My mom - a DU member since 2002 - has passed away

[ClusterFreak]

Last edited Tue Sep 24, 2013, 11:08 AM - Edit history (3)

**Admins, please forgive me if this post is not in the appropriate forum or group, and feel free to move it to the correct one if necessary**
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I never thought I would post this kind of information in this manner, in fact this is a spur of the moment thing and hopefully for me it will be an act of ongoing catharsis. My dear mother Gloria - who went by the DU screen name "glarius" - passed away this summer. Like many seniors her age, 83, she had been beset by an increasing number of health issues in recent years. Unfortunately she spent most of the first half of this year in hospital, and succumbed to complications from congestive heart failure and atrial fibrillation in June.

For the first probably 8 or 9 years of her DU membership my mom "glarius" (I'll call her that for the rest of this post, it seems appropriate ) was very active, however when her health began to decline her participation here began to dwindle as well. Still, over about a decade of DU membership, she racked up a very respectable post count of just shy of 8000.

My mom "glarius" never shied away from a debate, or from expressing her opinion, on both Canadian and American politics. A proud Canadian like me, she was a mainstay for a long time in the Canada forum. Mom could be argumentative, but I don't think ever confrontational. Above all else, she came to DU to enjoy spirited and informed discussion - mostly, but not limited to, political issues - with like-minded folks. And she always kept her sense of humour about her. No argument was that important. And most people on DU got, and still seem to, get that. And that's what kept her (and I, who joined at her urging in 2005) coming back for so many years. What I found most endearing about her posts - as an admittedly biased admirer of them no surprise - was how she expressed her views on American politics while being ever mindful of the fact that she was Canadian, and hoped she wasn't offending her American fellow DU'ers by speaking her mind when talking about U.S. political issues. My mom always worried that her friends south of the border would think she was telling them how to run their country!

My mom "glarius" made her last post here in January of 2012, and for those who may remember her - and for those who do not - I would like to share with you the last thread she started which includes the last post she ever made. I think it illustrates her feisty opinionated nature, as well as that endearing quality I felt she had, where she just hoped she hadn't offended anyone or spoken out of turn:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/1002186392

I miss my mom every day, I miss her because she was my wonderful mother, but also because she was my friend. We really and truly enjoyed each other's company. I am glad to have been able to share at least a little bit of her with all of you.

Sincerely,
Patrick

(aka "ClusterFreak", and formerly known as "Chimpys_Last_Stand&quot

===========================================================
ADDED TUES. MORNING 24/09/13...

To everyone who responded and continues to respond to my post... Thank you all so much for your wonderful, kind and supportive comments. I am truly overwhelmed. This is a place with thousands and thousands of members, and to know that my mom is remembered and made an impact on so many here, simply leaves me speechless and filled with every kind of positive emotion you can imagine. It's especially gratifying since she hasn't had an active presence here in some time. Your comments and remembrances help me in my healing more than you know. Their greatest gift is that they have had a way of bringing my mom back into the present, if even only in a spiritual sense. I am extremely grateful for that, thank you.

Pat

p.s. (added @11am... I almost forgot this... my sincerest condolences to those of you who recently suffered loss, and especially for reminding me that those we love who pass never truly leave us as long as they continue to live on in our hearts)

[kentuck]

1. Sorry to hear of your loss.

I remember your Mom.

[cbayer]

2. I am sorry for your loss, clusterfreak.

My 83 year old mother also posts here and is going strong.

Thanks for sharing your memories and your sadness and your memories of joy.

[Autumn]

3. I remember glarius, A wonderful person.

I'm so sorry for your loss.

[dflprincess]

4. I'm so sorry for your loss Patrick

[Tikki]

5. Honey, I remember your MOM, a very smart lady, and I am so sorry she is gone..

Hugs and strong vibes to your family.


Tikki

[MuseRider]

6. I remember your mom.

I am so sorry to hear this. May she rest in peace and may you find strength and peace in what she has left behind.

I am so sorry.

Thank you so much for sharing this.

[RetroLounge]

7. So sorry to hear of your loss

RL

[Kber]

8. Please accept my sincere condolences

And me sincere respect for you both.

Peace be with you, her and your whole family.

[femmocrat]

9. I am so sorry about your mom.

I wish I would have known her. My condolences to your family.

[SammyWinstonJack]

10. ...

[Hell Hath No Fury]

11. I completely remember your Mom!

"glarius" was a name I am well familiar with. So very sorry to hear about your (and our) loss -- she was a great DUer and sounds like the best Mom a guy could have. Thank you for sharing this information with us -- it is always nice to know what happened to DUers who have been absent.

Kirsten

[SoCalDem]

12. What a wonderful eulogy to your dear Mom.. I remember her well

She will be missed,..

[Lars39]

13. I'm so sorry for your loss, ClusterFreak.

i remember your mom, always thought she was so nice. Thank you for letting us know.

[Paulie]

14. Your mom was on DU. So lucky!

Best to you and yours.

[Andy823]

15. I am sorry for your loss. nt

[pacalo]

16. I'm so sorry to hear this!

Your mom was a wonderful presence here; she had a good sense of humor.

Take care, ClusterFreak. I wish you strength & comfort in the days ahead.

[gopiscrap]

17. Thank you for your mother and for sharing this

My prayers for you and best wishes for emotional healing. May you remember the fun times, the special moments you had with her! Mike C

[2theleft]

18. Hugs to you and your family...

I wasn't here when your mom was posting, but your OP was wonderful and she sounds like an awesome person.

[Bossy Monkey]

19. I remember glarius, and miss her. Peace to you, Patrick, and to all your family. n/t

[senseandsensibility]

20. RIP, glarius

I'm so sorry for your loss. Thanks for letting us know.

[rhett o rick]

21. My best to the family. nm

[Canuckistanian]

22. I remember your mom

Sorry for your loss, Patrick.

[Hardlyaround]

23. Condolences for the loss of your mother.

She sounds like she was a remarkable woman.

[gopiscrap]

75. Welcome to DU

[niyad]

138. welcome to DU

[OregonBlue]

24. I'm so sorry. Hope you are doing okay. My mom died at 89 in May and it's been so lonely without

her. Take care of yourself. I don't necessarily remember her but since I used to live in Canada, I always want to know what our brothers and sisters from the great white north have to say. I'm sure we must have conversed.

You must be proud that she was politically active until she was 82!!! Wow.!!!

[Divine Discontent]

25. she sounded like a great lady, and she did great in raising you!

condolences....

[MannyGoldstein]

26. Sorry for our loss!

I hope your mom's life was made better by her time here, I know that ours' was made better by her's.

Peace to you!

[Tuesday Afternoon]

27. My condolences to you on the loss of your mother and to us all for the loss of one fine DUer.

[MFM008]

28. so sorry

for your loss of your mum. peace to you.

[Ohio Joe]

29. RIP - nt

[Ilsa]

30. I'm so sorry for your loss.

I hope she's found peace.

[mitchtv]

31. remember your mom, clusterfreak, and I liked her

I am from the old days too.Parkinson's is slowing me down and affecting my typing skills,and sadly my joint rolling skills ,too.So,let me express my sincerest condolences,

Mitchtv

[enlightenment]

32. Sympathies for your lost,

Patrick.
It hurts, I know.

[Cha]

33. ...

Thank you for letting us know, CF..

RIP glarius

[calimary]

34. Aw, much love and many hugs to you, ClusterFreak. And all our sympathy.

Thanks for the backstory and also the link!

I remember seeing "glarius" posts pop up. We'll all miss her.

[dorkzilla]

35. So sad to hear of your mom's passing...

One is blessed with a wise mum...mine is Irish and a teatard (never naturalized either, and yet she says shes a "patriot" LOL!!!!!!!) so I'm envious you had her. I love my mum, but I'm happy to have my Mayflower-descendant liberal dad to bounce shit off of. I'm lucky to have them both though. So sorry youve lost such an amazing mum...indeed I'm sad for all of us.

Much love to you From your DU family.

[lunasun]

36. RIP Glarius

Peace to you ClusterFreak

[silvershadow]

37. I am sorry for your loss. Thank you for sharing with us. Peace be with you. nt

[Puglover]

38. I am sorry.

Losing a parent is hard. I have been through it twice.

[Half-Century Man]

39. I am sorry for the loss.

I believe I've read a few of her posts.

[polly7]

40. I'm so sorry Patrick.

I remember Glarius's posts well and wondered why I hadn't seen her posting for awhile. May she be at peace ..... strength to you and yours.

[Arugula Latte]

41. I'm very sorry.

Peace to you all.

[Denis 11]

42. I am very sorry for your loss.

[Liberal_in_LA]

43. may she rest in peace

[JCMach1]

44. So sorry for your loss...

[Savannahmann]

45. I'm sorry for your loss.

[Beaverhausen]

46. I'm so sorry

You are lucky you and your mom had similar political leanings. My parents are republicans and sadly my dad knows how to forward nasty bigoted emails. My own mom is fighting cancer and Alzheimer's but I will surely miss her when she's gone.

Peace to you and your family.

[SleeplessinSoCal]

47. Thanks for being so thoughtful to let DU know about your loss

And ours.

[intheozone]

48. What a wonderful tribute to your mother!

So sorry for your loss. But I suspect you still are making your Mom very proud.

[applegrove]

49. Vibes to you all.

[jamzrockz]

50. Sorry for your loss

Just reminder that even though shes in a different place now, she will never die as long as you guy still remember her and carry on her legacy and life mission.

[virgdem]

51. I'm so sorry for your loss..

I've been here since 2002 and I do remember your Mom. I don't post much, as illustrated by my low post count, but I read all of the threads. Your Mom was a prolific poster and she was very spirited in her opinions, but very respectful of our system. She will be missed.

[riverbendviewgal]

52. so sorry for the loss of your mom

and a fellow DUr and Canadian.

As a mom I can see and feel the love you had for her. It is a gift that will never leave you.

The days are hard for your loss but the pain subsides slowly and the memories get stronger.

I send you hugs, Patrick.

[hrmjustin]

53. I am so sorry for your loss.

[nolabear]

54. Thank you for telling us. May she rest easy.

[graywarrior]

55. Love to you and your mom

[riverbendviewgal]

56. reading Glarius last post

I hope she is right and Harper loses.

[Vanje]

57. Oh. I'm SO sorry

My mom is 83.
and an unrepentant uber-leftist.

I cherish every minute I have her.

[JI7]

58. .

[proud patriot]

59. my condolances

[madrchsod]

60. she will always be with you

[Blue_In_AK]

61. My sincere condolences to you and your family.

It's hard to lose a parent at any age.

[nadinbrzezinski]

62. My sympathies to you and yours.

[Scurrilous]

63. Sorry to hear about your Mom.

[raging moderate]

64. I thank God for the glorious life of your mother Glarius.

I thank God for the glorious life of your mother Glarius. And for her moral support to the sane citizens of the United States. I thank God that she has left you to carry on. What a great heritage she has left you.

I am so sorry for your loss, but what a wonderful mother you have. And you do still have her. I lost my mother many years ago. At first, all you can feel is the pain of her loss. As time goes by, you begin to heal, and then you begin to remember your mother, little bright flashes of memory, and you begin to get her back. One day last year, while cooking supper, I wondered, out of habit, "I wonder what my mother is doing right now." Suddenly, the humorous answer came: "Well, right now, I am preparing a salad for my daughter." I looked at my hands, and they were so much like her hands when she had done the cooking, and I remembered that my hands came out of her hands, and she would like to have me continue on making salads. Another time, I saw children in a playground, and suddenly I remembered a golden afternoon spent with my mother watching children in a playground, and suddenly it was as if she was there with me again, and I knew that she would like to have me continue on caring for children.

I thank God for Glarius. And for you. And for Canada. I once told a European, If you want to know how to handle the United States, ask people from Canada. They know our vulnerable spots. I thank God for Canada. As many many of us do down here in the United States. Many many times. More than you wonderful people up there know. Keep on hectoring us about our faults. I don't dare to think of what we might have become without you. Please don't give up on us.

[Surya Gayatri]

65. What a lovely tribute to your beloved mother, Patrick.

I don't remember reading her posts, but she sounds like a fine, liberal lady.

Take comfort in knowing that she lived a good life and that she lives on through you and your progressive ideas.
Surya

[SidDithers]

66. glarius was awesome...

deepest condolences from a fellow Canadian.



Sid

[Demo_Chris]

67. Sorry for your loss. nt

[Unknown Beatle]

68. My condolences and deepest sympathies...

[progressoid]

69. Patrick,

Thanks for posting this. We may argue and bicker but we are a family. I hope you find some peace in our condolences.

[juajen]

70. I am very sorry for your loss. Losing your Mother is hard.

I pray she'll stay with you for a long time. I still talk to my Mom and she died in the early eighties.

[shireen]

71. you're so fortunate to have had such an amazing mom.

My deepest condolences.

[Stinky The Clown]

72. Sorry for your loss

[KT2000]

73. I remember glarius

and her posts were engaged and lively!
I am so sorry you lost your mother and good friend. Know that she will be in your heart forever more. Peace to you.

[Kennah]

74. I am so sorry for your loss, and I'm still feeling it myself

I lost my Dad almost a month ago. Posting about it here on DU, and a few other places, was indeed helpful to me.

[Cleita]

76. That is so sad to hear.

She wrote so many wonderful no nonsense and to the point original posts. I wondered what had happened to her. Thank you for letting us know and I am sorry for your loss and it's DU's loss as well.

[pinboy3niner]

77. My sincere condolences to you, ClusterFreak

And R.I.P., glarius.

[defacto7]

78. ...

[denbot]

79. I am sorry for your loss

Peace to you and yours.

[laundry_queen]

80. I'm so sorry for your loss

I remember her well in the Canadian forum and elsewhere - I always enjoyed her posts. I'm sorry to hear of her passing. And I'm glad you had such a great relationship with her - what a gift.

Take care. Thanks for letting us know.

[steve2470]

81. so sorry for your loss

[tavalon]

82. I think this is the best forum for this

Many eyes will see it.

Sweet passage, Glarius. And may your wounds heal as soon as they can.

[Enthusiast]

83. Sorry, Patrick.

When I lost my mother I did not understand what I had lost, until after she was gone. We only have so many little chunks of our heart to give, and then we are gone too.

[Hekate]

84. Thanks for letting us know of your Mom's passing

I'm so sorry for your loss -- she was a valued member of the DU community. I'm glad you have such warm memories of her for yourself.

[malaise]

85. Deepest sympathy

May she rest in peace ClusterFreak

[Are_grits_groceries]

86. So sorry you have lost your mom!

I know she be reading DU and voicing her opinions. Sorry we won't hear them.

[OneGrassRoot]

87. Sincere condolences to you and your family...

and may your dear mom be at peace.

Thank you for sharing more about your mom, and for letting us know of her passing.

[Proud Liberal Dem]

88. You have my condolences. RIP

[Buns_of_Fire]

89. My condolences on your loss. RIP, glarius. You will be missed. nt

[Dorian Gray]

90. So sorry for your loss

Our loss, as well. Peace to you and her.

[PotatoChip]

91. I'm so sorry for your loss.

Your mother sounds like she was a wonderful woman.

[Gormy Cuss]

92. So sorry for your loss.

I remember her. RIP glarius.

[xchrom]

93. may Peace be with you and your family at this difficult and sorrowful time. nt

[myrna minx]

94. My heart is with you and yours. We are a lesser community without glarius.

Thank you for letting us know of her passing.

[TBF]

95. I am so sorry for your loss -

I am more familiar with your posts than your mom's but I only joined in 2008 so that would make sense.

Thank you for letting us know of her passing.

[nradisic]

96. God's speed Gloria

so sorry for our loss...

[bemildred]

97. Sorry for your loss, RIP glarius, and thanks for letting us know. nt

[blm]

98. ((glarius))

.

[FSogol]

99. Condolences. n/t

[Fla Dem]

100. I'm very sorry for your loss. I'm impressed your mother was so active even in her later years. n/t

[PDJane]

101. So sorry; she'll be missed. A wonderful woman.

[WillyT]

102. :( ::::::::::::::::::::::::::

[sinkingfeeling]

103. Patrick, I'm so sorry for the loss of your wonderful mother.

[Old and In the Way]

104. Sorry to read...

I remember her posting here in the early days. Peace to you family!

[Solly Mack]

105. I'm so sorry!

My heartfelt condolences.

[Peacetrain]

106. My deepest condolences..

[SalmonChantedEvening]

107. Bless you, and bless her memory.

I'm so sorry for your loss, and your pain. From one who knows, they never truly leave us. They live on in us.

[mazzarro]

108. Thank you for the effort it took for you to post this.

I know it is still not easy for you. My sincerest condolence to you and the family. May her soul rest-in-peace.

[Octafish]

109. Please accept my sincere condolences and deepest sympathies, Pat.

Peace and Love to You and Your Family.

[joeybee12]

110. Very sorry to hear this...she will be missed.

[Stuart G]

111. Sorry for your loss.

[GoCubsGo]

112. I am so sorry.

[Nay]

113. Oh, honey, I'm so sorry about your mom. I remember her. As a Canadian myself, I always enjoyed her

take on things.

[Greybnk48]

114. Sorry to hear we've lost glarius.

My heartfelt condolences to you and your family. She will be missed.

[colorado_ufo]

115. "think she was telling them how to run their country"

Goodness, somebody needs to!

May your dear mother rest in peace and the love of her family and many friends.

[hootinholler]

116. My sincere condolences

I hope some other Canadian posters will take a page from your Mom's book.

[barbtries]

117. so sorry for your loss.

[WilliamPitt]

118. (((hug)))

[underpants]

119. Very sorry to hear that

[kaiden]

120. I remember your mom! Hugs to you.

Please keep posting here in her honor.

[Liberalynn]

121. Patrick

I am very sorry for the loss of your Mom.

[LiberalLoner]

122. I'm so sorry for your loss

[MissDeeds]

123. Very sorry for your loss, ClusterFreak

[LoisB]

124. So very sorry for your loss.

[sheshe2]

125. So sorry for your loss Patrick.

[stonecutter357]

126. .

[livetohike]

127. My sympathy to you and your family and all who knew and loved your Mom

May all your good memories help to ease the sadness of your loss. I remember posts from your Mom (member since 2004)......and although we only see one another in this virtual land, we all feel like family. May she rest in peace.

[robbster]

128. Belated

Belated RIP.

[Phentex]

129. I'm very sorry for your loss...

I'm glad you both had DU to share.

[MrMickeysMom]

130. To your mom, who lives on forever here...

I'm so sorry for your loss, Pat.

Here's to her!

[AAO]

131. Rest in peace, glarius, and peace to you Pat.

[War Horse]

132. My condolences

[intaglio]

133. Much sadness tempered with good memories

It is everyones loss

[cal04]

134. I'm so sorry for your loss, ClusterFreak

My thoughts are with you and your family

[rivegauche]

135. I'm so sorry for your loss Patrick.

Losing your mom is one of life's most difficult, painful events. Sending you some virtual hugs.

[llmart]

136. What a beautiful tribute to your mother.....

heartfelt and sincere. It sounds like you had a very special relationship with her. Take comfort in knowing that and all the fond memories you must have of her. How amazing that she kept politically aware and active.

It must be a very difficult time for you but we all appreciate your taking the emotional energy to let fellow DU'ers know of her passing.

[niyad]

137. so very sorry to learn of your loss, patrick. based on the post you shared, she was clearly an

amazing person. may you find peace and comfort, and know that your (and your mother's) DU family is here for you.

[WCGreen]

139. A good, full life...

[ancianita]

140. My deepest condolences. May you carry on her legacy

with love for all that is right, beautiful and true.

[giftedgirl77]

141. I'm sorry for your loss, while I did not know your mother you & your's are in my thoughts.

[FredStembottom]

142. I remember Glarius.

A reasoned voice.
She added to this place.
All the best Patrick.

[indepat]

143. Our deepest sympathies

[blue14u]

144. <3