Goodbye to an amazing friend’s mom
Growing up, if you hung out at my buddy Toby’s house long enough, you would eventually be summoned to meet with his mother. This isn’t as ominous as it sounds. In fact, it was quite an honor to sit and chat with Katie (she never would have responded to “Mrs.” anything).
Katie was one of those mothers who was a true friend to her sons’ friends. She had a genuine interest in what you had to say and what was going on in your life. She didn’t judge you in the same way other parents might; she would just laugh about whatever mistake you may have made and maybe offer some advice.
Katie passed away this past weekend after battling cancer. Toby had moved back in with her since April and was taking care of her in her final months. He captured her spirit of generosity perfectly with a heartfelt eulogy: “She had an overflowing surplus of maternal love that spilled over. The neighbor kids, our partners, mine and Max’s buddies throughout the years, nieces and nephews. There was always enough room in our little house for anyone facing an untenable or life deranging event. She always had an extra chair or two for whatever lonely strays or hard luck cases would be inevitably added to our holiday tables.”
Katie also brought us along to her job as director of a senior food shelf in Northeast Minneapolis. We’d spend entire Saturdays stacking and unloading boxes of food for people who could have been our grandparents. At an early age, when most kids were allowed to sleep in and not worry about the needs of others, we were on the front lines of fighting hunger among the low-income elderly population. These experiences, along with those provided by my own parents, instilled in me the need to help others whenever possible.
But I will most remember Katie sitting in her living room, behind a wall of hanging beads, smoking a cigarette and enjoying her Coca-Cola in a styrofoam cup. This is how she would hold court, surrounded by all of her creature comforts. She would instantly put you at ease as soon as you walked into her little den.
If you were having girlfriend problems, she’d have some words of wisdom for you (usually along the lines of “It’s not worth getting so upset over.”) She almost always came down on the side of taking things less seriously. As an uptight, nervous teenager, I was the perfect audience for her messages of taking it easy and not letting adolescent troubles bring me down.
Life being what it is, I had not seen Katie much in the past 20 years, but anytime I’d drive by her house, I knew she was there, waiting with a welcoming smile if I were to knock on her door. I, like so many others, will miss her.
OUT FOR A WALK
KEVIN O’BRIEN
EDITOR
