In Memory of My Mother…
Vera Irene Witt
by Gayle Brantuk
Mom absolutely loved children and
always liked to tell me how thrilled she was when I was born in
1960, as she was with my sister Janet as well. Janet married and
moved out of the house when I was 9, so to say mom's life
revolved around me would not be an understatement.
When I said I was
interested in becoming a Brownie, she signed me up the next day
and signed herself up as my co-leader. We continued in Girl
Scouts for about 10 more years with her either leading or
co-leading whichever troop I was in. She organized camp-o-rees,
jamborees, cookie sales, calendar sales and everything else
involved. She was in her element. Mom was definitely a
people-person.
Later, I played Bobby Sox softball and mom was quick to get
involved as our team manager, a role that she was great in and
all the girls loved her. She also volunteered for years at a
local hospital - she was a very caring and giving woman, and
also volunteered lots of time to the Methodist Church that we
attended at the time.
It seems that wherever we went, Mom would run
into someone she knew - it was uncanny. Mom "never met a
stranger" and would talk to everyone… for this very
shy little girl, this was often embarrassing. People were just
attracted to Mom as she was very outgoing, energetic and
happy.
Mom loved to travel - she just couldn't sit still. Dad and
I went with her on a few vacations to Hawaii, Tahiti and up the
coast of California, but the rest she did on her own. She went
to Europe several times, cruised the Panama Canal twice, visited
New Zealand and Australia and probably many more places. She
usually traveled with one of her girlfriends or a family
member.
Even when she wasn't traveling far away, she
would drive her motorhome to gamble in Vegas, Laughlin or a
local Indian Reservation. She loved to gamble and especially
play Bingo. From the time I was a little girl, she usually
played Bingo a couple of times a week at local Catholic
churches. She was also an avid bowler and was always on one or
more bowling leagues. Many of them were traveling leagues and
they would go to Tahoe or Vegas for some of their league
playoffs.
In the early days of Glen-L, mom used to do the banking for the
business. She would take me with her and we would sometimes stop
at A & W for fries and a root beer float. As was her nature,
she became very good friends with the teller at the bank. She
also was lifelong friends with two of the ladies that used to
work here at Glen-L.
At some point when Mom's mind was failing
(she had Alzheimer's for about the last 10 years or so), I
kept remembering these little things that she taught me
throughout life and decided to call them "mom-isms".
Things like "if at first you don't succeed, try, try
again." She'd also frequently scold me if I ever said
"I can't"- she would firmly state, "you can
do anything if you just set your mind to it." She also
taught me to live by the golden rule to treat people as you
would want them to treat you. And, if we were camping, to always
leave our campsite better than when we found it.
She was a hard worker. If someone needed assistance, she
didn't wait to ask; she would just do whatever they needed.
She saw a need and she met it. I'd like to be more like her
in that way. When I was about 10 our friends, the Kasenburgs
were moving back to California from Ohio. Mom knew they needed
help with four small children, so she and I flew to Ohio and
helped move them all the way back to California. They then
stayed with us until they found a home of their own.
When I lived at home, I was always
starting projects that I just didn't seem to complete and
Mom would step in and finish them for me. Things such as a huge
macramé project, knitting, sewing, you name it - she
bailed me out time and time again. Sometimes, she'd even
finish an outfit I'd been sewing so that I could wear it the
next day to school. She taught me how to sew, crochet and knit
although I must admit that without her to help me, I'm not
very good with the latter two.
Mom would sit and crochet or knit while watching TV. She made
Janet, Anke (my sister-in-law) and I all king-sized bedspreads
from the thread doilies are made from (your wives will know what
I'm talking about!). Each one took her 3 - 5 years to make!
May not be a boat, but they are true craftsmanship. She also
quilted, made these funky beaded eyeglass holder necklace
things, and even tried her hand at painting (on canvas).
Mom was a remarkable woman. In high school, all my girl friends
loved my mom because she was so much fun. When we would have a
slumber party at our house, mom would be the one to drive us
around to toilet paper houses (all in fun).
I am blessed to have the parents that I do and I sure miss my
mom. Life won't be the same without her, but as she taught
me, I will continue to live it to the best of my ability.
Thanks Mom . . . .
Born: Pawnee Rock Kansas, September 6, 1926
Passed: Downey, California, February 24, 2009
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