Good morning.  My name is Ron Beerman.  I am Marianne’s oldest son, and I am honored to be here this morning to celebrate a life of unwavering love, selfless devotion to family and an unrelenting fight.

 

On behalf of my family, I would like to thank each of you being here this morning and for the outpouring of support and prayers that we have received over the last 19 months since Mom was diagnosed with cancer.    My entire family truly appreciates it.  

 

To you Dad… words cannot express the gratitude we feel towards you for the tremendous gift you have given us through your never ending support and care for Mom after she got sick.  We have watched you fight beside her in her darkest moments, helping her walk when she couldn’t get around on her own, holding her hand when she was in pain, and brushing her hair away from her face while she was getting sick.  You gave her strength and inspiration to continue fighting.   You were her rock… and you are our hero.  Thank you. 

 

Marianne Beerman will always be remembered as being a constant caregiver.  It was in her nature to worry more about others than herself.    As the oldest of five children, as a Registered Nurse and then as a wife, mother and grandmother, Mom found herself constantly in a position to give of herself for the benefit of those around her.   As I recall, It was only after she had made the school lunches, gone food shopping, fixed the dinner, gave the baths and put us kids to bed that she might finally find some time for herself. 

 

She was the type of mother that never stopped worrying about her children, no matter what age we were.   Were we eating well?  Were we getting enough sleep?  Were we upset about something?   Even in the midst of her battle with cancer, she would ask how her grandchildren were feeling rather than complain about her own problems, even when in many cases she had been not able to get out of bed that day or had been sick all through the night.    

 

Anyone who knew my Mom, knew there were certain things that she loved.   M&Ms for instance.  It didn’t matter what color… she loved them all.   She loved the outdoors.  Our family vacations were often spent out west at the Grand Canyon, or Yosemite, or on a beach, whether it be Lake Erie or Negs Head.  She loved Gatlinburg, especially with Barb, John, Ed and Bonnie.    She loved to garden and to cross stitch. 

 

And she loved her family...   She was so proud of her children and grandchildren.  In her eyes, we were always perfect.  And if you wanted to pick a fight with her, just try to tell her otherwise.  As her children, we didn’t often go very long without hearing how proud she was of us, and how special she felt we were.    And though she is no longer here to tell us, we will always know that no matter what, she will always love us. 

 

 In February of 2007, having just learned that she had been diagnosed with stage 4 cancer that had already spread well into her liver and lymph nodes, my Mom turned to my Dad and said “Our lives have just changed forever”.    And she was right.    From that point on, my Mom had to fight to live.   She was given 6 months and as the cancer set in, she became increasingly sick.

 

St. Paul gave a departure speech in II Timothy chapter 4 that reads in part:

 

“I have fought the good fight,  I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.”   

 

This is exactly what Mom was determined to do and during that hard time of her illness, she was not dying, she was living.   She fought the good fight, and one heck of a fight it was, and in the 20 months that followed, she would be well enough to celebrate 2 birthdays, spend one last Christmas with her family and hold her third grandchild for the first time (and many times after).   She was able to grow a garden full of tomatoes, and was even serenaded by Elvis Presley as she danced with my Dad at his 60^th birthday party almost a full year after her original diagnoses.

 

Another miracle came this August when the family took our trip to Hilton Head.   One last family trip to the beach with all of the kids and grandchildren.   Full of lots of time near the ocean, eating ice cream after dinner, chasing dolphins at sunset, and rooting on Michael Phelps in the Olympics.   It is a trip that no one in my family will ever forget.  And we will be forever thankful that Mom was able to be there with us.

 

It pained my Mom to think of all the things she would miss when she was gone.  She hated the thought of her grandchildren growing up without knowing her, and missing life events that every mother rightfully should be able take part in.   But through it all, she never complained about being cheated, or got angry.  Despite the fight, she kept the faith. 

 

Mom finished her race on Wednesday, October 8 at just before 6 pm.   She passed peacefully, surrounded by her family and lying in comfort in her home. 

 

Mom, I pray that God has granted you peace and that you will always know how much you are missed and loved.    You will always be the light at the top of the stairs that now reach all the way to heaven.