2014 North Fayette Valley graduate Tessa Becker displays a photo of her sister, Nichole, and herself giving their mom, Jackie, a heartwarming kiss during their late mother’s fight with cancer. Tessa encourages families that are grieving during the upcoming holidays to celebrate the life that the person they’re missing was given. (Mike Van Sickle photo)
Thankful for family-sized memories
By Mike Van Sickle
News Editor
mvansickle@thefayettecountyunion.com
Celebrating Thanksgiving and the other upcoming holidays is accomplished in many different ways amongst family and friends each year.
For 18-year-old Tessa Becker, this holiday season will be about being thankful for all the happy memories of her mother, Jackie, who lost her battle with cancer in October 2013. The rural Elgin teenager admits being numb to her mother’s death last year since it was so close to the holidays.
“It was probably a good thing that it happened then. The holidays passed so quickly, and I had the entire summer for everything to sink in,” she admitted.
“The most important thing for me and my family now is to continue remembering and sharing all of those happy memories we have, rather than dwelling on her death,” Tessa continued, adding with a smile, “Fortunately, Mom was probably one of the goofiest ladies out there, and I have plenty of good memories to lean on now.”