‘Grace And Love Win, Not Cancer’ – Woman Writes Her Own Heartbreaking Obituary For Her Family

Losing your mother, no matter what age, is heartbreaking. But when she knows it’s coming and takes her last months to continue to wrap you in her warmth… well that’s a mother’s touch. Irish American Beth O’Rourke was a nurse, wife, and mother of two children, Courtney (11) and Seamus (8). Despite struggling through a painful and difficult battle with cancer, Beth decided to write her own obituary, cherishing the memories with her family. Beth’s words read: “We loved watching summer storms blow across the water. I loved to chat and laugh with my sisters and friends, until tears ran down our legs! Brendan and I enjoyed many trips together, most enjoyable were those to Ireland, visiting family to share a pint and some good 'craic'. I enjoyed working for a cause, among them, the Pancreatic Cancer Alliance, whose members' spirit and dedication amazed me. “Of all the things I did in this life, nothing compared to being with Brendan and our children. I fought every day to stay alive and to be with them. No person could ever ask for a more loving and supportive husband, always my champion, always. I enjoyed every moment we shared; the great ones, the sad ones, the easy and the hard. I pray they have learned to feel the deep sense of faith that I shared. No matter where this journey brings me next, I will forever carry their love with me, as I am sure there is a piece of me that will forever remain with them. “But cancer does not care who it takes, who it hurts, or honor or love. It comes into your life and starts to break the threads that hold you and you are left to see pieces of yourself slip away and dreams fade. We were clung only to each other with pure love and faith binding us, in the end is when the most amazing thing happens, cancer loses its strength and grace appears. We need to see it. We accept it, and go with it. Grace and love win, not cancer. I hope to be remembered, with laughter, love and a good pint. And for my children to know "No Momma ever did and no Momma ever will….." Beth, who died on April 16th, gave the obituary to her funeral director Jim Herald – who was blown away by the kind act: "She was a planner, and it was in her best efforts to prepare herself and her family for what was coming. Being in the first person is very different. I write them for the family and she did it firsthand. It's absolutely magnificent. "In that obituary she was teaching. She so eloquently says, 'Cancer loses grace and love wins.' It was so profound and so true.” Beth’s husband Brendan praised his wife, saying it was ‘typical Beth’ to think ahead and write the difficult obituary: "By reading the obituary it kind of speaks to Beth and what she was like. She was giving, loving, caring and inspirational.” Beth died of biliary cancer on April 16th. H/T IrishCentral Images via GoFundMe and IrishCentral