My Mom died a month ago. I wrote this the day of her memorial service. The theme kept coming to me every night after she died. I thought about all the different facets of her life and how, if you weren't part of her immediate family, you probably wouldn't understand all of her many parts. Even if you were part of her family, it was easy to forget that she had all these different sides of her that didn't necessarily go together and yet they did.
My daughter Sarah read the tribute at my mom's memorial service. I wanted to do it, but I didn't think I could get through it. It was really nice to have her speak anyway; to hear the strength of her voice and to know that she was there.
Mom was quirky. Mom was an enigma. Mom was eccentric in her own special way, although she didn't fit most people's definition of eccentric. I'll be thinking about Mom for the rest of my life.
Perhaps you knew Sheila- A tribute to our Mom, Granny
Perhaps you knew Sheila as a graduate of The Chapin School, Harvard University and Russell Sage College.These were the educational institutions that shaped her thinking and inspired her love of anthropology and education.
Perhaps you knew Sheila as a teacher. She taught 2nd and 4th grade at Waterford-Halfmoon Elementary for 31 years. Her love of education and her love of children merged there and she taught and inspired many children to love reading and writing. She was immensely proud of the many students who came to her, telling stories of how she had influenced the paths they had taken.
Perhaps you knew Sheila as a member of Grace Episcopal Church, as a person of faith. Sheila's faith was not easily defined for she found God in relationships with people and animals. She found joy in a newborn grandchild, peace in a lamb that had recovered from the effects of cold weather and hope in waiting for the arrival of grandchildren adopted from Korea, Haiti and Honduras.
Perhaps you knew Sheila as a farmer. Her love of the land and farm animals took her far from the path of her own siblings. Sheila was a person who marched to the beat of her own drummer. When she decided to leave Troy and buy a farm in Melrose with Anthony, there would be no dissuading her from purchasing cattle, sheep and goats so that all five of her children could be involved in the farm. Hayfield's farm would be no gentleman's farm, but rather a full blown family farm with a herd of milking cattle, dairy goats and over 600 sheep at its peak. Every child had their own breed of cattle and sheep and all were involved in 4-H throughout their childhoods.
Perhaps you knew Sheila as a world traveler. She began traveling with her own father when he was in his 80's and continued traveling the world with organizations which would allow her to be a participant in the lives of the people she visited. She fought for human rights through Witness for Peace, helped educate teachers and students through Global Volunteers and worked with underprivileged people throughout the world with Elderhostel programs.
Perhaps you knew Sheila in the final years of her life. Her strength of character and determination to be independent allowed her to rebound from a brain injury in 2004 caused by a fall on ice. She returned to her farm after some time in rehab and resumed her life on the farm, with assistance from her children . After a fall and broken hip in August 2009, she could not return to her beloved farm and resided in the Eddy Village Green until her death. The nurses and caretakers there continued to enjoy her stories of children and travel and the farm for the duration of her life there.
Sheila was a caring, giving person who loved learning and sharing anything she could with those who needed it most. We will miss her and and will forever remember the beauty she brought to our lives.
Sheila Forster Morris
May 9, 1928-December 16th, 2011
Perhaps you knew Sheila as a teacher. She taught 2nd and 4th grade at Waterford-Halfmoon Elementary for 31 years. Her love of education and her love of children merged there and she taught and inspired many children to love reading and writing. She was immensely proud of the many students who came to her, telling stories of how she had influenced the paths they had taken.
Perhaps you knew Sheila as a member of Grace Episcopal Church, as a person of faith. Sheila's faith was not easily defined for she found God in relationships with people and animals. She found joy in a newborn grandchild, peace in a lamb that had recovered from the effects of cold weather and hope in waiting for the arrival of grandchildren adopted from Korea, Haiti and Honduras.
Perhaps you knew Sheila as a farmer. Her love of the land and farm animals took her far from the path of her own siblings. Sheila was a person who marched to the beat of her own drummer. When she decided to leave Troy and buy a farm in Melrose with Anthony, there would be no dissuading her from purchasing cattle, sheep and goats so that all five of her children could be involved in the farm. Hayfield's farm would be no gentleman's farm, but rather a full blown family farm with a herd of milking cattle, dairy goats and over 600 sheep at its peak. Every child had their own breed of cattle and sheep and all were involved in 4-H throughout their childhoods.
Perhaps you knew Sheila as a world traveler. She began traveling with her own father when he was in his 80's and continued traveling the world with organizations which would allow her to be a participant in the lives of the people she visited. She fought for human rights through Witness for Peace, helped educate teachers and students through Global Volunteers and worked with underprivileged people throughout the world with Elderhostel programs.
Perhaps you knew Sheila in the final years of her life. Her strength of character and determination to be independent allowed her to rebound from a brain injury in 2004 caused by a fall on ice. She returned to her farm after some time in rehab and resumed her life on the farm, with assistance from her children . After a fall and broken hip in August 2009, she could not return to her beloved farm and resided in the Eddy Village Green until her death. The nurses and caretakers there continued to enjoy her stories of children and travel and the farm for the duration of her life there.
Sheila was a caring, giving person who loved learning and sharing anything she could with those who needed it most. We will miss her and and will forever remember the beauty she brought to our lives.
Sheila Forster Morris
May 9, 1928-December 16th, 2011
