This week was an emotional one -- with concern for my dad, Bill, having triple bypass heart surgery on Wednesday, and Mike's mom, Nancy Cronin, in the hospital in Florida for what appeared to be a stroke. Ups and downs with worry... which soon turned to devastation. Nancy took a turn for the worse early in the week, battling sepsis, and Mike flew down to Florida to be with his mom and family. It is with deep sadness I write that Nancy passed away unexpectedly on Thursday evening -- her death shaking our close family and friends.
Nancy was kind, funny, generous and loving. She was a fiercely proud mom and devoted grandmother, and I was lucky to have her as my mother-in-law. She was one of the sweetest women I've ever known and I'm stunned by her passing. She loved to travel, dance, garden, and attend college basketball games with Mike's dad, Fred. And while she was a big fan of Boston College and Providence College basketball, it was really Team Cronin-Clements-Grant she was the biggest fan of. She attended her grandson's baseball, t-ball, soccer, lacrosse, and football games over the years when she could, (and a swim meet or two.); Traveled with Fred to his softball games and tournaments as his team competed nationally; cheered for Owen and Mike as they began running more and qualified for the Marine Corp Marathon last month, (making plans to attend the marathon in October to cheer them on in person); And, was one of my greatest supporters in all of my cycling endeavors -- beginning with my first Pan Mass Challenge in 2003, and most recently my rides for the Wounded EOD Warrior Foundation, American Diabetes Association (Tour de Cure), and the Vermont Food Bank. She generously sponsored all of them -- her support was unwavering.
Her greatest love was her family, and we all felt that love all of the time. Fred, Linda, Kathy and Mike; Will, Tim and Chip; Owen, Kenny and I will miss her so dearly.
She is forever in our hearts.
Nancy was kind, funny, generous and loving. She was a fiercely proud mom and devoted grandmother, and I was lucky to have her as my mother-in-law. She was one of the sweetest women I've ever known and I'm stunned by her passing. She loved to travel, dance, garden, and attend college basketball games with Mike's dad, Fred. And while she was a big fan of Boston College and Providence College basketball, it was really Team Cronin-Clements-Grant she was the biggest fan of. She attended her grandson's baseball, t-ball, soccer, lacrosse, and football games over the years when she could, (and a swim meet or two.); Traveled with Fred to his softball games and tournaments as his team competed nationally; cheered for Owen and Mike as they began running more and qualified for the Marine Corp Marathon last month, (making plans to attend the marathon in October to cheer them on in person); And, was one of my greatest supporters in all of my cycling endeavors -- beginning with my first Pan Mass Challenge in 2003, and most recently my rides for the Wounded EOD Warrior Foundation, American Diabetes Association (Tour de Cure), and the Vermont Food Bank. She generously sponsored all of them -- her support was unwavering.
Her greatest love was her family, and we all felt that love all of the time. Fred, Linda, Kathy and Mike; Will, Tim and Chip; Owen, Kenny and I will miss her so dearly.
She is forever in our hearts.
