March 29, 2014

I am writing my Obituary so my children will not have that responsibility. When will God call me is not a given nor what caused my death. Neither is important. Where our souls go is what matters.
I was born to Charles and Anna Hatch (deceased) in Philadelphia. I was the thirteenth child of fourteen children. I am the last survivor at this writing including spouses. Two infant boys died each at a month old. One was the second child and the other a baby boy was the eleventh child. A baby girl the fourteenth died at thirteen months old. I was then considered the "baby" of the family.
We were a very loving and close family and each loss, close together hurt badly. My Mother had seven children at home when my Father died. I just turned five when he died. My Mother never re-married so was both Mother and Father to us. Added to the three infants she lost, she also lost two adult children before her death at age seventy. Her faith and strength are the two qualities I always hoped I could attain.
My husband Ron pre-deceased me October 13, 2006. His death left a tremendous impact on me and my family. It's said "no one is indispensable" but Ron was one that came very close to being just that, "indispensable". He was our anchor. We dated one year and then married. We remained married for fifty-eight years at the time of Ron's death. My life was never the same. It couldn't be.

Ron and I had three sons whom now survives me. Donnie (Candy), Denny (Barbie), Doug (Kathy). No matter how old my sons reached I always saw the faces of the little boys they once were. Boys do have a tendency to touch their Mother's heart forever.
I also leave nine grandchildren: Nicole (Eric) Eric (Lindsay), Kristin, Ryan, Alicia (Jake), Niki (J), Matthew, Brooks, and Jenna. I leave fifteen great-grandchildren: Chandler, Michael, Ariana, Grady, Vanna, Doug, Nicholas, Ethan, Jace, Chloe, Ryleigh, Camden, Emily, Jeremy, and Abby.
In spite of the above sadness in my life I continued to laugh and have a sense of humor. Gifts from God.
I found such beauty driving down tree lined streets with the sun shining though them. It always reminded me of Jesus and Heaven. Serenity. It was a free gift given by God's Creation. As promised by God my death is a free gift to the Resurrection.
May God shower my children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren with many blessings.

A private viewing and mass will be held for my family only.

In lieu of flowers please make a donation to the following charities.
Hirshberg Foundation for Pancreatic Cancer
2990 South Sepulveda Blvd.
Suite 300C
Los Angeles, CA 90064
http://pancreatic.org/

Alpha I Foundation
3300 Ponce de Leon Blvd.
Coral Gables, FL 33134
https://www.alpha1.org/

Smile Train
41 Madison Avenue
28th Floor
New York, New York 10010
www.smiletrain.org