Our mom, Janice Elaine Feise Mizrahi, would have turned 83 on June 2nd.

Born in Hayward, California to parents Hazel and Louis, Mom had three brothers, Glenn, Bill and Robert; and a sister, Lenore aka Aunt Sally.  She met my dad, Nat, at age 18 and they eloped within weeks. They made their journey to the east coast - Brooklyn - where their first two girls, Debra Ann and Lisa Renee were born. Not long after, they headed to Long Island and completed the family with baby number 3, Jill Marie.

Those are just the basics.

What most don't know about Mom is what a fighter she was. Her early life was full of hardships but with each hurdle she encountered, she always jumped high enough to clear it until the next one appeared. When our dad was killed 35 years ago, she worried that she would not be able to make it on her own, but make it she did. She sold our family home, moved to Florida and learned to live as a single woman for the first time since she was a teenager. She found part time work at several different places, made many friends who became family and proved to herself (and to us) that she could do things she previously thought were impossible.

When Debbie was diagnosed with brain cancer right before her 40th birthday, Mom helped her every step of the way throughout her battle as well as through all the health problems she continued to endure as a result. Even until her last day on this earth, our mom did all she could to help her oldest daughter all while her own health was declining. That is a mother's love defined. When Lisa was diagnosed with breast cancer last year, our mom would have been back to NY immediately to help her as well if her own health allowed her to travel. Although her health concerns troubled, frustrated and saddened her deeply, it was still her children who she worried about most because we meant everything to her.

The lady that used to climb on the roof to make repairs, roller skate around the neighborhood, paint pictures and paint walls, fix things on a dime all while being the coolest mom on the block never gave herself the credit she deserved for being such a capable and strong woman. This last year or so, especially the last few months, she often spoke of how her mind still knew how to do things, but her weakened body, her failed vision and advanced age would not allow her to do what she wanted and needed to do. She was frustrated, sad and longed for her body to stop betraying her. Mom felt her kids' heartbreaks, struggles and worries like all moms do, but felt helpless. She felt like she was failing herself and us, but in reality, she never stopped fighting, loving or caring for all of us.

We would be remiss if we did not tell everyone reading this how blessed our family is to have a special friend in Florida who had done everything to help my mom these past several years. Lori Baron has been Debbie's best friend for 40+ years and has become a sister to us all and a fourth daughter to Mom. Her patience, love, advocacy and humor have gotten our family, especially Mom and Debbie, through so much. She's been our lifeline, and without her, things would have been extraordinarily difficult. With the deepest, most-heartfelt gratitude, we thank Lori for everything she's done and will continue to do while we are all struggling to get through this grief and while we try to find help for Debbie. We also wish to thank her family for their patience and understanding and for letting us be greedy with Lori's generosity and willingness to help us.

Before Mom passed, she often recalled the old days on Ann Road in Merrick, wishing we could go back to simpler times; how she wanted to roller skate in the kitchen, lay lazily on the raft in the pool and just have all of us kids around her once again.

We wish for those days, too.

We pray our mother is at peace now and that she is able to see clearly again, walk on steady feet, and her hands and legs no longer hurt. We hope she crossed over to a much better place and Dad was there to welcome her with our dog, Kelly, by his side.  May she finally be at ease and realize what a wonderful human being she was and that while nobody is perfect, her best was always enough. We hope she knows how much she was loved and always will be.

She leaves behind her three daughters, Debbie, Lisa and Jill as well as her cherished "grands," Tommy, Bobby and Casey. We will never stop grieving, Mom, nor will we stop missing you. We are heartbroken and we love you eternally.

Rest easy, Mommy.

Please share your memories of Janice or express condolences to her family through our online guestbook. Janice's online guestbook can be found by scrolling below to the Guestbook box below and clicking on the 'View & Sign' button. You can share your thoughts and memories, upload pictures and/or light a candle..