Honoring Our Feisty, Loving Momma - Join Us in the Fight Against Dementia

After losing our mom to vascular dementia caused by small strokes, we knew we couldn’t just stand by. Throughout the onset of her illness, I reached out to the Alzheimer’s Association on several occasions for guidance, resources, and reassurance as we navigated the confusion, fear, and heartbreak of her diagnosis. Their support helped us through some of the most difficult moments, and creating this tribute page is our way of giving back — turning grief into purpose and joining the fight to end all forms of dementia.

Our mom was feisty, loving, stubborn, and incredibly social. She loved people, laughter, music, and dancing. She had a loud voice, a big personality, and an even bigger heart. She couldn’t sit still for long — she loved going places, being out in the world, and living life on her own terms. Independence meant everything to her.

In 2016, we began noticing frequent falls and soon learned she had suffered small strokes. She was diagnosed with vascular dementia, and one of the hardest blows came when her neurologist revoked her driving privileges. For someone who cherished her freedom and ability to go anywhere at any time, this loss was devastating.

As the disease progressed, we watched pieces of her slip away. I remember seeing a photograph where her eyes looked different — as if she were already drifting somewhere beyond our reach. Her balance worsened, and the falls continued. Yet even as memories faded, her loving gestures remained for a long time. She would blow kisses and say, “Love you,” often sealing it with her signature sniff-kiss — a small, tender expression that meant everything.

Over time, even those began to fade. She slowly lost memories of friends, family, and eventually, at times, even me. Some visits were especially heartbreaking when her eyes didn’t light up in recognition. In the final stages, dementia took her appetite, her strength, and her ability to engage with the world, until her body could no longer continue.

But dementia does not get to define her life — love does.

We hope friends and family remember her laughter, her dancing, her bold voice, her stubborn determination, and her immense capacity to love. Remember the woman who greeted life with energy, who showed affection through playful arm-slaps, and whose signature sniff-kisses were her unmistakable way of saying you mattered.

She was deeply loved, and she loved deeply in return.

By supporting this page, you are helping honor her life and contribute to research, care, and hope for families who are walking this same difficult path. Our wish is that one day no one will have to watch someone they love slowly disappear to this disease.

Forever feisty. Forever loving. Forever missed. Forever in our hearts.