My mother-in-law has passed away . . . she was 84 years old.
It was quick: she was fine on a Tuesday morning, but by that evening she was in the hospital. She had been found unconscious and unresponsive in her home by a friend, and by Tuesday evening was talking to my husband on the phone from her hospital bed.
But by Wednesday, she had slipped into a coma, and by early Saturday morning she was gone.
This lady was . . . a "pip". Dodie was spunky, she was fiesty, she was unbelievable. I consider myself lucky to have been a part of her life.
When I first met her she was 71 years old, and I was amazed. Here she was, opening the door to her Portland home to me, dressed up in her straight skirt, blouse and heels; smiling and welcoming me with a hug. Every time I saw her she was dressed up! The woman dressed "to the nines" every day, her makeup was "just so", and she loved to entertain. She could sing, she could play the piano, and she could dance.
Oh, how she could dance!! She would break into a two-step while preparing dinner (complete in pearls and high heels!) or do a fancy little step out in the driveway . . . she didn't care as long as she was dancing.
Dodie fought poverty, and anti-Semitism; she fought for women's rights, and she spoke her mind. She fought breast cancer, and she fought being old. She was most times opinionated, but she loved never-ending; especially her two boys.
I shall miss you, Dodie, and I'll keep my promise to you . . . your Bobby will be fine. He is and always will be the love of my life.
With love from your daughter-in-law,
~Vickie
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