She grew up in Greenville, Michigan, where she played the piano and the clarinet in her high school band. She was an exchange student in Denmark, where she often rode a bike to town for Frosted Flakes because she didn't like the food. She went to Central Michigan University (also where Abby and I went), and got her elementary teaching degree in record time. She had such determination.

Mom then began her 32-year teaching career at Ithaca Public Schools, where she was only 21 when she took her first classroom. She taught 1st grade for several years, before moving to a 3rd grade spot. When people talked about their favorite teachers, I always heard my mom's name mentioned, which made me so proud. I actually had the benefit of working with her as I did cadet teaching in high school, volunteer work, and substitute teaching at her school. I always knew she was a good teacher, but she completely amazed me when I saw it first hand.

She always took Abby and I to plays and musicals and the ballet. To museums and parks and festivals. She wanted to make sure we were cultured and saw more than what our small community could teach us. We often took family trips to explore various parts of Michigan, mostly along the coastlines.

My parents are such an inspiration. Not only were they married for 31 years, they truly loved each other and were the best of friends. They met at Crystal Lake one summer, and were married on December 27th of that year. They never fought, and you could always see their adoration for the other. I remember last summer when my mom was painting flowers on our mailbox at the new house, and my dad and I were in the yard looking at her. He said "Oh, Ame, what a sweetheart. She's my sweetheart."

Our family is extremely tight, and spends a lot of time together. I am so thankful for this. My family became my best friends somewhere along the line.

The tiny community of Ithaca is wonderful. They have supported us so much during this time, and have done everything they can do honor my mom. They held a moment of silence for her at the football game on October 20th. The band dedicated their band competition performance to her on the 21st. They closed down the entire school district on the day of her funeral. Articles were written about her in the newspapers. Fellow teachers brought food to the house in droves. And best of all, they are adopting HER motto as the school motto: Because Nice Matters, which we also had engraved on the back of her headstone.

She loved the color purple, and finding bargains on cute clothes (she was so proud of her 99 cent sweater). She loved peanut butter rice cakes and daisies and laughing. She loved our dog Mack. She loved her friends and her job. And most of all, she loved us.

I know nothing will ever be the same again. She was our light and our inspiration. We miss her more than it’s possible to describe.

But I also know that she's in Heaven, and someday she and my dad will be reunited again. They're too perfect not to be.

People have been telling Abby and I that they see HER in US. I respond by saying that is the best compliment anyone could ever give me.

- Amy Parker