Thank you all for your condolences regarding my Mothers passing. I would like to share some precious moments with you that happened on Sunday, October 21st, 2007, my Mom's last day here, and about our last dance together.
Many years ago, my Sister Cindy was Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz at our High School play. Cindy brought tears not only to my family in the audience, but to all of those seated around us when she sang Somewhere Over The Rainbow opening night. Cindy has a beautiful voice (I try) and our Mother always enjoyed listening to us sing to her in harmony. So, throughout the time we were at the hospital and at hospice, not only did we read from the Bible to Mom, but we also sang her lots of songs and always did Somewhere Over The Rainbow. In fact on Sunday, even my Sister Tina and my friend Bonnie helped out and I must say we had the four-part harmonies going strong and Mom got it all in Surround-Sound!
On Sunday afternoon around 4PM there was a big thunder storm here in Naples. After the storm had passed, there was a beautiful Rainbow that appeared to go from the Hospice house to our Mothers house. Tina, Cindy, Bonnie and I stood at the window all in a big group hug and took our time soaking in the warmth of this beautiful rainbow.
At around 7:00PM, with all of us starving, we decided that Mom would want us to go have dinner at her favorite Italian Restaurant. After dinner, we got back to the Hospice House at around 8:30PM reeking of garlic which I'm sure our Mother enjoyed smelling! We continued to read from the Bible and sing to Mom with my Sister Tina holding Mom's hand, Cindy doing the Bible readings and holding Mom's other hand, and my friend Bonnie and I at the foot of her bed rubbing her feet. Our Mother was totally surrounded with love.
At 10:10PM our Mother took her last breath. It was a very sad moment and we all hugged and cried at Mothers bedside. As we promised we would do, we got on our cellulars and contacted other family members with the news. At around 10:20PM very quietly out of the corner of the room on the local Naples Light Jazz Radio Station Cindy heard Somewhere Over The Rainbow just starting to play on the radio. Cindy quickly ran over to the radio and cranked it up so loud that I'm sure we woke up others in the Hospice House. The nurse at this time had light a candle and placed a rose in our Mother's hands. I then reached out my hand to my Sister Cindy and asked her, "may I have this dance"?
As Cindy and I danced around the room to Somewhere Over The Rainbow, all of our tears of sadness instantly turned into tears of joy and laughter. As we danced, we commented that you could not write a movie more touching than this glorious moment. There was such a strong presence of our Mother and her Boyfriend George (who passed six years ago) dancing with Cindy and I, that we could practically see them. As the hair stood straight up on our arms, we laughed as we cried while we danced one last glorious dance with our Mother in the light of God. It was just like our Mother not to let her babies worry for more than ten minutes that she is 100% happy and at peace.
The last promise that my Mother made to me before she passed, was that after she passed, she would give me a clear sign that she was OK. My Mom never let me down on a promise, even after she passed.
Thank you for letting me share with you this most sad, but most beautiful and precious moment in my life. I don't ever recall hearing Somewhere Over The Rainbow being played on the radio before, but if I do hear that song again in the future, I know it will bring only tears of joy to my eyes.
May Love & Peace be with you Always,
Jerry Chiappetta, Jr.
PS: Click Here to read a recent update to this story.
(Patricia's Son)
