Teresa "Terri" Stephens

It is so surreal to stand here today and speak about my mom in the past tense. She was sick for a very long time and endured a lot of pain and suffering. I had some conversations with her over the years about her thoughts on leaving this world. It became very clear to me that her anxiety and fear did not have as much to do with the actual process of dying or the afterlife but what she was leaving behind. My mom loved life and didn’t want to miss out. She cherished her family and did everything in her power to protect us and support us. Her relationships with her children from day one were of the up most importance. She was my coach in life and I relied so much on her advice and opinions whether I liked them or not. My mom never beat around the bush. She was always honest and forward. She was and remains one of the smartest people I have ever met. People in every area of her life whether it be her family, friends, or business associates had great respect for her. It was definitely hard to accept her words at times but more often than not she was right. My mom taught me so much about life which was her greatest gift to me. I will never forget the sound of her voice, our long phone conversations, lunch dates or how her grandchildren lit up her face. I could go on and on about how much I love my mom and the reasons why. She gave so much of herself to us. What my mom went through is hard to think about on so many levels and I know I will never comprehend how such horrific things could happen to an amazing person like my mom. What I do know is that God brought her to heaven peacefully while she was at home with her family. My mom’s goal over that past 6 years, no matter what her condition, was always to be at home with her family. As hard as it is to accept that she is no longer a part of this world we have so much to be thankful for. I had a wonderful mother who loved us more than words could describe. I was able to spend 30 years with her which I will never forget. Mom is now in heaven with her dad and brother and will be waiting for her family with open arms. I love you mom and already miss you terribly. Until we meet again.

It is so surreal to stand here today and speak about my mom in the past tense. She was sick for a very long time and endured a lot of pain and suffering. I had some conversations with her over the years about her thoughts on leaving this world. It became very clear to me that her anxiety and fear did not have as much to do with the actual process of dying or the afterlife but what she was leaving behind. My mom loved life and didn’t want to miss out. She cherished her family and did everything in her power to protect us and support us. Her relationships with her children from day one were of the up most importance. She was my coach in life and I relied so much on her advice and opinions whether I liked them or... READ MORE →