Sophie Mrochkowski
3 November 2009
Thank you, Father John, for an inspiring sermon, to all who contributed to our beautiful liturgy this morning, and to all of you—our family and friends—for coming here today to commemorate my mother Sophie Mrochkowski’s life.
Sophie Mrochkowski was a warm and loving, yet strong Polish-American woman. She was a devoted wife to Casimir, her late husband of 45 years; a caring and selfless mother to my older brothers KC and Conrad, sister Violet and me; and a loving grandmother to her 11 grandchildren. Mom loved her family with all her heart, worked hard, enjoyed life, and always remained true to her core values and Catholic faith. Endings such as this are never ever happy. But it’s the happy moments along the way that, in the end, make it okay. And there were many happy moments…
First, Mom loved and cared for her family. Every afternoon when Dad came home from a long day of work, Mom was there to greet him with three kisses and a delicious supper. I will always remember Mom’s hugs—frequent and always good and strong—the kind that let you know you’re really loved. Mom truly cared for her children. In wintertime, knit hats were non-negotiable, and even with high school-aged children, Mom would get up in the middle of a cold night to pull up our blankets. Our parents Sophie and Casimir were selfless--always putting their children’s interest ahead of their own. Mom was also devout in her Catholic faith, and loved spending time with the Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth here in Wichita Falls. She truly believed in their tradition of serving God through service to families, and really enjoyed the friendships she gained.
Mom really valued hard work. As a schoolgirl in Poland during the Second World War, Mom developed a strong work ethic and learned to do without a lot. Her example encouraged us children to always do our best. Over the years, Mom worked various jobs outside the home—as a literary reviewer in Poland, a pharmaceuticals manufacturing associate in New Jersey, and a Certified Nursing Assistant here in Wichita Falls. But, her family always came first. She was a devoted homemaker, who returned home each morning tired from working all night, but still made breakfast and lunch for us children before taking us to school. She took great care of the household, and the family that she loved.
Mom enjoyed life. She cherished nature, loved beautiful flowers, and absolutely treasured life on Lake Wichita. She and our father Casimir built their dream home on the lake, and filled it with love and joy. Mom loved to laugh, had a great sense of humor. Sometimes when a person here in Texas would hear her thick Polish accent and ask where she was from, Mom would say, “New Jersey.” Always in search of good fortune, Mom enjoyed playing cards, and especially loved going to the casinos in Elko, Nevada to play the slots. You may not have known that Sophie was a lover of the arts, but she loved classical music and cinema. Believe me, sometimes growing up we didn’t appreciate those piano lessons, and KC and Conrad dreaded even more learning Polish folk dance in traditional costumes. But years later, we all came to appreciate the fact that Mom was trying to instill some culture in us.
Our mother Sophie was a woman of substance and confidence, not overly concerned with superficial image or what others thought. Now, I am here to tell you that Mom was a woman who loved finding a bargain. Not just where to find the best value milk or bread in town, but also many a Saturday saw her exploring yard sales in search of some hidden gem. It brings to mind the image of how happy we children always were to have to stop at “just one more” yard sale. Not interested in expensive cars or clothes, she would rather devote her resources to other priorities, Catholic elementary and high school, and paying for as much college and graduate school as matched our ambition—though sometimes it was hard for her and Dad to rub two nickels together.
Finally, Mom lived a life filled with hope. On her last morning, Mom asked for the curtains to be opened to watch the sun rise. Lying in bed, she looked into my eyes and quietly said, “It’s my time now. I love you all, all of my children, so much. I will be with you forever.” She then said, “Jesus is with me.” A short time later, Mom quietly stopped breathing and fell asleep peacefully, holding my hand.
Right now, I feel a tremendous emptiness and sense of loss. I can’t imagine our family going on without our dear Mom. She was truly the glue that bound us together. But I have faith God will grant us strength to go on, and we will keep Mom’s memory and spirit alive as we raise our children in the ways she and Dad taught us.
You know, since Dad died five years ago, Mom would often say how much she missed him. Even though we miss her today, we’re glad they're together again. I don’t know about Jesus, but I think Dad was getting impatient, as Mom was sometimes running a little bit late.
Rest in peace, Mom, until we meet again...
