For those of us lucky to be a part of Lucy’s life, we know that she was a very simple lady. She didn’t need to travel the world, or be the richest person in the room, she was simply content with what she had. She was a woman of faith, family, and pride for her neighborhood. Like her husband, she was a fixture on 80th street, and will never be forgotten by those that live there. On any given day during the summer and fall months, you could bet that Lucy was outside, broom in hand, sweeping the entire block. Despite her petite stature, she was as tough as nails and was able to handle challenging tasks, like caring for an ailing spouse for 10 years with poise and grace. She raised two beautiful daughters, and was a beloved grandmother to four grandchildren. She played an instrumental role in my upbringing, and for that I am truly thankful.
Lucy had very high moral standards, and was deeply rooted in her faith. As a practicing Catholic, Lucy lived by the basic principles and values set forth by the Church. She was forgiving, caring, compassionate, loving, and honest. If she was guilty of anything, vanity might be the one vice she may have had. I will never forget the time she was feeling sick and she wanted to go to the hospital, but before she could go, she had to put on makeup, and do her hair. Although funny, I think it speaks to her strength. Lucy always put on a brave face and accepted anything that God put in her path. Her life was not always easy, and she taught us to be accepting of its’ challenges, and appreciative of the good times.
As the matriarch of the family, she kept us all together and things will not be the same without her. Her presence will be deeply missed, however the stories and memories we have of her will continue to live on. Over the last few months, I’ve watched her two daughters come together and care for her, as she cared for others during her life. I’ve seen her son in law take on more than his fair share of pitching in to help fill in when her girls didn’t know what to do next. We’ve all laughed and cried by her bedside, and reminisced about all the experiences we were able to share with her. Although we would have loved to have Lucy around longer so that we could create more memories with her, I know that we are all very appreciative of the time we got to spend with her, and will pass on the stories and memories to the generations that follow. It’s easy to feel robbed of time with her, but that would be selfish and not how Lucy would want us to move on. I’d like to think that now she and my grandfather are somewhere together, reminiscing about us, and watching over us as we continue to live our lives the way they taught us.
Lucy showed us how to live a moral life, and while we told her to get off her soap box every now and then, I would give anything to hear her preach to us one last time. One of the most powerful gifts that she gave us all in her last several months was the gift of patience. It’s not easy to care for someone, and it can become frustrating to watch as the body and mind of a loved one shuts down, but her children stuck to her wishes, and she was able to peacefully let go in her own house. The same house that Lucy turned into a home, and was so proud to live in.
I’d like to leave everyone with a little piece of Lucy’s wisdom “May this life bring you all the happiness you can stand and only enough sorrow to show you the difference.” I pray that the sorrow of losing Lucy fade quickly for everyone, so that we can remember her life with a smile rather than tears.

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