One year ago, this evening...

My mother adopted and frequently used the following phrase from Pope John Paul II. These were her final words imparted to Father Bobby Pisch, 10 minutes before she died: "Be not afraid."

A year ago, tonight, my mother died.
I am still waiting for that to be undone.
She wasn't always perfect, but she was my mother, and she wound up being a darn good one. Our relationship was more loss than gain, for many years. But the last few were good. I wish they all had been.
I wanted to die before anybody I care about.
It just isn't fair. It was never fair.
This is one of those things I don't think I can make it through...

1. At the funeral home, August 2, 2005.
2. Mom with Mikael, February, 2005
3. Gabby, Mom, Maddie, and Morgan, December, 2004.
4. Mom holding Elmo, September, 2003.

One woman's lifetime:
February 2, 1944 - July 30, 2005

ALS, Amyothropic Lateral Sclerosis, Lou Gehrig's Disease, la maladie de Charcot is a terrible, horrible, devastating disease.

In loving memory of Caroline Grace Schoonover, born into life on February 2, 1944, in Mount Kisco, New York.

Born into Eternal Life on July 30, 2005, in Lakeville, Minnesota, at the age of 61.

Preceded in death by her father, Lawrence Lovell Schoonover, author

Survived by loving,
Husband: Alois "Al" Mathe
Children: Danielle Anne Pensec, Monique Simone Pensec and Michele Helene (Chris) Gartzke
And their father, Herve J. Pensec
Grandchildren: Mikael, Morgan, Gabrielle and Madeleine
Mother: Gertrude Schoonover
Sisters: Judy (Jim Regan, Elizabeth (George) Marshall, and Virginia Schoonover (Frederica Lovell Hamilton
5 "bonus" Mathe stepchildren and 7 "bonus" Mathe stepgrandchildren
Pallbearers: Mike Droppik, Steven Gartzke, Charles Gartzke, Christopher Gartzke, Chris Mathe, Mikael Pensec, James Regan, and Charles Werner.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to North Memorial Humane Society or ALS Association.