Just a note for my friends and for those who knew my parents. Very early on Wednesday, October 28, 2015 my mother, Vesta Anne Owen, passed away after a long and wonderful life. She was 93 years old. She was pre-deceased by my Dad, Charles George Owen, and my younger brother, Samuel Owen, as well as all her siblings and most of her in-laws. She is survived by two children, 5 grandchildren and 3 great-grandchildren.

As most parents who grew up in the hardship of the depression, Dad in the big city working with all the brothers and sisters since childhood to keep the family fed, and Mom in the impoverished countryside of rural north Florida, their entire early adult lives were dedicated to making sure we were loved. They were determined that we grew up with as much comfort and joy as their humble careers could provide and above all else they made sure we were surrounded by love.
Mom was truly a modern woman in the post war years, working for a bit over thirty years as a nurse. She began her career working in the hospital in her hometown, became and ER nurse for the bulk of her career, finally retiring from Boca Community Hospital as the night Supervisor of Nurses. Mom worked most often from 11 at night to 7 in the morning, when the administrators that got in her way were at home and the rock star trauma surgeons surrounded her and took her orders when she needed to give them.

We were never in any doubt that we were her top priority. She worked these hours so she could spend time with us. She made sure we all did our homework every night, and worked with Dad to be parents in the complete sense of the word. If we wanted to play an instrument, they rented it, if we wanted to play a sport, they got the gear, and showed us how. If we wanted to learn to dance, (or even if we did not want to) she signed us up. If we had a hobby, she worked with us to find our joy in it. If we had a dream, she said go find it and capture it. They always managed to work enough spare jobs during the year to go on vacations, and spend almost every summer in the beat up old homestead cabin on the Gulf Shore. We laughed, cried, told our stories, and ate together as often as we could, and seemed to be a unit, unlike the scattered schedules of busy parents today. She was a big part of her church, teaching Sunday School to kids, but never just limiting her schooling to the simply religious, as she had a fascination with all things foreign, and taught us so much about other countries, languages, and cultures.

She missed my father from the first day after he passed until this morning, and after 61 years of togetherness and a brief respite, are together again, as it should be.
Goodbye mother, and say high to Dad and all the ones gone before you.

Visitation will be held at Boynton Memorial Chapel Friday, November 6th from 5 to 7 pm. Funeral services will be noon Saturday, November 7th at Cason United Methodist Church in Delray Beach.

Those who wish, may make contributions to Trustbridge Hospice, 5300 East Ave., West Palm Beach, FL 33407.