Mary Cerrito Obituary

Dear Mom:

It's been almost 1 year. Seems like a blink of an eye. It's time to say goodbye - not in my heart, not in my soul, not in my mind and not in my love for you. But it's time to say goodbye on paper. It's been a year of ups and downs, laughter and tears. Too many times over this year, I have picked up my phone to call you, only to realize you will not answer. I do know that I can talk with you anytime. I know you hear me, I know you are there. You are in such a wonderful place, but I'm selfish - I want you here, where I can see you, hug you, tell you I love you. I want to go to the riverboat with you and have you win like you always did. I want to see your face as I bring you more of those romance novels to read. I want to squeeze and hold you so hard that you almost find it difficult to breathe. I want to laugh with you again - the tears flow now, and they overwhelm me with thoughts of you. It's hard living with the thought that I did not get the chance to say goodbye - to hold you in my arms, to hold your hand, tell you I love you and send you on your way. That is not the way you wanted it to be. You were you - even in death - you were not a bother to anyone. You just did what it was time to do and you did it your way - - Graciously, Quietly and Instantly.



That night we all went bowling and put your name on a game was great. We each took a frame and bowled for you, except - - we bowled bad - intentionally. We threw the ball into the air, we bowled backwards, we purposely bowled in to the gutter. We knew you were there, probably scorning us every frame. We loved it. Your score was never over 50, but - each of your grandchildren took a frame, each of your kids took a frame and even our significant others took a frame, and we bowled with your bowling ball. This is how much we love you. You are still part of our lives. Somehow - we heard your laughter, scorn and even an occasional "I will get you guys". We each also have that picture of you that Lori took. You know, the one with the jello that has your picture in it. It's on my desk and I look at it and smile over it everyday, sometimes through my tears. We are a good family Ma, and it's because of you. We are all strong because of you. We are compassionate because of you. We are loving, caring people because of you. Thank You for being my Mother. Thank You for always giving me your best. Thank You for all you taught me. I am here because of you.



Thank You God, for this wonderful woman and mother named Mary Noreen Bernau Cerrito. You honored me by giving me the best. You gave her to me for as long as you could. I know she is with you, doing what it is you need her to do for you. I only hope there is a Steak N' Shake up there. She loves the frisco burgers - make sure she gets them anytime she wants. And please, let her visit me in my dreams, I need her also.

You are now Somewhere Over the Rainbow, you're Irish Eyes are Smiling, and yes - Frank Sinatra is crooning "My Way" to you. (I'm laughing)

Kathy

Mom:

I just had to enter our eulogy to you. It will tell the world so much about you and how we felt. You gave me the strength I needed to say these things at church that day. That was so you! I miss you more everyday. I Love You



DEAR MOM:

THERE IS SO MUCH WE WANT TO SAY AND WE DON’T KNOW WHERE TO START.





THANK YOU FOR GIVING US LIFE.

THANK YOU FOR LOVING US AS NO OTHER EVER WILL

YOU HAVE ALWAYS BEEN A LOVING, NURTURING , COMPASSIONATE, OUTSTANDING MOTHER, WIFE AND HUMAN BEING.

YOU WERE ALWAYS KIND, SWEET, GENTLE AND WELCOMING TO EVERYONE WHO CROSSED YOUR PATH.

OUR FRIENDS, YOUR FRIENDS AND THE WORLD WERE PART OF YOUR FAMILY.

AS DAD ALWAYS SAYS “ YOU COULD MAKE FRIENDS WITH THE DEVIL”

IT IS NO SURPRISE THAT YOU ALLOWED THE POPE AND A NOBEL PRIZE WINNER TO SHARE YOUR JOURNEY FROM THIS LIFE, INTO YOUR NEW LIFE.



YOU LIVED FOR YOU US, YOUR CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN.

WE EACH PLAYED A DIFFERENT ROLE IN YOUR LIFE, BUT YET - YOU TREATED US ALL THE SAME. IF YOU HAD A FAVORITE - WE NEVER KNEW.



KATHY - YOUR FIRST BORN: YOUR RIVERBOAT PARTNER, AND ALWAYS THOSE BREAKFASTS TO FOLLOW. YOUR SUPPLIER OF THOSE DARN ROMANCE NOVELS.

KATHY WILL MISS YOUR TRIPS TO THE BOAT. BEFORE ENTERING THE BOAT, THE DEAL WAS - WHOEVER WON, SHARED WITH THE OTHER. YOU ALWAYS WON - YOU KEPT THE MONEY. IT WAS ALWAYS GOING TO BE PUT IN A SAFE PLACE - FOR NEXT TIME.



JOE - THE PATIENT ONE - ALWAYS STEPPING UP TO HELP, EVEN IF IT WASN’T NEEDED.

YOUR NORDSTROM’S CONNECTION: AND ON OCCASION - A TRIP TO THE RIVERBOAT.

HOW PROUD HE ALWAYS MADE YOU JOE WILL MISS HOW YOU USED TO GET MAD AT HIM, YELL, SMILE, THEN FEED HIM AND HIS FRIENDS..



BOB - YOUR CHRISTMAS BABY - YOU REALLY SHOULD HAVE NAMED HIM JESUS. YOUR COOK-OUT CONNECTION. LET US NOT FORGET THOSE WHITE SOX AND SCHAUMBURG FLYERS GAMES. BOB WILL MISS: THOSE SCHAUMBURG FLYERS GAMES.



PHIL - YOUR SUMMER BABY: HE WAS YOUR LAUGHTER - ALWAYS FULL OF FUNNY STORIES, AND NOT AFRAID TO SHARE ANYTHING WITH YOU. HIS GANGSTA STYLE WILL BE WITH US ALWAYS.

PHIL WILL MISS: EVERYTHING





CINDY - YOUR SURPRISE BABY, YOUR CONFIDANT AND THAT “FIX YOUR CAR “ CONNECTION. DON’T FORGET THOSE BAKER SQUARE TRIPS THAT YOU CALLED HER ABOUT, THEN MADE HER BELIEVE IT WAS ALL HER IDEA.

CINDY WILL MISS: YOU - HER BEST FRIEND





MOM - YOU LEAVE BEHIND 10 GRANDCHILDREN WHOM YOU ADORED - GARY, HAILEY, TONY, KELLY, MICKEY, ANGELA, PHILIP, ANTHONY, CAITLYN, AND DEANNA. YOU JUST GLOWED WITH PRIDE WHEN YOU SAW THEM OR SPOKE ABOUT THEM. THE FACT THAT THEY ARE MUSICALLY INCLINED, WHETHER IT BE PLAYING AN INSTRUMENT, WRITING MUSIC, OR JUST LISTENING TO THOSE OUTRAGEOUS CD’S MADE YOU PROUD.



AND DAD - HE’S TAKING THIS ALL VERY HARD. ONE WOULD - WHEN YOU SPENT ALMOST 54 YEARS TOGETHER. WHETHER YOU REALIZED IT OR NOT - THE TWO OF YOU COMPLIMENTED EACH OTHER AND BELONGED TOGETHER. HE WAS THE BOSS - OR SO YOU LET HIM BELIEVE, AND YOU GOT THE PAYCHECKS - PRETTY GOOD DEAL FOR YOU.



NEXT WED. WILL BE YOUR BIRTHDAY. WE LOVED THOSE PARTIES EVERY YEAR. THE FUN AND LAUGHS WE HAD - THOSE STORIES ABOUT PHIL AND HIS DOG - WE ALL LAUGHED TILL WE CRIED. HAPPY BIRTHDAY - INSTEAD OF SPENDING IT WITH US YOU ARE WITH YOUR FAMILY.

WE KNOW YOU WOULD HAVE DONE ANYTHING TO STAY WITH US, BUT EACH OF US KNOWS THAT YOU SAW YOUR FAMILY WAITING FOR YOU, GRANDMA NORA, GRANDPA ED, UNCLE ED OR AS YOU PREFERRED TO CALL HIM “NOOKS”, UNCLE JIM, UNCLE BOB, AND OF COURSE AUNT BERNIE. THEY HAVE HAD THAT BIG CARD GAME WAITING FOR YOU, AND IT WAS TIME. - THIS TIME - THE HAND WAS TOO GOOD FOR YOU TO COME BACK TO US. YOU ARE NOW SAFE IN THEIR LOVING ARMS - SMILING, LAUGHING, AND TALKING ABOUT THOSE DAYS OF GROWING UP.



HOW WONDERFUL FOR YOU AND HOW HAPPY YOU MUST BE. SURELY - YOU’VE MISSED THEM.



WHETHER WE CALL YOU MOM, GRANDMA, BABE, MARY, IRISH, AUNT MARY, AUNT IRISH, FRIEND OR MEE MAA - YOU ARE LOVED AND RESPECTED BY EVERYONE YOU TOUCHED ALONG THE WAY. YOU ARE UNFORGETTABLE. EVERYONE WHOM WAS CALLED, SAID THE SAME THINGS ABOUT YOU - “SPECIAL LADY” “GOOD PERSON” PLEASANT AND LOVELY LADY.



GOOD NIGHT SWEET MOM, WIFE AND GRANDMOTHER. YOUR PEACEFUL SLEEP IS FOREVER. THE NIGHTS ARE NOW YOUR FRIENDS. YOU WILL ALWAYS LIVE IN OUR HEARTS AND MINDS: UNTIL GOD BRINGS US TOGETHER AGAIN.



WE LOVE YOU

WE MISS YOU

OUR LIVES WILL NOT BE THE SAME WITHOUT YOU



FOREVER

YOUR FAMILY

Mom

Your White Sox have taken the world series, but somehow, I'm sure you knew that was going to happen. How appropriate, seeing you left us on their opening day this year. It is such a bittersweet win for me. I pictured you with that devilish smile of yours, through each play. Even the ones that went their way and shouldn't have. I saw you guiding Ozzie - you were sitting in your blue lounger chair - telling him who to play and what strategies to take. He listened to you this time, only - - you weren't guiding him from your chair, you were guiding him from a much better place. Poking and prodding him along. How lucky for him - how sad for us. You revel in this win - this one's for you and all the years you were true to your White Sox. HOW ABOUT IT!!!!!!!!!

I Love you, I Miss you and yes Mom, I promise - I will remember you as you always were - beautiful, smiling, loving, a proud Mom and Grandma, a beautiful wife and person. Heaven is just so lucky to have you.

My Love Forever

Kathy

Mom

You have been gone 5 months now - It still hurts as if it were yesterday. Today is my birthday - my first one without you - How terribly it hurts. You'd be proud of all of us - we miss you, we are sad, but we still smile and laugh when we talk about you. You always had that way with us kids, and everyone you came in contact with. We are all still close to one another, maybe even closer now. Lots of nice things have happened - you should be here to experience it with all of us. I Love You, Mom, I miss you. My Lassie and Keno are up there with you - I know you are taking good care of each other. I miss them also - All of you hug each other for me. Tell them I miss them and I love them. I know you three are in good hands as long as you are together. They will take good care of you and You will take good care of them - I'm comforted in knowing that. Love You Mom - Stay my Angel - I am not afraid anymore - I know you are here with me.

Your Daughter,

Kathy

Dear Mom:

This guest book will go offline in a couple of days. I Love You and I want to wish you a Happy Mother's Day in Heaven. It is our first one without you. I miss you so very much, but it really is as if you are here with me everyday. Your goodness definitely lives on in all of us. I've decided to give up on going to the riverboat - it just will not be the same without you. I always enjoyed your smiling, laughing and winning - even though you never shared (LOL) - that was always our way - it made for some fun times. Mom - I would give up everything for just one more moment with you - just to hold you and tell you how much I love you - Just one moment, then I would send you on your way - I promise! Well - here's to you Ma - All my Love, Forever, Kathy

Mima, this is a song I wrote just for you. It's called 'Above'.



It doesn’t seem right that I have to lose a love to gain another,

I lose my heart, but find the one I’ll be with forever,

And I know you’d sacrifice your life for me,

You’d spread your wings and fly away to set me free,

But I’m afraid that life’s so different without you here,

Everyday I do all I can to hold back my tears,

Because I know you wouldn’t want me to cry,

And from now on I promise that I’ll try,

And I’ll embrace my life the way you wanted me to,

I’ll live on for you,



When the night is young and the air is warm,

Its like I can feel you there,

Because suddenly, I’m safe from harm,

And I lose all my cares,

Though its hard to move on without you,

Some days its hard to pull through,

I can still feel your love,

From up above,



I’ll never forget the times we had together,

I’ll cherish them and hold them close forever,

To know you is to know an angel,

The only woman who could make friends with the devil,

The goodness in your heart,

Helped me when I was torn apart,

And even since you flew away,

At certain times in the day,

When I look high, into that sapphire sky,

I swear I can see you so clearly with my eyes,



When the night is young and the air is warm,

Its like I can feel you there,

Because suddenly, I’m safe from harm,

And I lose all my cares,

Though its hard to move on without you,

Some days its hard to pull through,

I can still feel your love,

From up above,



I always knew that someday we’d have to live without you,

But I never thought that day would come so soon,

I would give the world to have you back here again,

To tell you I’m sorry, tell you I love,

Tell you all the things I should’ve said long before the end,

So come back even if its only for a day,

And let me say all those things I need to say,

Even though I know in my heart of hearts,

That everything’s okay,

That a breath away is not far to where you are,

I still need to say these words,

And if I have to I’ll fly like a bird,

I’ll soar to tell you I love you,

And then return to this world,



When the night is young and the air is warm,

Its like I can feel you there,

Because suddenly, I’m safe from harm,

And I lose all my cares,

Though its hard to move on without you,

Some days its hard to pull through,

I can still feel your love,

From up above.

Happy Birthday Mom! I know you are having a great celebration - tell your family to let you have that royal flush with all hearts! Miss you alot - but know I will see you again. I Love You

Kathy

Happy Birthday Mima!

Dear Mom:

My hope for you is that you knew how much you were loved by us all. Everyone you met along the way in your life, you touched in only a positive way. You are unforgettable. The grief that poured out of us kids and grandkids, also led way for the laughter we share when we speak of our childhood, and those funny times with you. Always a smile, always a laugh, and always something nice to say. My promise to you is this: I will never let your memory fade - not from my life or that of the other kids and grandkids. As long as we have you in our hearts and minds and conversations - we will smile, get through life, and stay together.

We Love You

We Miss You

Our lives are not the same without you.

Mom - I adore and Love you

Your daughter,

Kathy

Dear Phil, Ann, and family,

Our deepest sympathy and prayers are with you and your family in the loss of Phil's mother. You are in our thoughts and prayers.

Love,

Tom and Carol Norman, Kate and Sarah

mom you will be with me always i know you are going to be watching over me every day

Ma



You were the Mom that I could talk to. You would listen and not judge me.I am so proud to be part of your family. Thank you for accepting me. Miss you and love you.



Lori

You were and always will be my Mom. Your the Mom I could talk to , you would listen without question.I am very proud and thankful you let me be a part of your family. Love you and miss you.



Lori

Dear Joe,

I am so sorry to hear of your loss of your mother. Please extend to your family my sincere condolences.

I hope you are otherwise doing well. I no longer keep in touch with the people at rbh. Take care, Michelle

Mima,



Everything is so different without you here. Life just seems hopeless and it's not getting any easier. When I close my eyes I see you laying there, and it hurts because you were always so full of life. I know you wouldn't want me to be sad, and I'm sorry Mima, but I can't help it. When you floated away, part of me floated with you. I'm so sorry that my heart couldn't be strong enough for the both of us. Put in a good word for me up in Heaven. I can't love you forever, because forever isn't long enough. But thankfully I won't have to miss you for forever either. Wait for me. I Love You Mima!

My deepest sympathy to you and your family

Mom-



If I could have just one more moment with you, I would want to tell you that I love you. You were not just my Mom, you were my best friend. You were my heart and soul, my confidant, and my advisor. You were my joy. You were my everything! I will miss you. But for now I will hold onto all of the wonderful memories you gave me, and cherish them as I cherish you! I will hold onto the thought that I will see you again. But until then, I'll live in your memory, and carry you with me wherever I go. I love you!

Offering our deepest condolences during this difficult time.