Alma Shuster (1925 - 2008)
On Monday, October 6, 2008, I lost my mother, Alma Shuster. My mother was a loving woman who took care of a devoted husband, raised six children and doted on her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. In addition, she lent her time to numerous community activities and even worked at local precinct during elections.
Like my father, she two was a child of the Depression who came of age during World War II. However, she was a "city girl", though she said she grew up on the corner of "Polk and Plum...poke your head out the window and you were plum out of town". They married just before my father went overseas, after the fall of Germany, but before the surrender of Japan. I guess they decided to throw the dice in those uncertain days, but I'm grateful they took the gamble.
My mother adapted to a lot of things. She first had to get used to being a farmer's wife. Then, she went out and got a job outside of the house before it was something fashionable. She fought cancer to a draw for thirty-five years and battled numerous other illnesses and injuries over the years. You wouldn't know from her quiet demeanor, but my mom was tough. Not that in-your-face; more like a resilient, plodding kind of tough that you weren't going to scare off easily.
She made a house a home just by her sheer presence. With a little work in the kitchen, she could make any kid weak in the knees with a baked treat or a warm meal. Her serenity carried through to the household, no matter where she was.
But my mom wasn't all business. She liked playing cards, golfing, traveling and sitting back in doing crossword puzzles. She even liked playing the piano and singing every now and then. Her and my father made up for years of hard work by cramming a lifetime of living in their retirement years.
After my father passed away last year, she lost her zest for life. She missed more than everyone else combined. I miss her terribly, but know she's with her soul mate of sixty plus years.
Mom, I hope to see you and Dad again someday, too.
To contact me, e-mail me at rshustercommentNOSPAM@comcast.net. Please take out the NOSPAM when entering the e-mail address.
Like my father, she two was a child of the Depression who came of age during World War II. However, she was a "city girl", though she said she grew up on the corner of "Polk and Plum...poke your head out the window and you were plum out of town". They married just before my father went overseas, after the fall of Germany, but before the surrender of Japan. I guess they decided to throw the dice in those uncertain days, but I'm grateful they took the gamble.
My mother adapted to a lot of things. She first had to get used to being a farmer's wife. Then, she went out and got a job outside of the house before it was something fashionable. She fought cancer to a draw for thirty-five years and battled numerous other illnesses and injuries over the years. You wouldn't know from her quiet demeanor, but my mom was tough. Not that in-your-face; more like a resilient, plodding kind of tough that you weren't going to scare off easily.
She made a house a home just by her sheer presence. With a little work in the kitchen, she could make any kid weak in the knees with a baked treat or a warm meal. Her serenity carried through to the household, no matter where she was.
But my mom wasn't all business. She liked playing cards, golfing, traveling and sitting back in doing crossword puzzles. She even liked playing the piano and singing every now and then. Her and my father made up for years of hard work by cramming a lifetime of living in their retirement years.
After my father passed away last year, she lost her zest for life. She missed more than everyone else combined. I miss her terribly, but know she's with her soul mate of sixty plus years.
Mom, I hope to see you and Dad again someday, too.
To contact me, e-mail me at rshustercommentNOSPAM@comcast.net. Please take out the NOSPAM when entering the e-mail address.