Anybody is lucky to say they loved and were loved by Lorraine Crooks. I am one of the three lucky people in the world who got to call her my mother.
She was the Mom that did everything right. I can’t remember a time when she denied me a hug, a smile, or a conversation. She never missed a basketball game, field trip or any other ridiculous event the school threw together. She always cooked delicious meals for the family and baked treats. She stayed at home and dedicated all of her time to caring for those close to her. Mom poured her whole heart into making sure the people she loved were cared for.
Even her diagnosis didn’t stop her from caring for our family. No one would have blamed her if she would have taken a step back, taken a break from the stress of running a home. She only tried harder. Mom continued giving us hugs, smiles, and comfort through the surgeries and chemotherapy. Thanks to her, I remember impromptu trips to Vancouver, playing games on the Wii, board games on Sundays and hugs to say good night, every night. She never complained; she only wanted what was best for those close to her. I’ll forever be grateful for the childhood she gave me through her selflessness and love.
Mom didn’t just have a heart of gold—she was wise, too. On the night we were told the news about her mastectomy, I was distraught, crying about the operation to come in a few months. Mom comforted me; she told me that we can’t worry about things so far in the future. That we should appreciate the time we have now. I’ll never forget that, because it was a lesson we had to carry with us to the other trials. Yet through those times, thanks to that advice, we were a normal family. Those words guided me through this past year, helped me to appreciate how wonderful my life was. I could relish in the happy times, persevere through the hard times, thanks to my Mom’s words. She taught me there was never a perfect moment, that if you can find the bad in every moment, you can find the good, too.
I could talk more about how amazing my Mom was. How hilarious she was, her aptitude on the computer, her adorable smiles—how she showed me through herself that being utterly human could be the best thing in the world to be.
However, we’d be here all day, so I’ll end with this brief story. On the last night of Mom’s coherency, my sister and I were holding hands with our Mom in bed, saying I love you and talking about our many wonderful memories. My sister said, “Mom, you know you’re the best mom in the world?” And with a smile, my Mom replied, “I know.”
If there’s one thing my Mom wants to be remembered by, it’s for her devotion to her family. So remember her here, at these family get-togethers she loved so much. Remember her in warm hugs and home-cooked meals, in family times like Christmas and Easter. Remember to take a page out of her book; try to be kind and selfless and hard-working. Remember her every time you tell someone you love them.
Thank you.
