brother started in his bedroom.

After working for the Lipton Tea Company one summer while I was in college, I encouraged Mom to apply for a position there. Of course, she landed the job and began another career in the Consumer Services Department. When her boss retired, she did not think twice and applied for his position. At that time, men were in the management ranks. But, Mom persevered. The company even sent her for an interview with a psychologist to make sure that she could handle it! Of course, she could. Mom was offered his job with the caveat that she could not expect the salary that her boss received. That just was not done! She did not waste time grumbling. She assumed the position and of course, excelled. Eventually, the company had to increase her pay to an equitable level. But it took her some time to “pay her dues” and break Lipton's “glass ceiling.” After strong women like Mom, other women were promoted at fairer salaries.

After her retirement from Lipton, Marie became a caretaker for my Dad, who had macular degeneration, which left him with very poor eyesight. Mom still found time for keeping fit with daily pool exercise and took art lessons. The walls of her condo apartment and our homes are filled with her creations.

When Richard & I retired and moved to Punta Gorda, Mom decided she liked Punta Gorda, too. She decided to move to South Port Square, and today lives independently there! At age 90, she relocated there and made a host of new friends! When she called Century Link to order high speed internet, they told her that “they just didn't have many requests from South Port Square for that kind of service.” When they found out that she was 90, they decided to do the installation for free! She has fun on the computer with her football pool and keeping up with her grandkids on Facebook and Email. Why, Just 2 weeks ago, she decided that she wasn't getting enough outdoor exercise. So, she went over to Acme Bike and ordered herself a recumbant tricycle!

I'm so honored that Pat Cote asked me to speak about my remarkable Mom. She had always been my role model and influential in helping me attain my own personal and career goals.

Thanks, Mom, for being a role model to the women of our family and to others along the way.

 

 

Speech given by Joanne Collins at Isles Yacht Club for Mother's Day 2013