January 2026 did not start out with the hope and optimism I was creating in my vision board, when I got the call my mummy was in the hospital undergoing surgery for an aneurysm.  I needed to get to Florida right away.

Today is 4 weeks since my mom left this earth.  It's taken me a while to write this.  If you were around at all with me or my family you had the honor of hearing my mom perform. She had a beautiful voice and loved sharing it with everyone! At 23, she chose the path of marriage and having a family, but music and performing were her passions. 

My first memory of my mom acting was at the Music Box Theater in St. Petersburg, Florida.
At the time I was around 5 years old. She was Emily in Thorton Wilder's "Our Town". During Emily's monologue I was in distress because I thought it was real... "Goodbye world, goodbye to clocks ticking and mama's sunflowers..." the monologue goes.

Being there with my mom, in the hospital, this all came back to me. This time for real. I do think seeing my mom portray Emily was what inspired me to be an actress as well. I was blessed with many of her talents and am forever grateful for those. 

These past years as her memory faded, when traveling was no longer a way of life for her and dad, I'd visit and the first thing she'd want us to do is our shopping trip to Talbots. We'd giggle in the fitting room as she tried on a few outfits I'd have chosen for her and would pose as I took pictures... in the mornings I'd get her to vocalize at her baby grand piano. Always amazed at her nimble, graceful hands and how they could play the scales and hearing her unwavering soprano voice. Memories now.

Goodbye, my mummy...Thank you for being my mom and Celia and Jacqueline's Memere. For all your talents, your inspiration, your support in whatever I chose to do. We will all miss you dearly. 

Love you always, Zoé Anne

Images Top left: Backstage before a performance, As Gretel in the opera Hansel & Gretel, a photo I took of Mom on her 60th Anniversary in 2020(in one of our Talbot finds), Mom and I having head shots taken in San Diego (1984?) on one of her visits, Performing at the Lawrence Welk Resort in Escondido, CA (loved this gown we found on a trip to San Francisco).