The Matriarch

THE MATRIARCH (In Memory of Eva Vescovi Dixon 1910-2010) by Tina (Vescovi) Lasley She was a Sister, Mother, Aunt and Friend Someone on whom you could always depend She was Counselor, Advisor, and Mentor to all There to pick us up if we should fall She was persistent, tenacious and so strong willed Not one to be stopped or one to be stilled She was ahead of her time in so many ways Working on war planes in her early days Owning a restaurant and a Florist too When it was an uncommon thing for Women to do Arranging flowers each and every day Making sprays and bouquets to earn her way Raising two Sons all on her own Without self help books and how to be shown Working long hours, six days a week No time for vacations or much rest to seek She made time for us all, to sit and chat Telling stories from the past about this and that She remembered all the names in the photo book When we would ask as we took a look Her homemade ravioli’s were the best around Her sweet potato pie could always be found Family recipes passed one to another Learned from the great Italian Mother She kept regular hair appointments, clear to the end Her “Beauty Operator”, more Family than Friend She was loved by her neighbors and all that she knew Long standing friendships through the years that grew Each year, her garden she’d tend Sharing her bounty with Family and Friend There wasn’t a plant she couldn’t revive Even when you thought it would never survive She tried to retire at age 75 But missed being around people and feeling alive Back to work she went for 17 more years Working part time at a Florist that happened to be near She retired a 2nd time at age 92 Finding ways to keep busy with things to do She befriended two robins that followed her around Moving from window to window, until she could be found Grandmother, Great Grandmother, to such a big brood Her hugs and kisses sure to lift your mood She will always be remembered at the door waving goodbye Trying hard to smile with a tear in her eye She saw so much in her 100 years Even outlived all of her peers But the good Lord said, “Eva, it’s time to go” Heaven is waiting on you to show.