Dr. Michael Ruden in action

-----Original Message-----
From: Julie Ruden
Sent: Wednesday, August 21, 2013 4:44 PM
To: Dr Mom; J
Subject: Dr. Michael Ruden in action

-- paste pic of Michael at Cleveland Clinic with mom --

Ariane - what's news?

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: "Ariane Roy"
Date: Aug 16, 2013 5:10 AM
To: "Dr. Lisa Earle"

Dear Both!

No news good news? How are you? Hope all is well.
I'm looking forward to hearing from you...

With love
Ariane and <boys>

---------- Forwarded message --------- Am 16.08.2013 18:44, schrieb Lisa Earle:

No news, bad news....back from hospital...meds stopped working...feeling very tired...schon genug?  ...Love to you and alll....Lisa

---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: "Ariane Roy"
Date: Aug 21, 2013 11:20 PM
To: "Lisa Earle"

Dear Lisa! Keep strong, we love you! What do you mean by <schon genug>? Wir haben noch nicht genug von dir, Lisa!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
With LOVE Ariane Horst and Flori

Jo Ann Medalie

Jo Ann Medalie is one of the law firm lawyers (she joined us at the reception at Sheraton Yankee Clipper)...

-------Original Message-------
From: Jo Ann Medalie
Date: 08/20/13 22:36:30
To: Lisa Earle
Subject: Thinking
 
Don and I are thinking of you and wishing we could be there to give you a big hug.  Although we have not seen you in many years, you remain in our hearts, bursting with admiration for the life you have led......Always striving for knowledge, committed to excellence, devoted to family and friends, a spiritual giant.  Quite a legacy.
Sending our love...
Don and Jo Ann Medalie
 

Popkin Family Photos website

...this is in reference to Fred Messing's family-tree website that mom helped full in some info for...

( Warren Popkin Family Photos )

On Jul 10, 2012 1:53 PM, "Dr. Lisa Earle"  wrote:
Sharing my  koduus (or is t kudoos?)
 
 
 MOM
 
-------Original Message-------
 
From: Laura Messing
Date: 7/10/2012 12:01:23 PM
To: Dr. Lisa Earle
Subject: Thank you
 
Dear Lizl,
 
  Thank you! Thank you! You are absolutely amazing.  You are filling in a huge blank in family for us.  My mom used to talk about Leonard Barr and many other relatives, but I never really knew who was who!  As I say, you are absolutely amazing and we cannot thank you enough.
 
  I was telling Fred last night that we once stayed with Iris and Delsie in their parents' gorgeous house on the water.  They had an ice cream fountain in that house. That made a huge impression on me when I was little.
 
How is your neck?  I hope you are healing ok!!
 
Lots of love,
Laura

Sharing a Last Snack

Hi Mom,
  One last snack to share with you.
I love you.
---D.

It really is the most perfect snack :).

Memorial

I have a Blog I’ve been building for a handful of years.  It documents random events, emails, visits, pictures, conversations with Mom.  Not just with me, but anyone that I occasionally found time to add to it.  The week before Yom Kippur I was adding an entry to it.  At the end, I went to type “I Love You Mom”.  But I mistyped, and it came out “I Live You Mom”.    

I corrected it, but then thought about what an interesting slip of the fingers that was. 
I live you mom.

Our mother imparted to us, the facets of her own life and her own personality.  I like unusual people.  It’s not my fault.  She loved learning about people.  Strangers as well as friends.  And she had the most interesting of friends.  From such creative walks of life.  

She lost her husband, Simon, at much too young an age.  I was so young that I don’t remember him.  But her trauma became my trauma.  And her stories of how good a person he was became my model for how to be a good person.  And a model of Tikun Olam that lives strongly I think, in each of us.

She loved classical music.  But what 6 year old wants to go to the opera?  Or listen to it on the drive home from temple on Friday nights? But which of us does not enjoy opera and classical music today?

But perhaps most of all, she was eternally curious.  It didn’t matter if she didn’t fully understand the explanations she got back.  Or even if she was able to remember them.  It was the unknown that intrigued her, and the challenge of learning something new that kept her going. 

Last week Wednesday evening, I was visiting with Julie.  I returned at almost 10pm.  Mom was still up. She had paused her show, Jeopardy. She was playing Words-With-Friends while waiting for me.  She wanted to watch the show together.  I was very touched and overjoyed. I so loved watching Jeopardy with her, and she didn’t always wait for me during my visits. 

We watched, and both struggled to get the answers.  It was a difficult board for us both, that night.  In Final-Jeopardy, she got the answer correct.  She was so pleased with herself.   And I was so proud of her.  I feel that eternal curiosity from her.  I drive my wife crazy with it sometimes.  But I hope to live up to my mother’s model as I grow older.  It was so sustaining for her. 

Our mother gave us each pieces of herself.  They’ve become pieces of us.  They’ve become pieces of me.

I Love You Mom.

I Live You Mom.

Emailing Friends and Family

Hello all,

  I have copied as many people as I have in my email address book, but I know it is not all. Please pass the news as you are able.  

My mother, Lisa Ruden Earle passed away earlier this afternoon, at the life fulfilled age of 93.  She was resting and comfortable at home, surrounded by daughter Julie, and son Lenny.  I was in the middle of making travel arrangements to fly down when I heard the news. 

 This was generally expected as she had a month ago halted medications for her condition and signed up for Hospice.  Over the following 4 or 5 weeks, her medication side effects departed, and while still fatigued on and off through out the day, she did very very well, surprising everyone with her renewed vibrance for life, visiting with family frequently, and even swimming a couple times.  As the doctors had predicted, her blood count dropped to a threshold low level and her condition turned downwards very quickly at the end.  Last Wednesday night she complained of neck and shoulder pain keeping her awake.  A strong pain killer helped put the pain down and she slept well.  Thursday was mostly normal (such as had become her normal), but with a somewhat increased level of fatigue.  Overnight, the neck and shoulder pain returned at an increased level.  She was thankful to have small doses of morphine on hand from Hospice.  Friday she was very tired and remained in bed for the day.  Saturday was more of the same.  She had not eaten for several days by then, and had very little water - she was mostly sleeping.  Finally early Sunday afternoon, she quietly passed.  

  We are all deeply grieved.  But we wanted to be sure to reach out to all of you as we are able, to let you know the news.  She loved and enjoyed knowing every one of you, in the various and interesting ways she knew you.  As do I. 

All our love to you.

---Dave, Julie, Lenny R.