Mother-in-law bashing is common on sitcoms. They are portrayed as overbearing, meddling and judgmental. The “mother-in-law from hell” may be a stock character but I couldn’t relate. That’s because I had the mother-in-law from heaven.
My mother-in-law, Florence “Duck” Davids, passed away peacefully on Nov. 28 at the age of 94. Shortly before she died, she performed two remarkable feats: “The Miracle of the Stairs” and the “Magical Tour of Walmart.”
Born on July 4, 1929, she remained a child of the Great Depression her entire life. Frugal but never cheap, she was generous with her money and extravagant with her time.
Duck acquired her nickname for her love of swimming. She was still taking dips with her great-grandchildren in her 90s. Duck had a year-round tan which went well with her warm smile. The first time I saw that smile, she was doing laundry in the basement of her Berwyn two-flat.
She was a hard worker but didn’t complain. With her husband John, she raised five kids and sent them to private school. Christian education and church attendance were very important to Duck. Her faith, though, was not confined to church. She became a missionary to the laundromat and the neighborhood grocery store — never preachy but very caring. She enjoyed hosting family parties and having people over for coffee.
Duck was a stay-at-home mom who hated staying home. During her later years, she was still the most active person we knew. Forever volunteering, for years, she made sandwiches for Roseland residents and also worked at a re-sale shop in Broadview.
And she became one of the shop’s best customers. She loved bargain-hunting at re-sale shops, Goodwill and the Dollar Store. She had no use for fancy stores or restaurants, preferring “family” eateries, where food and coffee were plentiful.
Duck drank coffee day and night and wondered why she had trouble sleeping. She even joined a coffee break ministry that welcomed newcomers to church. In a different era, she might have served as a minister. Her faith was deep and strong and she wasn’t afraid to share it.
She embraced community wherever she went. This included frequent visits to Forest Park. Duck and John didn’t just watch our kids. They cleaned the house, did the laundry and prepared dinner. She came to know our neighbors and friends.
Many current and former neighbors came to her wake. They gathered in the sanctuary and talked over the tops of the pews. It reminded me of over-the-fence conversations we enjoyed in our backyards. It was Duck who brought everyone together that day. She showed us how to listen and how to love.
On Thanksgiving, we were hosting and wondered how Duck could make it up our stairs. They are a challenge for the able-bodied, let alone a 94-year-old using a walker and carrying oxygen. She made it, though, with our kids helping her. One of them said Duck climbed the stairs like a marathoner determined to reach the finish line.
A few days later, my wife took Duck to Walmart. There were no wheelchairs available, so she used a motorized scooter. She had never driven a car in her life or operated any kind of vehicle but here she was, zipping around the store, tossing items into her basket.
The next morning, we learned Duck had passed in her sleep.
My mother-in-law from heaven was a blessing to everyone and her example will inspire our family for generations to come.
