In the News

Thanks, Mom, for a lifetime of love

Boston Herald

After battling metastatic ovarian cancer this summer, my mother, Judith “Judy” Flemming Gale passed away peacefully in her sleep Friday night. She was 78 years old.

Although I’ve emptied every tissue box in my house and miss her dearly, part of me is comforted knowing Mom’s resting peacefully after all she’s been through battling a dreadful disease that ravaged her body but never her spirit.

No matter how sick she felt these past few months or what medical procedure she endured, my Mom always lit up and was so happy to see her family and friends — especially her beloved grandchildren — who visited her often and told her they loved her at least 100 times.

Judy was a great mother, grandmother and friend to all. As I took care of my mother throughout her illness she often thanked me and said “you’re a great daughter” to which I always replied, “that’s because I learned from the best.”

I know that I learned to love from my mom, take care of others and put family first.

Judy loved her career as a tenured college professor at Pace University for over two decades and was married to the love of her life, my father, Lawrence “Larry” Gale, for 42 years until his passing in 2006.

She also enjoyed gardening, classical music, traveling, reading, writing and caring for the family dogs. But nothing gave her more happiness than her four grandchildren.
 

I want to thank the Boston Herald, my colleagues, and our readers who sent prayers, kind notes and words of encouragement throughout my mother’s illness.

My family also wants to extend our sincere thanks to all the nurses, doctors and aides who cared for Mom at Emerson Hospital, Dana-Farber, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Benchmark Senior Living at Robbins Brook and the Kaplan House in Danvers.

But most of all I want to thank my Mom — for a lifetime of love.

Adriana Cohen is a nationally syndicated columnist and Herald Radio host. Follow her on Twitter @AdrianaCohen16.