34 houses and apartments, 42 vehicles, and 29 couches. You
might be wondering what those numbers signify. Those numbers signify change,
something Pam Russell didn’t mind. Most
of us resist, back away and struggle to accept change, fighting it every step
of the way. But that wasn’t the Pamster.
She loved change. (ok those numbers might be a little high!!! :))
Pamster’s passing is a big change for us, the ones she left
behind. And how we choose to handle that change as we move forward is something
each of us has to work on. I remember when she was first diagnosed with cancer
and after our family knew, she posted something on facebook about it at the end
of January 2010. She wrote that the
cancerman had gotten her, but she thought it would be ok. She was ready to beat
it. The Pamster truly was a trooper, not only with her dealings with cancer,
but also her other numerous procedures including her beloved Twila and Trudy
Titanium… which is what she referred to her knee replacements.
She continued her treatments with optimism and humor, often
referring to her breast cancer as taking Mavis and Martha, the “mamms”
away. She went through surgeries,
several rounds of chemotherapy and several bouts of radiation. Throughout the last 4 years, the Pamster fought
hard against the cancerman, but it was a battle she just wasn’t able to
overcome.
On Friday, she lost her battle with cancer, leaving behind
her three daughters, Tearsa, Katie and Beth, and their families, Rob, Jack and
Ella, Matt, Joey and Lauren. If you’ve
ever been around the Pamster, you know that she loved her grandkids very much,
always wanting smooches from the kids. I remember walking into her house one
afternoon and there was a tent in the living room. It seemed a little odd to
me, but it was nothing of the sort to her, she was simply getting ready for
camping out with Jack and Ella. I believe they had plans to roast marshmallows
over the stove and tell stories before bed.
A few summers ago, I stopped by at lunch time and she was
outside in the pool, measuring cups all over the deck, because of course Joey
and Lauren were coming to swim and they loved to pour water from the pool into
the buckets.
It’s these stories that we’ll have to do our best to keep
alive, because if there is one thing that’s for sure, it was that Pam loved her
kids and her grandkids.
Tearsa, when I think of you, I think of the strength that
your mom represents. As you continue to
get your principal’s license, it reminds me of the work your mom did while
raising the three of you. She attended
school to become a teacher, and I am sure it was hard to balance school and
home, but she did it. Your mom had
several students whom she formed special relationships with, because she knew
that those kids needed someone to believe in them. For those of you who don’t know, Pamster was
an alternative education teacher at Penn High School for many years. She saw
potential in her students and encouraged them to succeed, something you do with
your students, Tearsa.
Katie, your initiative to return to school was something
that made the Pamster very happy. I
think she saw a lot of herself in you. She
thought your studies in New York were fabulous. And while you don’t knit or
sew, your creative side is a lot like your mothers. Your knack for making
jewelry and for seeing things with a creative eye, very much comes from your
mother.
Beth, what I remember most about you growing up, was the
Kingsbury house. I’m not sure exactly
how old you were when you lived there, but I’m thinking you were around 6th
grade. You were so tall and we used to
watch out the window as you flipped around doing gymnastics in the front yard
for hours. Your mom, your sisters and I were amazed at your determination. No one could tell you that you couldn’t
something, you were out to prove them wrong! You were a huge support to your
mom during the last few years, and if you didn’t already know it, your phone
calls made her day. She loved your goofy stories or just your quick recaps of
the day.
The Pamster always called me “Weensie” and at times it would
embarrass me to be out in public with her yelling across the aisle, “Weensie,
look at this…” It makes me a little sad today to think that won’t happen again.
As the holidays draw closer, it’s another change our family
will face. But we’ve got a strong, close knit family and I know that although
it’ll be different, we’ll embrace this change like the Pamster would.
I prefer to think of her today in Heaven with my Grandpa and
my Nana and all the others who were welcoming her on Friday. And while we will
all miss her here, I take comfort in knowing that she is no longer in the pain
she has been. And I know that I have
another caring angel on my side…
Rest in Peace, Pamster…
