My mother passed away last night after a five-year battle with cancer. I'm stricken with an intestinal bug that leaves me horizontal most times, so I lack the energy and focus to describe what a dynamic, headstrong and incredible woman she was.
Here's a satiric ode I wrote for her birthday a few years ago, which gives you a small glimpse of her character. Her funeral is on Sunday, after which we'll be observing the shiva mourning period before heading back to Chicago.
Blogging won't resume for a few weeks yet, so thanks for hanging in there with me.
(The photo was taken after my daughter, Lael, was born two years ago.)
UPDATE: Here is her obituary as it appeared in several local newspapers:
Lenore Utal Boles
Accomplished Psychiatric Nurse
Lenore Utal Boles, the first psychiatric nurse in the state to open a private practice, died at her home Thursday, August 2, 2007, after a five-year battle with cancer. She was 78.
Lenore was born July 3, 1929 in the Bronx, New York, to Joseph and Dorothy Utal, leaving home to study at Beth Israel Hospital School of Nursing in New York City, and earning her diploma in 1951.
Her nursing career spanned 57 years, and she earned a B.S. from Teachers College of Columbia University in New York, NY in 1964, and an M.S. in nursing from the University of Connecticut in Storrs in 1977.
She moved to Norwalk in 1962, and taught psychiatric nursing at several colleges, most recently as a lecturer and clinical instructor at Yale University, until 2002. In 1979, she opened Nurse Counseling Group in Norwalk with two other psychiatric nurses, the first such private practice in the state.
As a member of the Connecticut Nursing Association (CNA), she successfully lobbied for legislation to allow nurses to get reimbursed by insurance companies, and then later for the right to prescribe medication. In 2003, she left Nurse Counseling Group to open Changing Perspectives in Westport.
Mrs. Boles received the Florence S. Wald Award from the CNA in 1984 for outstanding contributions to nursing practice. She was a member of the American Psychiatric Nurses' Association, the Connecticut Society of Nurse Psychotherapists and Sigma Theta Tau, the National Honor Society of Nursing. She became the first woman to serve as vice president of the board of trustees of Congregation Beth El in Norwalk in the late 1970s.
(snip)
In lieu of flowers, mourners are encouraged to make donations to the Whittingham Cancer Center of Norwalk Hospital or to Congregation Beth El.
Oh, Anne. I'm so sorry. My sympathies to you and all your family.
Posted by: Susan T. | August 03, 2007 at 02:46 PM
I'm so sorry for your loss.
Posted by: Liz B | August 03, 2007 at 02:51 PM
Anne, I'm so sorry for the loss of your mother.
Posted by: Sheila Ruth | August 03, 2007 at 04:11 PM
Anne: I'm so, so sorry. What a beautiful photo of your mom and Lael. You can see the spirit and intelligence in her face.
Posted by: Kelly | August 03, 2007 at 04:44 PM
Anne - I'm sorry to hear about your mother. I hope she is always with you.
Posted by: Neil | August 03, 2007 at 08:41 PM
My thoughts are with you at this time.
Posted by: Phil | August 03, 2007 at 09:56 PM
Dear Anne,
I am so sorry to hear about the loss of your mother. I am sure you have many wonderful memories to hold close to your heart.
Posted by: Elaine Magliaro | August 04, 2007 at 07:04 AM
My deepest sympathies to you at this difficult time.
Posted by: Pam | August 04, 2007 at 10:43 AM
What an amazing mother you had. I am so sorry for your loss. May your memories bring you moments of loving joy during this very sad time. We will keep an eye out for your return.
Posted by: pjlibrarian | August 04, 2007 at 12:50 PM
I'm so sorry to hear this. My sympathies to you and yours . . .
Posted by: Jules | August 05, 2007 at 07:16 AM
Anne - I'm so sorry to hear you've lost your Mom. You and your family will be in my prayers.
Posted by: Tricia | August 05, 2007 at 08:38 AM
Many thanks, all of you. Mom's funeral was lovely today, with six separate eulogies. Phew! I guess you couldn't pack everything she did in her lifetime into just one speech.
I'm grateful I have such a supportive online community. I'll be back in force soon. Thanks again.
Posted by: Anne | August 05, 2007 at 02:35 PM
Anne I am so sorry for your loss. What a dynamic, wonderful woman! I hope you find some comfort in this time.
Posted by: cloudscome | August 05, 2007 at 04:32 PM
Anne, today was a wonderful and moving tribute to your Mom. Despite knowing her my entire life it was inspiring to hear of the depth and breadth of her accomplishments.
Posted by: Dan Schwartz | August 05, 2007 at 05:30 PM
Thanks, Dan. It was so great catching up with you over the weekend. Much love to your wonderful family.
Posted by: brettdl | August 06, 2007 at 05:50 AM
Anne, I'm so sorry about your mom, but so glad you linked to your tribute to her. I'll be thinking about you both.
Posted by: Chris Barton | August 06, 2007 at 06:13 PM
I'm so sorry for your loss. I'll say a prayer for her soul and for your family.
Posted by: Christine the Soccer Mom | August 07, 2007 at 02:17 PM
I'm so sorry about the loss of your mother -- with sympathy and prayers ....
Posted by: Karen E. | August 07, 2007 at 09:57 PM
So sorry about your Mom, Anne. My heart goes out to you and your family. She must have been a very special lady.
Posted by: Jen Robinson | August 10, 2007 at 03:43 PM
I thought about you guys a lot as I walked at the American Cancer Society's Relay for Life last weekend. Take care and hope to see you back here soon.
Posted by: Anne-Marie | August 11, 2007 at 08:17 PM
I'm so sorry to hear about your mom. It sounds like she was an amazing person.
Posted by: bookbk | August 14, 2007 at 09:16 AM