Martha's Tribute to Marj
Marj & Willard --> here
Good afternoon and thank you for joining me and the family as we honor my mother Marjorie Roe, an amazing woman who perfected so many titles ... daughter, sister, caregiver, wife, mother, teacher, grandmother, mother‐in‐law, activist, girlfriend, servant, leader.
We are so thankful for all of you who knew and loved our mother, from the early years when she and my dad set the world on fire to the recen past since her debilitating stroke. She was a different person after her stroke, but as those of you who visited and kept in touch with her all these years know, on the inside she was still that incredible Marj.
Last night, we heard over and over again, how she made time for so many people in her life and helped them each in a unique and personal way. I have asked myself how one person can impact so many people so profoundly?
You have heard the phrase "Man’s Man" to describe an exceptional man who excelled among his peers. Mom was a "Woman’s Woman," the ultimate female role model living in man’s world, and she was able to excel in that role and stretch its boundaries to redefine herself from a "homemaker" to a "community‐maker." She was a fierce advocate for anyone whose potential she believed was being underserved. Each person who came into her life, she gave a full measure of herself. It’s as if she held herself accountable to every living thing.
If you knew Marj, you were wise to have her in your corner. No matter the cause, unfailingly, she innately knew what needed to be done, got everyone involved, made sure that things got done, and executed it brilliantly so that everyone had fun doing it.
Over the last few years, our family was most fortunate to have Melissa, Mom’s caregiver in her life. As the health care surrogate for both my dad and my mom, it was a huge blessing to have this quality of care available to us. If you saw how lovingly she was cared for, you would know that Mom had once again tapped into something great. You could almost say that Melissa was a gift from God to Mom, because, let’s face it, she really made life possible for her over the past few years. Together they filled life to the brim. I always referred to Melissa as our angel, but now Melissa, I guess you are going to have to pass that mantle.
Today, you are in for a treat as several of the family try to paint just a few of the different facets of Marj, who touched so many people with her laser‐focused love. That is what I think her real gift was: focusing acutely on what mattered most. I know I can attest for all my family when I tell you that, during child-rearing years, if any of us ever needed Mom to help with childcare, she always – and I mean always – said, "Yes, no problem." We all knew she had a full schedule but she never let on once.
I hope that you will enjoy hearing more vignettes that illuminate these qualities that endeared her to so many and why we should celebrate this uncommonly great person.
