Elizabeth M. Augustine

Elizabeth M. Augustine, Eulogy: Saturday, October 4, 2008 Today, we celebrate the life of an angel. Today, our mother, Elizabeth "Betty" Augustine, is an angel in heaven, but as everyone who has had the privilege of knowing her knows, she was our angel on this earth for every one of her 88 years. Mom played many different roles in her life - a loving daughter devoted wife treasured mother and mother-in-lawadoring grandmother. supportive sister. bighearted aunt. loyal friend and exceptional cook. In every role she played, she was the ultimate lady and gentle woman. As a loving daughter, she left school after the 6th grade and worked in the Kingston Knitting Mills to help support her parents and care for her brothers and sisters. Throughout her whole life she was a loving caregiver having taken care of her mother, father and father-in-law in our home until their deaths. In addition to caring for her parents, she was totally dedicated to her family - her husband and children. She literally worked night and day cooking, cleaning, washing laundry, ironing, gardening, chauffeuring, attending ball games, recitals, plays and not to be forgotten volunteering on behalf of her husband, her children, and herself. As a devoted wife - she wrapped her life around her husband. In addition to her keeping his home - she would polish his shoes, lay out all his clothes, right down to coordinating his shirt, ties, and socks with the appropriate suit; have dinner on the table at 5:30 sharp (with the Kingston Freeman unopened and placed at his seat). She entertained with great joy Dad's business associates. And you know, as the old saying goes, "behind every successful man, lies a good woman." Our mother was that woman. His success was a direct result of her efforts. As our treasured mother and mother-in-law- she was the glue that always kept us together - she wouldn't have it any other way. She created a warm, loving home for us to grow up in and want to return to. She shaped our lives with support, respect, discipline, nourishment, spirituality and most importantly, love. It didn't matter that as the oldest, I was of the 40's generation and as the youngest, Rosemary, of the 60's generation - she instilled in all of us the same values we will always follow and embrace. But as most of us know (and as Rosemary firmly believes) - Rosemary was always her favorite! Every time Rosemary would see Mom - her first question was - "Mom - who's your favorite" and if just Rosemary was there - Mom would quickly say - Rosemary. But. if Rosemary and I were both there and the question was asked - Mom would reply - both of you! Never would she create or take sides! Funny story - not too long ago - Joe, Deb and kids along with Rosemary, Chip and their kids were visiting Mom at MDRC. Everyone was sitting in her room with Mom in her chair - Rosemary immediately asked "Mom - who's your favorite?". And Mom, with a wry little smile on her face, looked at Rosemary and said "Rosemary" - then turned her head and winked at the others! As if to sayI just have to say that to keep her happy! She loved us all the same. Me, as her first-born; Roland who could always make Mom laugh; Joseph, her son the Doctor who could do no wrong; and Rosemary, her baby. She loved her daughters and sons-in-law, as she loved her own children. She always welcomed their extended families into her loving arms without hesitation. Chip and Rosemary spent a lot of time with Mom, living next door to each other and for a short time together. It was Chip she called every time something needed to be done - change a light bulb, move something, pickup and deliver someone like good old Clara! But, when she called, it had to be done "now"! It was Jeff she called when it was time for her to buy a new car and it was the first time she chose her own. She knew exactly what she wanted - make, model, and color - the kind of windows and so on - all she wanted Jeff to do was negotiate the price, which he did. As an adoring grandmother - she adored her 8 grandchildren - and they cherished her. Because of their proximity - her closeness to Jason, Peter James and Courtney Elizabeth created a bond that can never be broken. She watched them while we worked and when we played. She indulged their every whim - be it toys or clothes or ice cream or her famous meatballs - whatever her grandchildren wanted - she delivered with much love and joy. She watched them grow up and supported them every step of the way. Each of her grandchildren referred to her differently: To Joanne's son, Jason - she was Gram To my children, Peter James and Courtney Elizabeth - she was Nan To Joseph's children Nicholas, Zachary and Julianna - she was Nanny To Roland's sons, Sam and James - she was Grandma Betty And to her Great grandson, Jackson - she was Great Gram As a supporting sister and sister-in-law- she was always there for all of her brothers and sisters as well as their husbands and wives. In her last days she called for all of her brothers and sisters - Fannie, Mikey, Johnny, Joe-Joe, Emma, Sammy and on the day Aunt Marge died - she asked for Marge. And for those sisters who are still with us - there is Flo - who could ever forget Flo? But most especially her love for her baby sister Annie (known to us as Bean). Mom and Aunt Bean did everything together. They were always referred to as "Ham & Eggs". As a bighearted Aunt - fondly referred to as "Aunt Betty", she valued all of her nieces and nephews as though they were her own children. All 28 of them. They were always welcome in her home - to swim, to eat, and to play with their cousins. Anything she could do for them she would. She was a loyal friend. You could always count on Betty. She was dependable, trustworthy, sincere, understanding, generous, and fun to be with. Mom was an exceptional cook and she was the best! Her Sauce, Lasagna, Meatballs, Lemon Chicken, Jello Molds, Chocolate Cake, her piesLemon Meringue, Apple, Chocolate and especially Peach. We all remember her Italian Cookies, the Jennetts, Scaweelies, Turdillis, Geenouweenies but what she loved most was sharing the food she cooked with everyone. Another funny story when Mom was first diagnosed with Alzheimer's we thought about all of her unwritten cookie recipes and the possibility of our not being able to continue her tradition of making and giving them. That first Christmas Aunt Peggy, well known for her cookies too, happily agreed to teach us how they were made. We all got together in Mom's kitchen and had a great time learning the recipes and making the cookies. But what would normally take Mommy a day to complete, took 3 of us working for 2 days. And we have continued this Christmas tradition, as Mom would have wanted. As a person, mom was devoted to her church -, Mom went to mass daily and truly led a Christian life. Mom's faith saw her through both the good and the most difficult times of her life. Her faith was unwavering - she always believed that God had a plan for us all, that we were not to judge. Her faith was an inspiration to us all. Generosity Mom believed that those who give, get back ten fold; we were taught that. It is better to give then to receive and whenever Mom gave- which was every day - she gave from her heart. Trusting - As such a trusting person, Mom saw the good in every one. Love - Anyone who knew Mom could see that her love was unconditional and never ending. Whomever she met she expressed her love to them. We always knew this about her but it became more evident to us in the last two weeks of her life while we kept vigil by her bedside. The love she gave was returned to her many times over, as shown by the staff of MDRC. As each shift changed her aides, nurses, and administrators would make their way to her room and ask if they could come in to see her. And the tears they shed moved us in ways we could never explain. Our family will forever be grateful for the loving care they gave to her day in and day out for close to 8 years. They were as much her family as we all are. She would always express her gratitude to them and tell them she loved them and they reciprocated tenfold. A perfect illustration of this love is in the form of something we will always treasure. On July 13th of this year Mom was given her annual cognitive evaluation to measure the changes over the past year. One of the questions on this test was to ask her to write one sentence on a piece of paper. That sentence is shown on the back page of our program today. In her own handwriting is the embodiment of her life's gift to usshe wrote "I love you all". Rosemary and I would like to leave you with these loving thoughts which describe our mother: A heart that can hear every unspoken need; wisdom to know when to quietly lead. Hands that reach out always helping and sharing Our mother is caring! Eyes that reflect every joy that you find, Arms that encircle but never to bind. A talent for making the most out of living Our mother is giving. A voice that can soothe or inspire or delight, A smile that keeps shining when things don't go right. An angel God sends us from Heaven above, Our mother is caring and giving and love. Our mother is this angel. ---------------------------------------------------- Elizabeth "Betty" Marie Augustine, 88, a resident of Cohoes since 2000 and a lifelong Kingston area resident prior to 2000, passed into the hands of the Lord, embraced by her family and her residential caregivers at Marjorie Doyle Rockwell Center on Friday, September 26, 2008. Born in Kingston on March 17, 1920 she was the daughter of the late Joseph Perry, Sr. and Pasqualina Rienzo Perry. Betty was an accomplished seamstress having worked for many years at the Kingston Knitting Mills. Betty was instrumental in the establishment and success of her husband's insurance business, Roland A. Augustine Insurance, later know as The Augustine Agency. Family and church were the focus of Betty's life. A parishioner of St. Joseph's Church in Kingston, Betty attended mass daily and was a dedicated volunteer for many church and school functions. She was a member of the Ladies Society of Santa Maria and the Catholic Daughters of the Americas, Court Santa Maria. She was also active with the Sisters of Saint Ursula and John A. Coleman Catholic High School. Betty enjoyed gardening, liked to travel, and was an incredible cook. Her passion for cooking was evident in everything she made. Tomato sauce, meatballs, lasagna, lemon chicken, Italian cookies, and lemon meringue pie were just some of her specialties and she received no greater joy then in sharing and giving the food she cooked to her family and friends. She had a winter home in Cooper City, Florida where she enjoyed many winters with her family including her sisters and their families' who had homes within the same complex and while in Florida, she was a parishioner of St. Bernadette's Church located in Hollywood, FL. Betty is survived by her devoted children, Johanna A. Fredenberg and her husband Jeffrey of Hurley; Roland J. Augustine and his wife Kathleen of Pine Plains; Dr. Joseph P. Augustine and his wife Deborah of Skaneateles; and Rosemary Landi and her husband Jeffrey of Kingston; eight cherished grandchildren, Dr. Jason Fredenberg and his wife Diana, Peter James and Courtney Elizabeth Landi, Nicholas, Zachary, Julianna, Sam, and James Augustine; and one delightful great-grandchild, Jackson Jeffrey Dorozynski Fredenberg. She is also survived by two sisters; Anne Greco of Lake Katrine and Florence Francese of Hollywood, FL; as well as many nieces and nephews. Besides her husband, Roland A. Augustine, who passed away in 2001, Betty was predeceased by brothers, Joseph Perry, Jr., Johnny Perry, Michael Perry, Samuel Perry and sisters Fannie Turck, Emma DeGregoria and Margaret Styles-Hardie. Reposing at the Simpson - Gaus Funeral Home, 411 Albany Ave. on Friday from 4:00 - 8:00 p.m. The Catholic Daughters of the Americas will conduct a service on Friday at 4:15 p.m. The Ladies Society of Santa Maria will conduct a service at 5:30 p.m. The funeral procession will form at 9:00 am Saturday from the funeral home. At 10:00 a.m. a Funeral Mass will be celebrated at St. Joseph's Roman Catholic Church in Kingston. Fr. Frank Damis will officiate. Burial will be in St. Mary's Cemetery, Kingston. Those wishing to remember Betty may make memorial donations to Marjoire Doyle Rockwell Center, 421 West Columbia St., Cohoes, NY 12047; Alzheimer's Association, 225 N. Michigan Ave., FL. 17, Chicago, ILL 60601-7633; Hospice of Rensselaer County, 295 Valley View Blvd., Rensselaer, NY 12144; or St. Joseph's Church Memorial Fund, 242 Wall St., Kingston, NY 12401.