The Mary Jo Meagher Legacy Fund was established by her daughter, Mary Therese, so that her life is never forgotten.   As I reflect on my mother’s life, it is apparent to me that she was first and foremost a wife and mother. As a young 20-year-old bride in 1950 whose theme song with her soon-to-be-husband was “Sweet 16” she could have no idea that their vow “til death do us part” would blossom into 59 years, 5 children and 9 grandchildren.

Mom was a woman of deep faith. Her spirituality was reflected in many ways:  daily attendance at 6AM mass, teaching a bible study with “her girls” at the jail, arranging and serving at funeral lunches, attending retreats, participating in church campaigns and her deep devotion to the Blessed Mother and the rosary. How fitting that God chose to call her during Holy Week.

Mom’s journey with PSP began with the loss of her beautiful handwriting and her inability to write her Christmas cards. She suffered terrible fatigue and began having problems with balance, suffering from occasional falls – always backward. At first, like so many, we were told it was normal aging. Her symptoms worsened and she became unable to read, had difficulty watching TV and started to choke on her food. After many failed diagnosis, including Parkinson’s, Mom was diagnosed in late 2008 with PSP. Learning that she had a progressive, terminal, untreatable brain disorder was a real blow to the whole family, but Mom said very little as she coped every day with the loss of her ability to participate in the things she loved.

She is remembered as a person who truly embraced life. Her friends were among her greatest treasures. Since her passing I have learned that everyone considered her their “best friend”. She and her friends shared everything from working out at Curves to indulging at Dunkin Donuts following the 6am mass.

She loved to walk and sing and laugh. She loved to golf and she loved a good bridge game but more than anything she loved a good party (that was probably because she was a better partier than she was a golfer or bridge player)! In fact, even as her disease progressed she managed to squeeze in a birthday party for her 75th,, an 80th birthday party given to her by my Dad and a cocktail party they lovingly planned together.   Mom lived her life ministering to others. What made PSP so insidious was that it robbed her of the ability to do so—but it never defeated her spirit. Watching her give up each one of the ministries she so loved was excruciating, but she did it all with grace and dignity, never complaining. Throughout her illness Mom was truly a model of courage for all of us.

During her illness Mom had very few requests, but the one that has always stayed with me was her desire to talk to “just one person” who had PSP. I did not learn about CurePSP until the last year of her life, and at that time there were no support groups anywhere near us. I was able to find one person in California with whom she did have a conversation, and I will always be grateful to him. But I could not get that simple request out of my mind. It was for this reason that in 2014 I started a Michigan Support Group. Through the group I have connected with people from all over the state. It has been a real testament to Mom that because of that simple request so many families have received the support that was just not there for her. All funds that are donated to her legacy fund are used for the benefit of the people in this group.

Before her passing, my husband and I attended an Easter Mass with Mom and Dad. At the conclusion of that mass the congregation sang the hymn “Sing with all the Saints in Glory”. The first verse ends with these words: “All around the clouds are breaking; soon the storms of time shall cease; and in God’s glory we awaken, to an everlasting peace.” For Mom her storms of time have come to an end. Although we all miss her terribly, I take great comfort and great joy in the belief that now she too is among those who “in God’s presence has awakened to an everlasting peace”.