On October 1, my mother, Josie Allen, passed away peacefully after a long and courageous battle with dementia. Watching her decline over the past several years has been the hardest thing to witness, but it has also been a testament to her incredible strength and tenacity. Dementia may have taken pieces of her, but it never touched her spirit, her love, or the incredible impact she had on everyone who knew her.

My mother taught me hard-knock lessons that have shaped who I am today. She showed me how to survive, no matter what life throws your way, and that resilience is the key to getting through it all. She taught me the importance of having my own and being fiercely independent.

Even with full-time and part-time jobs, my mom was also an entrepreneur – by necessity. Her work ethic was unmatched, always figuring out how to turn lemons into lemonade. And sometimes, there were a lot of lemons.

If you knew Josie, you also knew she never suffered fools. She gave it to you straight, no chaser. Our family and her girlfriends can attest to that!

She made it clear that life wasn’t fair, but you play the hand you’re dealt and work hard to make the most of it.

Those lessons, her strength, and her determination are what I carry with me every day, honoring the incredible example she set.

I wish she had more time to experience the thriving part of life, not just surviving. She always urged me to enjoy my life. She was always so proud of me when I told her I was off on a new adventure or country or when I had met someone “important.” I wish she had more time to enjoy the fruits of her labor. I wanted her on those new adventures and trips to new places with me.

While I am sad, I am comforted knowing she’s at peace now, no longer fighting, and can finally rest. She fought every step of the way, never losing the fierceness that defined her. And I am most grateful for our time together and for the strength she showed even in her most vulnerable moments.

Thank you to everyone who has supported us over the years, especially during these past few difficult months and weeks.

A special thank you to my aunt Barbara, my mother’s sister, who has shared caregiving responsibilities with me from day one. I couldn’t have done this without you.

To my mother’s crew, her best friends and girlfriends who are family. Your texts and calls have sustained me. Thank you for how you’ve always loved my mother regardless of distance, illness, or temperament.

I want to thank Lightways Hospice for the compassionate care they provided my mother in her final days. They treated her with dignity and kindness, allowing her to pass peacefully. Their support extended beyond just caring for her; they were there for us as a family, helping us navigate these incredibly difficult moments with empathy and understanding. For that, I will always be grateful.