Penny Bedore

Written by her daughter Kathleen Bedore Bideaux

My Mom — Penny Bedore — was an exemplary role model. She led a simple life focused on her family. She dropped out of school at a young age to help earn a paycheck to support herself, her parents, and her siblings. Something she vowed would never happen to my brother and me. Penny believed education was an essential factor in our success and she held the highest expectations for Joe and me. For as long as I can remember, we never doubted we were going to college. Instead, we talked about which school we would choose. My mom contributed the bulk of her paycheck to pay for Catholic school tuition for my brother Joe and me. She researched, found, and took my brother to a specialized program outside of the school day so he could overcome his learning disability and made sure he knew how to reach his potential. And, when she couldn't help me with Honors Algebra, she found a tutor for that and drove me there once a week until I was earning at least a "B" in the class. My mom always had a book in her hand and one for me to read as well. We had a closet full of literary genres and would spend hours in the bookstore deciding what to read next.

My mom taught us how to stand up for ourselves, be generous and compassionate, and to achieve our goals. She had an infectious laugh, a gift for sarcasm, and a quiet dignity that made people listen and respect her. She did not need fancy cars, jewelry, or clothes but was always "well put-together." She loved to travel and experience different cultures and lifestyles.

Grandma Penny loved her grandbabies — she called them her sunshine. Each of my children has their own endearing stories of their grandmother's love. And, although cancer ended her life ten years ago, not a day goes by without one of them mentioning her.

Thank you Penny — Mom, Grandma, Friend, and Aunt — for living by example, for teaching us how to reach for the stars, and for "The Climb."