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- - My Mom (https://www.indianaopenwheel.com/showthread.php?t=5280)

She passed away Saturday from bone cancer.

My family and I spent every day since the Winchester race a week ago last Sunday with emotions running the gambit. By the time this past Wednesday rolled around we knew it was just a matter of days so fortunately we had time to tell her goodbye that that we love her so much.

A little bit about her; She had a funny sense of humor, like the time as a little kid I was in the middle of a snowball fight with my bothers when all of a sudden I was hit in the shoulder with a snowball. When I turned around I see my mom laughing up a storm. For entertainment she was not at a loss there as Johnny Ray, Benny Goodman, Gene Krupa, Tom Jones, Herb Alpert, Barry Manlow and last but not least Frank Sinatra were her favorites. Humphrey Bogart, Paul Newman and Fred and Ginger were her big screen faves. And Ruth Lyons was like like royalty according to her and she would purchace much of the products that were the sponsors or the 50/50 Club.

She was probably one of the most generous people I ever met, sometimes to a fault. Being a child of the Great Depression, when she was finally able to afford some luxuries they needed to be paid off she hated to owe anyone. If, for example, I bought gas for the lawn tractor, and wouldn't accept and money, two or three days later an envelope would come in the mail with a five dollar bill in it. She was the most thoughtful person I ever met. She never forgot to send a birthday card to any friend or family member and get well cards would always be sent if anyone was sick. My dad was the love of her life. They were married almost 50 years til death parted them.

She was responsible for my only addiction that I know of. My dad worked second shift at a very busy Ford plant in 1964. He could not get off work so my mom led the way and organized a trip to our local track, Lawrenceburg Speedway to see the USAC midgets race. I've been hooked ever since. As a family we went to many many races thanks to that trip to the 'burg.

The came the time my father passed away. My brothers and I were very worried about her because my dad did much of the upkeep on the house. At 70 years old my mother never even kept a checkbook. She amazed us with her strength and how proactive she was with getting things fixed in the house and with financial matters. We never worried about her in this respect ever again.

Nine years ago when she was diagnosed with breast cancer we thought she beat it, four years later after she had a reaccurance we thought she beat it again. In December of 2005 she went in for hip replacement. This is when we discovered the bone cancer. She had as much tenacity to fight this terrible disease and keep living at home until just over two weeks ago when a few falls in the span of ten days made it too risky to stay home any more even with all of us keeping a very close watch on her. Even the day we were waiting for the EMT to take her to Hospice she turned to us and said, "You're trying to put me away aren't you?" We all turned to her to say this was nothing of the sort only to see the glimmer in her eye and a smile come on her face. Through the pain that sense of humor never left her.

She was in intense pain through the last couple months of her life and it was very distressing for us to see her this way. The Hospice of Cincinnati people were and are the best and they did their very best not only to make her as comfortable as possible but to comfort the family as well. I recommend them highly.

I love my mom and will miss her til my very own dying days. I take comfort in knowing she is oncw again with the love of her life, my dad plus her mother and sister.

Gregg Sauer

http://dunes.cincinnati.com/classifi...41&c=5&k=Sauer

Gregg,

Sorry to hear about the loss of your mother. My family recently lost a loved one and the racing community was wonderful as I am sure they will be with you and your family. We will keep you and your family in our prayers.

Thanks for sharing that, Gregg. It sounds like she was an amazing woman. She also raised a son with a lot of those same qualities, who is a great friend to many.

Jerry

greg, thoughts and prayers go out to you and your family...
tom wieck & family:checkered:

Gregg,

So sorry to hear of your loss. I had a grandfather that I lost many years ago that suffered from the same affliction.

She is in a better place now and is pain free.

Gregg: You and the rest of your family have my sympathy and prayers. I'm sure this Mother's day will be very difficult for you. Those of us who are fortunate enough to still have our mothers should give them an extra hug and " I love you" this coming Sunday.

Gregg,

That was a great story about your mom, while reading it brought lumps to my throat. I'm very sorry for your loss and I'm glad you had the strength to share your story with us as it does help some realize what we still have and sometimes take for granted.

Thank you for the touching story about your mom. Your memories of her brought back my own feelings having lost my mom a few years ago. Thank you for sharing and my deepest condolences.

Gregg, my thoughts and prayers are with you and your family. Thank you for sharing your feelings with all of us. Your Mom most have been a wonderful lady. My Deepest Sympathy to you and your family.

Patti

Gregg, may God bless you and yours in this troubled time. Ailing mothers has been yet another of our bonds, you and me. Thank God for the memories.

Danny, Anita, and Landon the Sword Man

Gregg,

So sorry to hear of the loss of your mother. Thank you so much for sharing the story with us as I now know a little about her. It seems that this dreaded disease spares no family and in talking to folks you get the facts that it continues to bring heartache and sorrow. It sounds like your mother had a great sense of humor and was a fighter and tough as they come. Like my late mother she came through the great depression and was a survivor. You can be proud as she raised a real fine son whom I have gotten to know up in Section A at the Burg. I will be thinking of you this Sunday as I am sure it will seem very different without her on Mother's Day. Keep the faith.:crying:

Mike

Gregg, we are so sorry for your loss,words cannot express how all of us feel at your time of sorrow. Moms are special I know, believe me.You and yours are in our thoughts and prayers.

Dan, Nancy & Trent Hetser

Gregg, so sorry to hear of your loss. Thoughts and prayers to you and your family in this rough time.

Gregg, I knew your Mom was foremost in your thoughts as we rode up to Winchester and back a week ago Sunday. Clearly, a very special lady and a strong person she has been in our thoughts and prayers for some time. Just as you and your family are tonight. I know your Mom and Dad were and are very proud of you. Our heartfelt condolences.

Marv & Judy

Sorry to hear about your loss, may the Lord be with you and yours. She is surely in a better place. God Bless!
Jeff Sweat & Family

Gregg, I'm so sorry to hear this. May she RIP and may God be with you and your family in your time of need.

Very sorry for your loss, Gregg.

Gregg,

My sympathy to you on the loss of your mother. Sounds like she was a really neat lady. I can relate to someone who is close to their mother as mine was my racing buddy until she passed away in April, 2001. She attended her last race on Oct. 22, 2000, her 38th of the season. She attained the age of 95 years on Aug. 30, 2000 and was active until just shortly before her death. I feel very fortunate to have had her for so long. But now she is in a better place, as is your mother.

Gregg, I am typing this with tears in my eyes. It brought back memories from losing my mother to Lung Cancer. She too was quite the fighter and quite big on a sense of humor. After she was diagnosed she went home and even wrote her own obituary so she could have the last word. I wish I would have thought about getting on her and writting about her when we lost her, it would have helped me some I think. We will be praying for you and for your family. Hang in there, that first Mother's Day is very hard I am now on my 2nd one. It does get easier, but you have many wonderful memories. I had a pastor say one time don't despise the hurt, it means that you have a wonderful person to remember. If they had not been so wonderful it would not hurt.

Thanks, everyone for their thoughts and prayers. I feel that this has been helping me. We laid her to rest yesterday. My brother and I both delivered eulogies (my very first). He hit a home run with his and I maybe hit a ground rule double with mine, but I was very glad that I did it.

In the middle of everything else we are in the process of cleaning her house. This has jogged a few memories that I had completely forgot about which is really good. Another silver lining is yesterday I talked extensively with a cousin from each side of our family that are very much into geneology so I got to learn a few things about my parents and a couple of generations prior that I never knew.

We may be a little dysfunctional at times but I consider the racing community my second family. Thank you so much for your thoughts and prayers. You rock.

dirttracklady, so sorry about the loss of your loved one.

DannyB, I will be continuing to pray for your mother.

fishburger, I wish your own mom continued strength and wellness.

ronmil, thank you for that story. Sounds like the way I would want to leave this world.

pletchfan, sorry for your fairly recent loss. You have a very wise pastor.