“When we lose someone we love, we must learn no to love without them… But to live with the love they left behind.”
Since my beloved Mom passed away on Friday, September 25, I’m thankful for the many messages, flowers, planters, virtual hugs, and prayers sent to my family and me. I knew this, but I’m hearing and seeing from others her legacy of love. Personally, for me, my mother, Bessie Louise, was my greatest gift.
A little on my tremendous gift. Mom married her high school sweetheart, my Dad, Gene Russell, on February 8, 1954, an amazing 66 years. Five children were born to the union.
Bessie Louise stopped at nothing to provide the best for all her children. She insisted on sending her children to Catholic or private schools to get a better education than the Philadelphia public education.
My Mom was an avid sports enthusiast loving all the Philadelphia teams, the 76ers, Eagles, Phillies, and even the Flyers. Mom enjoyed traveling around the world with her sisters and friends, dubbed the Birthday Club.
However, Mommy’s greatest passion was her love for the Lord. When she wasn’t in a physical church as an evangelist, Bessie spread the word of God wherever she went.
A breast cancer survivor since 2008, my Mother always the fighter with determination. She vowed to beat that cancer.
It was the diagnosis of Stage 3 Ovarian Cancer that took its toll on Mom in the last two years. That’s why I’m passionate about health awareness for women. Ovarian cancer often has no symptoms in the early stages.
When I became a mother for the first time, Mom stayed with us for three months to help with my colicky infant that never slept. I remember hubby, Mom, and I all took turns reading and singing to Channing. I often travel with my job and could count on Russell as her grandchildren called her to come to the rescue.
Mommy was my biggest supporter in life, always my champion, especially when I started blogging at 57. She looked forward to my Dad sharing my weekly outfits and topics of discussion. She affectionately called it my blob.
Most of all, my mother listened and wasn’t afraid to give unsolicited advice gently. I will miss talking to you every day and praying every Wednesday.
The Emmanuel Johnson Funeral Home, Rothe Florist, Ivy Hill Cemetery, and Jefferson Health Hospice, thank you for your patience in dealing with the Gene Russell family; we wanted to know every detail involving our Mother, our gift, Bessie Louise.
As always, thank you for reading. Remember to continue to adopt public measures and follow CDC guidelines to help stop the COVID-19 spread.
