Happy Mother's Day. We miss you.

I had celebrated Mother's Day for the first 62 years of my life. As I turn 63 this year I am unable to share this special day with my mom who died peaceably at the age of 90 in March.

So I must begin a new tradition. I will continue to tell stories of their beautiful and loving grandmother to my three children. They endearingly called her Bubbi Lill.

My mother's life began tragically as her own mother died during her birth. And then in 1938, at the age of 20, she left her family in Czechoslovakia to escape the pending Holocaust; never again seeing her father, stepmother, sister and her sister's husband and their three children who all perished during these horrific times.

Making a new life for herself, my mom married my dad, Jake, whose first wife had died tragically, leaving him with four children. My mom not only helped raise her four stepchildren but then raised three more children of her own.

My mom was always kind, supportive and loving. Although she was only able to obtain a high school education in Czechoslovakia she worked hard to be sure that her "American" children each received a college education - and they did!

I know that she is ascending to a higher plateau in Heaven each day as her good deeds on earth have catapulted her to spiritual harmony.

As much as she is missed she will always remain a guiding light for her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Happy Mother's Day!

Marty Kander

Buffalo Grove