Dorthy Mayo June 22, 1930 April 28, 2000

This square is dedicated to our mother, Dorothy Mayo. She began in life with little but a loving spirit and a heart of servitude but left the world with a vast richness of love. Belonging to a family where the father was crippled and the sole manner of support was from the mother and older siblings, she loved what she was blessed with and learned to live without the extras. She never was one to complain and yet was always there to offer assistance to those in need. It was this servitude that led to an uphill battle with cancer. When asked how she was feeling she never complained of the constant pain or the nauseousness from the drugs. She was always willing to give of herself and she put off getting treatment for her breast cancer because she needed to care for her husband who was fighting renal disease. Throughout her fifteen-year battle with cancer she continued to serve God and family as a church secretary and a loving mother.

In December of 1999 mother's cancer specialist told her to contact Hospice and go home and enjoy the last few days of her life. The family wondered why Hospice was needed and thought we could provide for all of her needs. Little did we know about dying and the needs of those suffering. Eventually we recognized the need for pain management, not only for our mother but for our families as well. The Hospice workers showed up at our mother's doorstep and immediately love, respect and care was shown for all in the family. They were there to help with the medical problems at all times of the day or night and to listen to our concerns, the volunteers were also there when we needed a break. Hospice and our mother taught us a lot in those last four months. They taught us it's okay to ask for help, to cry when you feel like it, that we are not alone and that death is not beyond our control. Hospice gave us a chance and the time to return the love our mother graciously gave us and provided mom the dignity she deserved in death.

The Family of Dorthy Mayo