Wednesday, May 26, 2010
4 – 8 PM
Drop in for a little while or stay for the whole event
The Shaw’s Center
1 Lexington Avenue
Brockton, MA 02301
(508) 559- 7090
http://www.theshawscenter.com/
For non-CMRG employees, please RSVP by Thursday, May 20, 2010, so we can plan the buffet accordingly. Email litamattson@yahoo.com with the number of people attending.
For CMRG employees, you will be receiving information at work on how to RSVP.
It was Lita’s wish that we do not morn her passing with a funeral or a wake. Instead she asked that we throw a big party. Thus the idea of a Celebration of Life was formed.
We have all been touched by her generous heart, her loyalty, and her friendship and love. We have witnessed her “can-do attitude” in the face of so many challenges. We were wowed by her strength and determination to do everything she could on her own. Now let us spend some time together to share these stories and memories, listen to some of her favorite music, and celebrate the fact that she was here and a part of our lives. A dedication is planned for approximately 6 PM.
In honor of the fact that red was her favorite color, we are asking that everyone wear something that has red in it. Lita wants us to celebrate, so please wear clothes you are comfortable in – no suites and formal dresses unless that is what you like to wear.
Friday, May 7, 2010
Saturday, May 1, 2010
She'll Be Missed
Lita Jean (Norman) Mattson - 54
March 8, 1956 – April 29, 2010
Lita passed away early in the afternoon on April 29, 2010, at her sister’s home in Westford, MA, from Breast Cancer. Born March 8, 1956, to Janice (Ellis) Norman and Laurence Norman, at Murphy Army Hospital in Waltham, Lita has had many medical struggles from the very beginning. Lita was born with a congenital heart defect, and doctors told her parents “not to get too attached to her.” Lita proved the doctors wrong at every turn, and formed many strong relationships with family, friends and co-workers. It is these relationships that defined her life.
Lita worked most of her life in accounts payable. Lita worked in the finance department of Casual Male Retail Group (CMRG) in Canton, MA, since 1986 where she made life-long friends. In fact, the people at CMRG became her second family and supported her in so many ways over the years, especially during her chemotherapy treatments. Even after Lita went on hospice care, members of the CMRG team called, emailed, and visited on a regular basis. She appreciated each and every one of these relationships throughout the years.
Lita felt very blessed to be treated by Dr. Dhillon and her team at Norfolk Cancer Center in Brockton, MA. Lita began seeing Dr. Dhillon in the mid-nineties for Breast Cancer and could not say enough about the care she received from Dr. Dhillon and her team. In fact, when talking of moving out of state, she decided not to move because of Dr. Dhillon. When you saw Lita at the clinic, the bond she shared with staff and patients was very obvious.
During her final months, Lita received hospice care at her sister’s home in Westford, MA, and received outstanding care from the VNA Hospice of Greater Lowell. The team of nurses, doctors, health aides, social workers, art therapists, Reiki practitioners, pharmacists, delivery people, and spiritual advisors took care of her medical needs as well as her comfort and emotional needs with their team-approach to caring for patients. Lita looked forward to seeing each of these people and they her.
While Lita thought she lead an ordinary life, nothing could be further from the truth. In spite of all her medical difficulties, Lita did not give up when so many others would. If it needed to be done, she did it. If it was in her power to help someone else, she would even if it meant that she went without. Her final act of giving was to donate her body to science. It was her belief that if doctors can use her body to help someone else, then they should do it. They may perform research, or they may teach doctors to do stitches or other procedures. In any case, it may help doctors to help other people down the road, which is exactly what Lita wanted.
Some of Lita’s hobbies included making hand-made cards, scrapbooking, jewelry making, knitting, crocheting, reading, and watching Patriots football.
Lita is survived by her son, Peter Mattson, her father, Laurence Norman, her brothers Donald, Paul, and Larry Norman, her sister, Clydene (Norman) Horrigan, and many nieces and nephews. Lita was pre-deceased by her mother, Janice (Ellis) Norman and her grandparents.
While many people send flowers to the family under these circumstances, the family requests that instead you give flowers to a loved one, place flowers on a soldier’s grave or make a donation in Lita’s memory to the Hospice organization that cared for her until her passing.
VNA Hospice of Greater Lowell
334 Center Street
PO Box 1965
Lowell, MA 01853
A celebration of life is being planned for family, friends, and co-workers. More information will follow once the arrangements have been made.
March 8, 1956 – April 29, 2010
Lita passed away early in the afternoon on April 29, 2010, at her sister’s home in Westford, MA, from Breast Cancer. Born March 8, 1956, to Janice (Ellis) Norman and Laurence Norman, at Murphy Army Hospital in Waltham, Lita has had many medical struggles from the very beginning. Lita was born with a congenital heart defect, and doctors told her parents “not to get too attached to her.” Lita proved the doctors wrong at every turn, and formed many strong relationships with family, friends and co-workers. It is these relationships that defined her life.
Lita worked most of her life in accounts payable. Lita worked in the finance department of Casual Male Retail Group (CMRG) in Canton, MA, since 1986 where she made life-long friends. In fact, the people at CMRG became her second family and supported her in so many ways over the years, especially during her chemotherapy treatments. Even after Lita went on hospice care, members of the CMRG team called, emailed, and visited on a regular basis. She appreciated each and every one of these relationships throughout the years.
Lita felt very blessed to be treated by Dr. Dhillon and her team at Norfolk Cancer Center in Brockton, MA. Lita began seeing Dr. Dhillon in the mid-nineties for Breast Cancer and could not say enough about the care she received from Dr. Dhillon and her team. In fact, when talking of moving out of state, she decided not to move because of Dr. Dhillon. When you saw Lita at the clinic, the bond she shared with staff and patients was very obvious.
During her final months, Lita received hospice care at her sister’s home in Westford, MA, and received outstanding care from the VNA Hospice of Greater Lowell. The team of nurses, doctors, health aides, social workers, art therapists, Reiki practitioners, pharmacists, delivery people, and spiritual advisors took care of her medical needs as well as her comfort and emotional needs with their team-approach to caring for patients. Lita looked forward to seeing each of these people and they her.
While Lita thought she lead an ordinary life, nothing could be further from the truth. In spite of all her medical difficulties, Lita did not give up when so many others would. If it needed to be done, she did it. If it was in her power to help someone else, she would even if it meant that she went without. Her final act of giving was to donate her body to science. It was her belief that if doctors can use her body to help someone else, then they should do it. They may perform research, or they may teach doctors to do stitches or other procedures. In any case, it may help doctors to help other people down the road, which is exactly what Lita wanted.
Some of Lita’s hobbies included making hand-made cards, scrapbooking, jewelry making, knitting, crocheting, reading, and watching Patriots football.
Lita is survived by her son, Peter Mattson, her father, Laurence Norman, her brothers Donald, Paul, and Larry Norman, her sister, Clydene (Norman) Horrigan, and many nieces and nephews. Lita was pre-deceased by her mother, Janice (Ellis) Norman and her grandparents.
While many people send flowers to the family under these circumstances, the family requests that instead you give flowers to a loved one, place flowers on a soldier’s grave or make a donation in Lita’s memory to the Hospice organization that cared for her until her passing.
VNA Hospice of Greater Lowell
334 Center Street
PO Box 1965
Lowell, MA 01853
A celebration of life is being planned for family, friends, and co-workers. More information will follow once the arrangements have been made.
Thursday, March 11, 2010
Hello
Hi everyone. Just a quick update. Since I last wrote, hospice has agreed to allow the nurses to take 3 liters of fluid out every other day with the caveat that they will monitor Lita during the procedure. If her blood pressure drops too low after two liters, they will not take the third. As for her eyes, she went back to the doctor and there was improvement. He decided to continue the medicine and added a nightly dose of arythramicen (that stuff you get for pink eye) into the mix. She goes back on Monday.
Lita has received lots of nice birthday wishes from friends and family. We had a small surprise party for her on Sunday with the family and Lok. When Lita was getting tapped, we quickly decorated the kitchen and living room with streamers and balloons. When she came out of her room she was surprised, and we enjoyed some cake and ice cream.
Today we are working on making some pants for Lita that work with her new body type :-) Well, that is it for now.
Clydene
Lita has received lots of nice birthday wishes from friends and family. We had a small surprise party for her on Sunday with the family and Lok. When Lita was getting tapped, we quickly decorated the kitchen and living room with streamers and balloons. When she came out of her room she was surprised, and we enjoyed some cake and ice cream.
Today we are working on making some pants for Lita that work with her new body type :-) Well, that is it for now.
Clydene
Thursday, February 25, 2010
Hello everyone,
Well, hasn't this weather been lovely? Up here in Westford we had a little snow when I got up yesterday - maybe 4 or 5 inches - but it has rained ever since! I'll take that over piles of snow any day!
Lita is doing well. In the last couple of weeks we have played a lot of games, watched TV, read, done arts & crafts, etc. Last Thursday we completed several scrapbook pages for an album we are making for Peter.
On the medical front, they have changed from taking three liters of fluid from her stomach a day to two liters a day. This change hasn't been comfortable for Lita. She is working with hospice to see if they can come up with a happy medium. They don't want to do it every day because of the toll it takes on the body even if she doesn't necessarily feel the effects of that toll. And she had an instance where when they took three liters and her blood pressure dropped too low. So we will have to see what they come up with.
Last week Darren took Lita to get her eyes checked because she was saying that her vision was blurry. While she was there the doctor asked her to read a line she had just read and she said it was blurry. He was like, "but you just read it with the same settings." Lita told him that was the problem. So the doc checked out her eyes and found that there was swelling in the iris. He gave her some prescription drops that she takes every four hours, and that has helped a great deal. Tomorrow she goes back to see the doc and hopefully he can give her the eye exam and see if she needs a new prescription.
Her apartment is about cleaned out. On Saturday the movers will be taking the hand-made furniture to Pete's grandmothers to store until he is older and gets a place of his own.
Well, that is it for now. I will write again soon.
Clydene
Well, hasn't this weather been lovely? Up here in Westford we had a little snow when I got up yesterday - maybe 4 or 5 inches - but it has rained ever since! I'll take that over piles of snow any day!
Lita is doing well. In the last couple of weeks we have played a lot of games, watched TV, read, done arts & crafts, etc. Last Thursday we completed several scrapbook pages for an album we are making for Peter.
On the medical front, they have changed from taking three liters of fluid from her stomach a day to two liters a day. This change hasn't been comfortable for Lita. She is working with hospice to see if they can come up with a happy medium. They don't want to do it every day because of the toll it takes on the body even if she doesn't necessarily feel the effects of that toll. And she had an instance where when they took three liters and her blood pressure dropped too low. So we will have to see what they come up with.
Last week Darren took Lita to get her eyes checked because she was saying that her vision was blurry. While she was there the doctor asked her to read a line she had just read and she said it was blurry. He was like, "but you just read it with the same settings." Lita told him that was the problem. So the doc checked out her eyes and found that there was swelling in the iris. He gave her some prescription drops that she takes every four hours, and that has helped a great deal. Tomorrow she goes back to see the doc and hopefully he can give her the eye exam and see if she needs a new prescription.
Her apartment is about cleaned out. On Saturday the movers will be taking the hand-made furniture to Pete's grandmothers to store until he is older and gets a place of his own.
Well, that is it for now. I will write again soon.
Clydene
Thursday, February 11, 2010
A Month Later
Hi everyone,
Sorry I haven't posted for the last week. I was without a computer for a few days and am just getting back online. It has been a good week. Lita is now being drained every day, and it has been helping her immensely. Today she even went up and down the stairs by herself! Considering where she was a month ago, this is huge news!
As she has been here she has been getting stronger. She has something going on almost every day. The visiting nurse comes daily. The home health aide comes Monday, Wednesday, and Friday mornings. Thursdays are the big day where the Reiki practitioner comes and, starting today, an art therapist. Lita and I will be learning some type of technique where you do your artwork within a circle. I don't know much about it, but evidently they have found that patients find something comforting about this technique. I'll share more about it later after I have experienced it. And on the weekends she gets visits by varied and sundried characters.
When she isn't busy with people from hospice or visitors, Lita keeps busy. During the week she and my husband spend a lot of time together keeping each other company talking about who knows what. Sometimes she reads. She is currently reading "Table for Five" by Susan Wiggs. Darlyne gave me that book, and when I was done with it, I passed it on to Lita. It is a really nice book.
On Tuesday we spent a bit of time going through some of the stuff that I have brought here from her apartment and she is now busy crocheting with the yarn I brought home. She has also been drawing and coloring. You should see some of the upside-down work she has done along with my daughter. We also play a lot of board and card games to pass the time.
This morning Lita and I were talking about the fact that as she is getting stronger she will start to go stir-crazy. We are going to see about getting her a wheelchair so that I can take her out to the store or to the movie theater on days when she feels up to it.
Well, that is it for now. I hope you enjoyed getting caught up.
Clydene
Sorry I haven't posted for the last week. I was without a computer for a few days and am just getting back online. It has been a good week. Lita is now being drained every day, and it has been helping her immensely. Today she even went up and down the stairs by herself! Considering where she was a month ago, this is huge news!
As she has been here she has been getting stronger. She has something going on almost every day. The visiting nurse comes daily. The home health aide comes Monday, Wednesday, and Friday mornings. Thursdays are the big day where the Reiki practitioner comes and, starting today, an art therapist. Lita and I will be learning some type of technique where you do your artwork within a circle. I don't know much about it, but evidently they have found that patients find something comforting about this technique. I'll share more about it later after I have experienced it. And on the weekends she gets visits by varied and sundried characters.
When she isn't busy with people from hospice or visitors, Lita keeps busy. During the week she and my husband spend a lot of time together keeping each other company talking about who knows what. Sometimes she reads. She is currently reading "Table for Five" by Susan Wiggs. Darlyne gave me that book, and when I was done with it, I passed it on to Lita. It is a really nice book.
On Tuesday we spent a bit of time going through some of the stuff that I have brought here from her apartment and she is now busy crocheting with the yarn I brought home. She has also been drawing and coloring. You should see some of the upside-down work she has done along with my daughter. We also play a lot of board and card games to pass the time.
This morning Lita and I were talking about the fact that as she is getting stronger she will start to go stir-crazy. We are going to see about getting her a wheelchair so that I can take her out to the store or to the movie theater on days when she feels up to it.
Well, that is it for now. I hope you enjoyed getting caught up.
Clydene
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
Did you know?
I am a scrapbooker. No, that isn't what I was asking you if you knew ;-) Anyway, a few years ago I decided to do a scrapbook layout about Lita, and I interviewed her for the page. I don't remember all of the questions I asked her - I'll have to dig that page up and maybe I can scan it and post it to this blog. I do, however, remember one question and answer very well because it was such a surprise to me. The question was, "What did you want to be when you grew up?" I was probably expecting her to say something like "a teacher." But no, my sister said she wanted to be a boy!
Now, as you can imagine, this was all a bit shocking to me? I thought, "did she have a gender identity crisis when she was little?" "Why would she want to be a boy?" Well, her reason was a bit of a surprise too, especially since I was so much younger than her that this would not come into play. She wanted to be a boy because she wanted to be a baseball player! I have been planning on writing about this for a few days, but an email she got from her childhood friend reminded me that I hadn't done it. Trish wrote "what happened to my friend who wanted to be a southpaw pitcher for the Redsox?" (or something to that affect). Thanks for the reminder, Trish.
Well, now that I am done with my little story, here is your "Lita update." Not much new to report. Lita is feeling about the same as she has been for the last couple of weeks. She is eating well, and the only problems she has been experiencing have to do with the fluid build-up, and last night she had a slight back ache. The new medication for the sleeping has been helping. Today she got through a bunch of emails that people had sent. It is slow going because she isn't use to using a laptop and her placement of hands and fingers causes the screen to do crazy things. The dang things are so sensitive!
That's all for now. Have a great night, everyone.
Clydene
Now, as you can imagine, this was all a bit shocking to me? I thought, "did she have a gender identity crisis when she was little?" "Why would she want to be a boy?" Well, her reason was a bit of a surprise too, especially since I was so much younger than her that this would not come into play. She wanted to be a boy because she wanted to be a baseball player! I have been planning on writing about this for a few days, but an email she got from her childhood friend reminded me that I hadn't done it. Trish wrote "what happened to my friend who wanted to be a southpaw pitcher for the Redsox?" (or something to that affect). Thanks for the reminder, Trish.
Well, now that I am done with my little story, here is your "Lita update." Not much new to report. Lita is feeling about the same as she has been for the last couple of weeks. She is eating well, and the only problems she has been experiencing have to do with the fluid build-up, and last night she had a slight back ache. The new medication for the sleeping has been helping. Today she got through a bunch of emails that people had sent. It is slow going because she isn't use to using a laptop and her placement of hands and fingers causes the screen to do crazy things. The dang things are so sensitive!
That's all for now. Have a great night, everyone.
Clydene
Monday, February 1, 2010
Lita has Email
Sorry it has been a few days since I have posted. The time just seemed to get away from me. Lita is doing well other than trouble sleeping and dealing with fluid retention. It is a good thing that they left the tap in so she can be drained. On Friday they removed about 2 liters and she is ready for it again. Evidently the nurse said that part of the reason for that is that she is eating and drinking more.
This weekend Lita was up and about quite a bit and doing more for herself and playing games with the family. As a matter of fact, she kicked my butt in Scrabble last night. She and my husband made it down to the wire with Lita inching him out by 3 or 4 points thanks to going out first!
For those of us who know Lita well, this is the way she likes it. To be able to make herself a little snack, get things from her room without having to ask, yada yada, gives her a little independence. As we spoke yesterday, I realized that she would probably like to be able to send and read her own emails instead of waiting for me to get home. So we set up an email address where you can correspond directly with her. It is litamattson@yahoo.com. Also, you can continue to add comments to this blog - it is good for everyone to see what we all write and to feel the love.
That is it for now.
Clydene
This weekend Lita was up and about quite a bit and doing more for herself and playing games with the family. As a matter of fact, she kicked my butt in Scrabble last night. She and my husband made it down to the wire with Lita inching him out by 3 or 4 points thanks to going out first!
For those of us who know Lita well, this is the way she likes it. To be able to make herself a little snack, get things from her room without having to ask, yada yada, gives her a little independence. As we spoke yesterday, I realized that she would probably like to be able to send and read her own emails instead of waiting for me to get home. So we set up an email address where you can correspond directly with her. It is litamattson@yahoo.com. Also, you can continue to add comments to this blog - it is good for everyone to see what we all write and to feel the love.
That is it for now.
Clydene
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