Mary Madeline Drake

"On the evening of Sept. 5, 2020 we had a celebration of Life for our mother, Mary Madeline Drake, whom passed away suddenly on July 19th 2020, in her sleep having had a heart attack. Sept. 5, 2020 turned out to be one of the hottest evenings of the year with wildfires burning to the north of us. This is also amidst Covid 19. Finding a venue that was appropriate for my mom was difficult as most people who have lost loved ones at this time are hosting online memorials to adhere to Covid gathering limitations. Some of the locations were adhering strictly to protocol which when I first began this endeavor was 10 people or less. We tried to only invite the people we needed and everyone who showed up was indispensable and key members of our lives. Many had spent time singing with her in the circle of family after thanksgiving or in the mornings at the Louisiana st, house. I know if it weren't for covid of course we would have had a proper burial service at a catholic church, followed by a reception that was full of music, loud banter and genuine celebration, the latter of which we accomplished quite well. My mom had a wicked sense of humor,she told dirty jokes that would make you blush, she was a hippie, when I was little I remember her hitch hiking with me in front of the police station, and she loved the United States Marines. She liked beautiful music as well as loud ruckus rock n roll. She and my dad, Hugh Gaskins often sang together, red river valley, that lonesome valley, and she loved to yell out requests when he played live. She danced wildly and infectiously. Before playing a derby game my mom would belt out " don't take any shit from the #$#***!" And she loved telling me that the marines needed a few good men….lol She could fit in with anyone, friends and colleagues adored her. She was Effervescent!!!! She helped me in many respects with my kids especially when I had broken down, everyone was there to pick up the pieces. I am eternally grateful for that. When my mom had her breakdown I was in turn able to find her the appropriate facility based on my own experiences. Everyone loved my mom. In fact when we spoke of difficulties at home very few could understand or even make sense of it. She was fun, profoundly intelligent, a ballerina, a pianist, a poet,a lover of history and foremost a defender of animals. Perhaps the most complicated but enduring love she had was for her father, Edward Drake, whom she loved deeply and despite all of his flaws.We would find an endless sea of letters they wrote to each other spilling out of suitcases and boxes after her passing. She prayed often, writing notes on prayer books adorned with catholic saints She loved the mystery of the Catholic Church. She was a hard worker putting many hours in with the United States post office, work that would cripple her physically and put her on pain medication for extensive periods of time. Near the end of her life she calmed down quite a bit. It was wonderful to spend time with the beautiful woman that she was. Her free spirit always prevailed! I can say that her celebration of life was her final say so!! It was beautiful,poetic,chaotic, loud and honest!! I am pleased that in her celebration she did not stand to be corrected, silenced nor disingenuous. No airs were put on and we gathered as a testament to who she was! It did not go quite as planned. We never got to pass the candle around in the share circle, we didn't get to watch the photo montage or the drake family video. We did sing her songs. I had planned to read a Galway poem.l am honored to have celebrated who she actually was…..there was no lie in this celebration…. No doubt she loved that too. I commend and appreciate everyone who showed up … who braved the heat and the adjacent wildfire. Those who came to support our family. I am especially grateful to Carol and Wayne for starting off the evening in prayer and a beautiful rendition of amazing grace. Of course to my father for singing her songs and celebrating who she was unaffected by false pretenses. My sister asked during the celebration who was getting their way that evening… mom… Mom was finally getting her way!! That seems to be the right answer to the question."- Lena Daugherty Youngest Daughter of Mary Madeline Drake