Today, I stand before you with a heart that feels both full and broken. Full because I was blessed to have a mother whose love shaped my life. Broken because saying goodbye to her is one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to do.

My mother, Esther, wasn’t just the woman who gave me life. She was my first teacher, my protector, my biggest supporter, and one of the strongest people I’ve ever known. She taught me lessons that I will carry with me forever—not just through her words, but through the way she lived her life.

If you knew Esther, you knew her light. She had a smile that could brighten any room, a laugh that was contagious, and a spirit that drew people to her. Everyone seemed to love her from the very first moment they met her. She had a way of making people feel welcomed, valued, and loved.

She loved to dance. She loved to sing. If there was music playing, chances are Esther was the life of the party. Her joy wasn’t something she kept to herself—it overflowed into everyone around her. She reminded us that life was meant to be celebrated, even through difficult seasons.

She was incredibly creative. Whether she was sewing, writing, or using one of her many talents, she created with love. Her hands could make beautiful things, but even more beautiful was the heart behind everything she did. She poured herself into her passions and inspired others to see beauty in their own creativity.

Esther also carried with her a rich Jewish lineage and heritage connection to family, history, and generations that came before her. Her life was part of a story much bigger than one generation. She carried the strength, wisdom, and resilience of those who came before her and, in turn, passed pieces of that legacy on to her children, grandchildren, and everyone she touched.

Her Jewish heritage is now another part of the legacy she leaves behind. Through her family, her stories, her values, and the memories we continue to share, that lineage lives on. We are reminded that a person’s life doesn’t end with their final breath. What they teach us, what they create, and the love they give become part of the generations that follow.

One of the things I admired most about my mother was her wisdom. It wasn’t loud or boastful—it was thoughtful, noble, and full of perspective. No matter what life threw her way, she had an amazing ability to find something positive in every situation. When others saw obstacles, she found hope. When others felt defeated, she found a reason to keep going.

Her greatest joy, though, was her family.

Her grandchildren absolutely adored their Grannie. Some of their happiest memories are the simple ones—laughing together, playing, and spending time in the pool with her. Those moments may have seemed ordinary at the time, but today they are treasures that will live in their hearts forever.

I have countless memories with my mother, but one tradition I will always hold close is how she celebrated my birthday. No matter what life looked like, she always made time for me. Every year we did something different. It wasn’t about how extravagant the plans were—it was about the fact that she made sure I felt loved, celebrated, and special.

Looking back now, I realize those birthdays were so much more than celebrations. They were moments between a mother and daughter that I will treasure for the rest of my life.

I will miss the sound of her voice. I will miss her laughter. I will miss her creativity, her wisdom, her singing, her dancing, and the way she could bring life into a room.

And I will especially miss the way she ended every phone call.

“Peace, love, and soul!”

Those words weren’t just a goodbye. In many ways, they captured who Esther was.

She gave love freely.

She sought peace.

And she had a soul that was unmistakably her own.

Mom, thank you for every hug, every lesson, every laugh, every birthday, every conversation, every sacrifice, and every act of unconditional love.

Thank you for giving me memories that I will carry for the rest of my life.

Thank you for being a mother who made time for me.

Thank you for being a Grannie whose grandchildren will always remember the joy of being in the pool with you.

Thank you for showing us that even when life isn’t perfect, there is always something positive to find.

Thank you for carrying the strength of the generations before you and leaving a piece of yourself for the generations who will come after you.

Although I can’t pick up the phone and hear your voice anymore, I know your love hasn’t left me. It lives on in your children, your grandchildren, your family, your friends, and everyone whose life you touched.

Your legacy lives in the stories we tell.

It lives in the things you taught us.

It lives in the creativity you shared.

It lives in the laughter you gave us.

It lives in every song, every dance, every birthday memory, every poolside memory, and every moment we remember you.

And when we think of you, I hope we don’t only remember the sadness of losing you.

I hope we remember Esther dancing.

Esther singing.

Esther creating.

Esther laughing.

Esther finding something positive when life gave her every reason not to.

Esther loving her family.

Esther being the life of the party.

And Esther reminding us, one last time:

Peace, love, and soul!

Mom, I love you.

Your story does not end here. It continues through all of us.

Rest peacefully, Esther.

May your memory be a blessing, and may the love you gave us continue to shine through every generation that comes after you.

Until we meet again—peace, love, and soul.