Share this pageA Son's Mother's Day Message to his Mother Dying of Alzheimer's
- Details
- Published on Monday, 13 May 2013 16:22
- Written by Stanton O. Berg
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Above photo of David and his mother June was taken in April 2003 at our home 6025 Gardena Lane…June was into her 7th year of Alzheimer’s and doing well but the disease was showing signs of taking control. The below message by David to his mother June, was sent three years later when June was in the late stages of her Alzheimer's
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Today (10 May 2013) as I was reviewing some of my journals that I had kept during June's last years in a nursing home, I came across an email written by our son David to his mother June a short time after Mother's Day in May of 2006...He had visited her that day in the Nursing Home (Benedictine) and had told his mother June how much he loved her...
Following his visit, David then sent June an email in which he again told her of his love for her...of course June was then deep in the shadows of Alzheimer's (10th year) and she could not personally respond or even receive her email...June at the time still had her regular email address with aol just as I did... and it was her personal email address and at that time still operational. I of course was the one that physically received David's email to his mother...perhaps God delivered a copy to June...
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The message David sent to his mother June on Mother's Day, May 2006
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"Dear Mom:
Today, I told you how much I love you and what a difference you have made in my life. Because of you, I found God and I told you so today.
I know you do not always understand me now, but it is true. You have made a difference for me that only a loving Mother could make.
I know God loves you and he will take care of you for me. You have been his loving servant for so many years, so never worry.
God Bless you My Mother, I know that he will.
Love,
David"
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What could I possibly add to this message from David to his mother June as we prepare to honor our own mothers this Sunday on Mother's Day, 2013?...if you guessed that my tears are flowing, you are right...On this mother's Day, David is once again in the presence of his mother and can make his greetings to her in person! June died from complications of Alzheimer’s on 23 October 2008…David died from cancer on October 18th, 2012.
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It was in this year 2006 that June no longer was able to communicate with family, friends or relatives...when I would try to explain to others about June, I would become so emotional that I could not talk...in order to meet this challenge, I designed a personal card from June with her address and a website that could be accessed to obtain information on June and her journey into Alzheimer's...it also contained her personal email address where emails could be directed with greetings or questions...I acted as June's secretary to respond to any such emails. Cards could then be given out to friends and relatives as a means of obtaining up to date information on June's condition. The website address was a simple small website provided to AOL subscribers and users...it was later in June 2008 that we were able to open June's stand alone memorial website with June's own domain name and independent site located at a professional web site hosting company.
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Reader’s Comments
Gretchen Berg - Minneapolis, Minnesota – (10 May 2013): “How sweet! So nice to read my dad's writing. I miss them both so much! What a great photo!"
Lin Schmidt - Anoka, Minnesota – (10 May 2013): “So beautiful, Stan. I got teary-eyed, too.”
Pamela Gilbertson Stenstrom - Spring Lake Park, Minnesota – (11 May 2013): “I do not know what to say except thank you for posting this.”
Susan Day - Willmar, Minnesota – (11 May 2013): “Beautiful.”
Richard Criscione - Cliffside Park, New Jersey – (11 May 2013): “Stan ,I once again thank you for your contribution to my page, and I will keep you, June, and David in my prayers, as tomorrow will be a difficult day for both of us ,without our loved ones. I feel as though I actually knew June, despite the fact we never met one another.”
June Mooney Nolen - Mechanicsville, Virginia – (11 May 2013): “Beautiful picture…”
Christine Pickard - Lincoln, Lincolnshire, United Kingdom – (11 May 2013): “This picture is certainly one to treasure.”
Nancy Willis - Nutley, New Jersey – (11 May 2013): “Such love. Thanks for sharing Stanton. Prayers for you as you live with such blessed memories on these special days.”
Dianne Cogar - Springfield, Ohio – (11 May 2013): “This picture speaks volumes...”
Kelley N Jim Van Wagner - California – (12 May 2013): “You made me cry again Stan!”
Sandy Williams Spencer - Phoenix, Arizona – (11 May 2013): “Thank you Stan. A lovely post.”
Kim Monery - (11 May 2013): “Lovely words and photo.”
Amy Stiel Almas - Waterford, Michigan – (11 May 2013): ”That just brought tears to my eyes.”
Vanita Kumta - Mumbai, Maharashtra, India – (11 May 2013): “Profound.”
Beth Ann Doucette - Lino Lakes, Minnesota – (11 May 2013): “I love this…It brought tears. Thank you for sharing.”
Terry Ferlas - Cottage Grove, Minnesota – (11 May 2013): “Love this Stan, thank you so much.”
Maura-Buddy Bear - Dublin, Ireland – (11 May 2013): “Beautiful picture, Beautiful letter my mother gave me a great gift too my faith, I hope it is a comfort to you Stanton, that David is with his mother June in Heaven.”
Sandra Lynn Valentin-Mitchell - Chicago, Illinois – (11 May 2013): “Happy Mother's Day in heaven, June! Much love to you.”
Crystal V. Jamie - Dalton, Georgia – (11 May 2013): “Beautiful.”
Lynda Etlicher - Rice Lake, Wisconsin – (11 May 2013): “David was and is a very Special person with a lot of inner feelings. I always knew that of David. He is still very Special.”
Pat Middleton - Fernandina Beach, Florida – (11 May 2013): “Heaven's gain was your terrible loss. I'm sorry that you lost your son in the prime of his life. We don't know when we'll be called home do we? We just trust that the Lord does. I can only imagine the joy both your wife and son felt upon seeing one another, joy with perhaps a bit of sorrow knowing you were without both. I admire you so much....you loved your June so very much and it shows in every post you make. I'm amazed at your strength. God Bless you.”
Alzheimer Society of B. C. - Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada - (13 May 2013): "Thank you, Stanton."
Mary Lefebvre - Seattle, Washington - (13 May 2013): "Thank you for sharing... beautiful."
Matrex D Baxter-Burbage - Norwich, Norfolk, United Kingdom - (13 May 2013): "It's so sad this illness I totally understand how hard things must be for you. I specialise in dementia /Alzheimer's my self good luck and it's so nice to hear and see your sticking by your... I'm very sorry to hear your sad time you have had Cancer and Dementia /Alzheimer's. all horrible and I wouldn't wish them on the world... If I can help at all in any way then message me"
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June's Passing
June battled Alzheimer's for almost 11 years when God took her home on 23 October 2008. June's funeral notice as published in the Minneapolis Star in October 2008 can be seen on this website under the "In Memoriam" label - or Click on:
"June K. (Rolstad) Berg - In Memoriam"