Over 94 years my mom accomplished so much for a woman from her time. In her time at Princeton University geology department she worked for Prof Robert Hargraves as a research assistant. In those years she assisted him in the proof of plate tectonics, she handled moon rocks from the Apollo missions and assisted in the magnetic portion of the soil sample claw for the Mars Viking Lander. With Hargraves work finished in the later eighties she was recruited to the School of Engineering and became assistant to the Dean of Princeton's school of engineering until retirement in 95. All this time she raised 3 boys on her own. Our father died young at 53 in 1974. To make some sense of this there is an 8 and 5 year gap between me and my older brothers. I was the "happy accident". After retiring, she did not stop. She had a number of friends and she spent a lot of time traveling the U.S. and the world. To Australia, Norway, Spain and Morocco, Hawaii, the Caribbean and probably some places I forgot. I wasn't until her late eighties that she had to slow down and she continued to mellow with age. Despite her 5 foot height, she was a force of nature that received respect from all who were in her orbit. She could be stern and demanding, but her capacity to love and care for anyone was immeasurable, My brother Chris and I shared her house as house mates and then eventually full and part time caregivers. We were both with her to her last breath and happily she went in peace with no suffering. Though some dementia and short term memory creeped in her last 10 years, she still remained fairly sharp, but a fall and concussion complicated matters. Over a month she made some recovery as we visited her everyday in a rehab facility. She never forgot who we were, but could only make simple conversation. Despite that we could still get her to laugh and she never was in pain. She socialized with others, because that's just what she did and would even share or offer the food off her plate. Partly because she didn't like the food :) But that was her, the social butterfly that helped and gave to others. In the end her heart condition (afib) and the stress of her injuries and situation took their toll. I believe she decided she was tired enough and checked out on her own. Luckily we were informed quick enough of her condition and could be there as she passed. Even though she was no longer aware we could talk to her and wish her well and give her last rites as she was a Catholic. Luckily she was one who could reconcile a God and still understand the age of our universe and solar system. And she was tolerant and never one to push her faith on anyone. She will be truly missed but has left a lasting legacy. Be at peace mom. Top Image: Jeff, Chris and me and of course Mom. Jeff's the oldest, then Chris then me. Bottom image L-R: Me, Leanne (sis in law) Mom, Chris (brother with me) niece Lexy, niece Jessie and oldest bro Jeff. Jeff and Leanne are the married ones. Thanks for taking some time for this. Some of you here are truly friends and I wanted to share this with you.