This is me and my mom Fran. My hero. The creative glue of the family. She was always making things, our Halloween costumes, strawberry jam, my prom dress, cinnamon candy, all the things. She raised my 2 sisters and I solo, she worked her ass off for us, she made sure we had all we needed and more. She was an amazing woman.
This picture is from 2001. A mere 3 years before her life would come to a screeching halt. In January 2004, she was diagnosed with Stage 4 lung cancer after a bout of pneumonia that would not go. It blind sided our family. After a very short and grueling battle she left this world in May 2004 surrounded by those she loved. Hundreds of people attended her funeral, people had to stand in the aisles, stack in along the back wall, and even out in the hall, to pay tribute to her. She touched soooo many lives in such a positive way. She was always helping someone even if it meant she went without.
Crazy to think she’s been gone 20 years. I was only 19 when she passed, fresh out of high school. Losing my mom at a young age taught me so much. It forced me to move forward when I didn’t think I could go on, because the world stops for no one. And here I stand 20 years later, thriving, blossoming into my own, living my life to the fullest, thanks to all of her hard work and dedication to our family in the early years. One phrase she said to me that I hold onto dearly is “stand up for what you believe is right, even if your voice shakes.”
“Letters from Fran” was born out of my desire to honor my mother, and keep her creative spirit alive. I create because of her, because I feel her story needs to continue on, the lessons she taught me need to be heard, and I am beyond excited to say that I am here to share them.