Mary Naser

On Friday, May 19, 2017, we had the privilege of gathering to bid farewell to the Godly Matriarch of our family, Greatgrandmother, Grandmother, Aunt, Friend to many, My Dear Mom! I am so thankful for the wonderful three-month Florida vacation we spent together before the devastating stoke she experienced on April 1.  Not a nice April Fool's joke Mom! But even during the long 1-month hospital stay trying to recover from such a vicious stroke, Mom was working hard to fight the good fight! She influenced many along the way with her determination! Yes nurses, doctors and other medical staff but also other patients. Other patients in this acute trauma center were drawn to come over and talk to my Mom! She went through 4 different roomates during her long hospital stay, all of whom we know by name and pray for. They were women struck by accute events themselves but befriended my Mom, were attentive to her and prayed for her and us daily. A month stay in an accute trauma hospital exposes one to the raw ordeals that one must suffer through in life! Yet God was present through these people! Those in need randomly sharing their pain and asking for prayer, those experiencing unexplainable miracles and sharing their joy and those who were fighting the good fight and ministering to those around them! You would think that this hospital with helicopters flying in and out, codes constantly being called and staff constantly running to attend to the emergency of the moment would be an overwhelmingly depressing place! But it proved to be quite the opposite. The physical weakness of the many allowed the strong Spirit to be readily noticed! Through the many devasting struggles we must all endure in life the question is often asked "why this?" I confess that half way through my Mom's ordeal I completely broke down and was screaming out to God "WHY THIS! I could no longer tolerate the torture I felt my Mom was enduring. This special Godly woman, my Mother was not supposed to have to go through this!!! But the prayers of many sustained me through the dark period and my eyes were open to God at work in a very tangible way through the brokeness of people! After being discharged from the hospital my Mom rallied a bit at the nursing home in Florida making progress with her physical therapy but after a while she began to withdraw, slept more, kept her eyes closed most of the day and did not want to respond. She was obviously giving up. That's when my wonderful husband Ed came to the rescue with his amazing research! By the grace of God he found a company that does long distance across country medical transfers in a beautiful medically equipped motor home which also provides medical staff for across country bed to bed transfer! Through no small miracle Mom was able to spend 10 days in WI, meeting her two new Great Grandsons, laughing and smiling with her family and even attending Mass on Mother's Day with her family and her mouth moving as she participated in the Service! Yes God IS good! May He be glorified in His many miracles! May we all see through the brokeness this life on earth often brings! May our eyes be open to the strong Holy Spirit that is there to guide us through it! May we all be ready to fight that good fight and reach that finish line where Christ has promised He has gone to prepare a place for us because with the Father there are many mansions and there is a special place for each of us! (John 14:2) I will miss my Mom, my friend, my confidant, my inspiration! But she has shown me in a very intimate way what it really means to fight the good fight! Until we meet again in that special place Christ prepared for us... I LOVE you dearly Mom! ❤  ⚘  ❤  ⚘  ❤  ⚘  ❤  ⚘  ❤   ⚘   ❤

First of all I am so sorry Marijo and all of your family for the loss of your dear mother. I knew Mary for about 8 or 9 years. I drove her to church once a month. We became close friends and shared many a conversation riding to and from and attending Mass together. Mary was a kind, loving, happy and tender hearted lady who I grew to love. She loved her family so much. I am so very thankful that our paths crossed in this life and feel extremely blessed to call her friend. I will miss her!!