At 12:21pm today my mom, Charlene Delores Sparks, passed away peacefully in her sleep, surrounded by her children and loved ones at Florida Hospital, Celebration Health near Orlando, Florida.
She was 62 years, 9 months, and 8 days old.
I am not going to type an emotional blog here – not yet, maybe never. Many of you read my blog for facts about my moms condition and this is, for obvious reasons, the final installment of these updates.
Mom never got rid of the fungal infection. It was, as we feared, unbeatable. It had spread into her heart and heart valves. She had copious internal bleeding. Her lungs gave out and her kidneys shut down. For the past week and a half she had been in a coma and was not responding at all to external stimuli.
She fought a long, hard, fight and not many people could have held on as long as she did. Ultimately, though, her beleaguered body just couldn’t handle any more.
As we finalize the funeral arrangements we will reach out to everyone online and in the real world. Stay tuned for that update.
Thank you all for your love, support, thoughts, well-wishes, and prayers these past few months. My mom was the most amazing woman in the world and she was well-loved and will be missed. Please, keep her in your hearts and in your memory.
I’m so sorry to hear of your Mom’s passing 🙁 Our prayers are with you and yours during this hard time. If there is anything you need, please let us know.
Yis’ga’dal v’yis’kadash sh’may ra’bbo, b’olmo dee’vro chir’usay v’yamlich malchu’say, b’chayaychon uv’yomay’chon uv’chayay d’chol bais Yisroel, ba’agolo u’viz’man koriv; v’imru Omein.
Y’hay shmay rabbo m’vorach l’olam ul’olmay olmayo.
Yisborach v’yishtabach v’yispoar v’yisromam v’yismasay, v’yishador v’yis’aleh v’yisalal, shmay d’kudsho, brich hu, l’aylo min kl birchoso v’sheeroso, tush’bechoso v’nechemoso, da,ameeran b’olmo; vimru Omein.
Y’hay shlomo rabbo min sh’mayo, v’chayim alaynu v’al kol Yisroel; v’imru Omein.
Oseh sholom bimromov, hu ya’aseh sholom olaynu, v’al kol yisroel; vimru Omein.
We love you and our hearts are surrounding you with love and affection.
When we were ill, she also became sick;
When we were cut, she, too, began to bleed.
Of our oil lamp she was the wick,
Drawing her bright flame from our need.
Some say that such behavior’s out of date:
That self-fulfillment is the way to grace.
But Mom, without much choice, then chose her fate,
Finding greater truth in an embrace.
She lives on in the sparkle in our eyes:
Laughing, quiet, gentle, loving, wise.
: ( It’s hard to find the right words. I don’t think there are any. Thinking of all of you.
Michell and I were discussing today—-we both automatically called your mom, Aunt Charlene. : ) Even though she is our cousin!! As long back as I can remember (until I grew up some and realized….) I always thought she WAS my Aunt. LOL
Though I didn’t get to know Charlene like Michell, I’m so glad she was a part of Facebook. We chatted together some. I always remembered Charlene to have a kind heart. I’m sorry I didn’t know her more than I did.
RIP “Aunt” Charlene
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