Eulogy of Lorraine Skiby
Thank you all for coming to celebrate Ma Skiby’s Life in God’s Church.
First of all I would like to thank my sister for taking care of Mom during her lunch hours and evenings for many, many years. Pat made a lot of sacrifices. I would also like to thank my wife Delia for dropping off lunch to Ma and reading her stories about angels.
On Sunday, the day after Ma passed, Delia and I went to the Carmelite Monastery in Des Plaines. At Carmelite no is allowed to see the nuns, but you are allowed to speak to them through iron bars covered by felt. They sacrifice their lives and pray for the forgiveness of sins. Our family went there for many years and spoke with the Reverend Mother Agnes. Ma and Reverend Mother Agnes wrote to each other too. The nuns have been praying for Ma through Pat’s request. Upon arriving, Sister Magdeline came to greet us behind the covered bars. I told her “Lorraine Skiby passed away last night.” Without hesitation, without hesitation, she said, “She is with God now.” Those words, “she is with God now” made it ok, they were comforting and healing and that is what Ma wanted.
If I had to pick a few words to describe Ma, She was unconditional love, sacrifice, religious and a worrywart. (With her unconditional love, she never hit us, never ever swore at us…she screamed sometimes, but only for a moment, until we got the picture.)
Ma was born in 1922 and has a brother Norbert. Her father Joseph (who is here today in spirit) played the violin and had his own Law Practice on Chicago Ave, in between several of his brothers’ businesses – real estate office, funeral parlor, horse and buggy taxi service. Unfortunately, MA’s father passed away of pneumonia after she was born. As a child growing up, she would tell people she wanted a Daddy for Christmas. Her favorite childhood memory was playing double Dutch jump rope. She attended St John Cantious School, and her mother, Veronica, later remarried Mr. Domanus. Ma said, he was always very good to her. She would stop by after school and go to the family restaurant for a late lunch or dinner. She had 2 step brothers, one passed away in World War II in the Philippines. Early in her adult life, her favorite moments were spending time with her girlfriends. In fact, she would find out later that her brother dated many of them. One of her best friends for over 70 years passed away the day before Ma. The family spent many summers in Wisconsin. One of these times without telling the family, she took a ride in a 2 seat airplane. She loved to live life.
Mom had many guy friends and turned down many marriage proposals. (Tell Story.) It was later she first saw Dad while working payroll at Webcor Electronics Company. When she first saw my dad from across the room at work, she told her girlfriend that she was going to marry him, even though she did not know him. That was one strong love arrow. On their first date, they popped on a street car and they went dancing at the Arrigon. Ma said she loved to dance fast…Jitterbug…but Dad could only slow dance. So she received twice as many slow dances, what a smart man. They were married for over 50 years. Ma said she was very lucky in life, as Dad always took good care of her. She loved spending time with Dad.
Ma was a night owl, always up late, always Sunday noon mass. She considered shopping a sport. If this was an Olympic sport, she would get the gold medal. She encouraged everyone in her life to participate and trained Pat, Delia and Chelsea. Maneuvers included going to as many stored as possible, buy Bob a cheese sandwich, and then train again until the Skokie bus was leaving.
Moms have the most difficult jobs, but also the most fulfilling.
I’d like to share Mom’s one liners, in her own words.
• Take a jacket, take a sweater, take one anyway, bundle up its cold. (In 1st grade, during winter, Ma always wrapped a scarf around me till I could not move.) Something out of a Christmas Story movie.
• You’re flooding the bathroom floor again.
• Please set the table.
• Would you like to lick the frosting from the blender?
• Always be honest.
• Do you want rice pudding or jello?
• Just one more bite of liver, it’s so good for you.
• Why don’t you like mushrooms?
• Don’t sit so close to the TV. You’ll hurt your eyes.
• Who is washing and who is wiping the dishes?
• Stop throwing the ball at the house. The plaster is cracking.
• Patty what time are we going to the street sale?
• I’ll think about it.
• Bobby, I’m going to tell your father when he gets home. (She never did.)
• Ask your father.
• Yes Delia, I would love a chardonnay or merlot.
• (And one of my favorites…) “I’m sorry that’s the rule.”
At 90 years young, she said, “Patty are you sure my checkbook is balanced? Let me see that…” (This is while my sister is using a calculator and my Ma was adding the numbers in her mind.) Ma was right of course.
• Ma adored her kids.
• She was proud of Pat and all of her successes at the bank.
• She loved Joe’s humor and wit.
• She loved watching Malachi play soccer and Chelsea’s high school volleyball.
• She loved spending time with Delia and eating breakfast at our kitchen’s island/table.
• She was excited for Malachi’s love of science and interest in becoming a doctor, and Chelsea’s interest in business law.
• She’d always ask if Chelsea had a boyfriend and encouraged her to take her time and have fun.
• Ma loved the horse races and golf pools. She could tell you anything you wanted to know about any pro golfer.
• Ma was proud that Pat played the organ at St Lambert’s for 14 years.
Her voice was gentle, she was a good listener, always focusing on the why and the reasons for doing. Ma was beautiful and outgoing. There were no inconsistencies in her life. She was honorable, highly principled, caring and very religious. She taught us to embrace the same ideals. She loved and valued her family, friends and God. She had the power of character, ethics, drive and sensibility all in one person. She taught us the need to get educated. She felt us worthy and wanted her family to see that worth. It all made sense.
On the day Ma passed, we were all there with her, Delia, Pat, Chelsea and Malachi. We held her, stroked her forehead and hair, massaged her shoulders and held her hand. We spoke to her and she replied with moving an eyebrow or a slight nod. We played several songs for her. Beer Barrel Polka – “In heaven there is no beer, that’s why we drink it here,” and several versions of her song “Sweet Lorraine”. After the last song, I looked at her closely, and Ma had a teardrop in the corner of her eye. She replied and became very excited, but she could not speak or open her eyes.
Later on Malachi turned on the TV and Pat asked Malachi why he turned it on. Malachi responded that, “It was history. The Pope was leaving Rome”. We then turned on the volume. It was loud and the announcer said it was magnificent. The bells were ringing through all of Rome and the Vatican. We listened for a awhile. I told Ma that the bells were ringing for her, God was calling for her. The bells went on for a long time. We watched the pope enter his car and his motorcade proceeded to leave the Vatican. He then boarded a helicopter and flew over the Basilica and all the churches in Vatican City. I told Ma the pope was leaving in a helicopter and it was time for her to put on her wings. Pat said Dad is waiting, go to Dad, Mom, go to Dad. She then passed.
Ma asked us to do 3 things several weeks before she passed. Take care of Pat and Joe (they have no children). Pray for her. Do a 9 day Novena, which will start Saturday evening. We will keep these promises.
Ma, may God hold you in the palm of his hand. We love you.
Bob Skiby / St. Lambert Church 3/7/13
Thank you all for coming to celebrate Ma Skiby’s Life in God’s Church.
First of all I would like to thank my sister for taking care of Mom during her lunch hours and evenings for many, many years. Pat made a lot of sacrifices. I would also like to thank my wife Delia for dropping off lunch to Ma and reading her stories about angels.
On Sunday, the day after Ma passed, Delia and I went to the Carmelite Monastery in Des Plaines. At Carmelite no is allowed to see the nuns, but you are allowed to speak to them through iron bars covered by felt. They sacrifice their lives and pray for the forgiveness of sins. Our family went there for many years and spoke with the Reverend Mother Agnes. Ma and Reverend Mother Agnes wrote to each other too. The nuns have been praying for Ma through Pat’s request. Upon arriving, Sister Magdeline came to greet us behind the covered bars. I told her “Lorraine Skiby passed away last night.” Without hesitation, without hesitation, she said, “She is with God now.” Those words, “she is with God now” made it ok, they were comforting and healing and that is what Ma wanted.
If I had to pick a few words to describe Ma, She was unconditional love, sacrifice, religious and a worrywart. (With her unconditional love, she never hit us, never ever swore at us…she screamed sometimes, but only for a moment, until we got the picture.)
Ma was born in 1922 and has a brother Norbert. Her father Joseph (who is here today in spirit) played the violin and had his own Law Practice on Chicago Ave, in between several of his brothers’ businesses – real estate office, funeral parlor, horse and buggy taxi service. Unfortunately, MA’s father passed away of pneumonia after she was born. As a child growing up, she would tell people she wanted a Daddy for Christmas. Her favorite childhood memory was playing double Dutch jump rope. She attended St John Cantious School, and her mother, Veronica, later remarried Mr. Domanus. Ma said, he was always very good to her. She would stop by after school and go to the family restaurant for a late lunch or dinner. She had 2 step brothers, one passed away in World War II in the Philippines. Early in her adult life, her favorite moments were spending time with her girlfriends. In fact, she would find out later that her brother dated many of them. One of her best friends for over 70 years passed away the day before Ma. The family spent many summers in Wisconsin. One of these times without telling the family, she took a ride in a 2 seat airplane. She loved to live life.
Mom had many guy friends and turned down many marriage proposals. (Tell Story.) It was later she first saw Dad while working payroll at Webcor Electronics Company. When she first saw my dad from across the room at work, she told her girlfriend that she was going to marry him, even though she did not know him. That was one strong love arrow. On their first date, they popped on a street car and they went dancing at the Arrigon. Ma said she loved to dance fast…Jitterbug…but Dad could only slow dance. So she received twice as many slow dances, what a smart man. They were married for over 50 years. Ma said she was very lucky in life, as Dad always took good care of her. She loved spending time with Dad.
Ma was a night owl, always up late, always Sunday noon mass. She considered shopping a sport. If this was an Olympic sport, she would get the gold medal. She encouraged everyone in her life to participate and trained Pat, Delia and Chelsea. Maneuvers included going to as many stored as possible, buy Bob a cheese sandwich, and then train again until the Skokie bus was leaving.
Moms have the most difficult jobs, but also the most fulfilling.
I’d like to share Mom’s one liners, in her own words.
• Take a jacket, take a sweater, take one anyway, bundle up its cold. (In 1st grade, during winter, Ma always wrapped a scarf around me till I could not move.) Something out of a Christmas Story movie.
• You’re flooding the bathroom floor again.
• Please set the table.
• Would you like to lick the frosting from the blender?
• Always be honest.
• Do you want rice pudding or jello?
• Just one more bite of liver, it’s so good for you.
• Why don’t you like mushrooms?
• Don’t sit so close to the TV. You’ll hurt your eyes.
• Who is washing and who is wiping the dishes?
• Stop throwing the ball at the house. The plaster is cracking.
• Patty what time are we going to the street sale?
• I’ll think about it.
• Bobby, I’m going to tell your father when he gets home. (She never did.)
• Ask your father.
• Yes Delia, I would love a chardonnay or merlot.
• (And one of my favorites…) “I’m sorry that’s the rule.”
At 90 years young, she said, “Patty are you sure my checkbook is balanced? Let me see that…” (This is while my sister is using a calculator and my Ma was adding the numbers in her mind.) Ma was right of course.
• Ma adored her kids.
• She was proud of Pat and all of her successes at the bank.
• She loved Joe’s humor and wit.
• She loved watching Malachi play soccer and Chelsea’s high school volleyball.
• She loved spending time with Delia and eating breakfast at our kitchen’s island/table.
• She was excited for Malachi’s love of science and interest in becoming a doctor, and Chelsea’s interest in business law.
• She’d always ask if Chelsea had a boyfriend and encouraged her to take her time and have fun.
• Ma loved the horse races and golf pools. She could tell you anything you wanted to know about any pro golfer.
• Ma was proud that Pat played the organ at St Lambert’s for 14 years.
Her voice was gentle, she was a good listener, always focusing on the why and the reasons for doing. Ma was beautiful and outgoing. There were no inconsistencies in her life. She was honorable, highly principled, caring and very religious. She taught us to embrace the same ideals. She loved and valued her family, friends and God. She had the power of character, ethics, drive and sensibility all in one person. She taught us the need to get educated. She felt us worthy and wanted her family to see that worth. It all made sense.
On the day Ma passed, we were all there with her, Delia, Pat, Chelsea and Malachi. We held her, stroked her forehead and hair, massaged her shoulders and held her hand. We spoke to her and she replied with moving an eyebrow or a slight nod. We played several songs for her. Beer Barrel Polka – “In heaven there is no beer, that’s why we drink it here,” and several versions of her song “Sweet Lorraine”. After the last song, I looked at her closely, and Ma had a teardrop in the corner of her eye. She replied and became very excited, but she could not speak or open her eyes.
Later on Malachi turned on the TV and Pat asked Malachi why he turned it on. Malachi responded that, “It was history. The Pope was leaving Rome”. We then turned on the volume. It was loud and the announcer said it was magnificent. The bells were ringing through all of Rome and the Vatican. We listened for a awhile. I told Ma that the bells were ringing for her, God was calling for her. The bells went on for a long time. We watched the pope enter his car and his motorcade proceeded to leave the Vatican. He then boarded a helicopter and flew over the Basilica and all the churches in Vatican City. I told Ma the pope was leaving in a helicopter and it was time for her to put on her wings. Pat said Dad is waiting, go to Dad, Mom, go to Dad. She then passed.
Ma asked us to do 3 things several weeks before she passed. Take care of Pat and Joe (they have no children). Pray for her. Do a 9 day Novena, which will start Saturday evening. We will keep these promises.
Ma, may God hold you in the palm of his hand. We love you.
Bob Skiby / St. Lambert Church 3/7/13