Alice M. Ferguson

From Daughter Wendy:

Thanks so much for adding Mom’s memory to your web site. I wrote a brief story of her life.

Mom was born in Russell, NY on December 10th 1939. She was one of five children. She had three brothers and one sister. Her parents were Helen and Andrew Webb. Her father passed away when she was about 14. He worked in the mines and died of the black lung disease.

Mom graduated with the class of 1958. The class picture is also on your website. I am told that she was a very good student and received some sort of class medals upon graduation. She was always the best speller in our family!

At 18 years old, Mom met my father Robert J. Ferguson. They married shortly after and moved to the Penfield / Webster area of NY. This is about 3 – 4 hours south of Russell. Mom raised four children in an old farmhouse. Times were tough for her but she was a very strong woman both physically and emotionally. She worked very hard at keeping our family together. Mom loved to be included in our softball games as she was the only one who could hit that ball a “country mile”. We loved it! As much as she had a fun side, she could be and was often very tough on us. She wanted to make sure her kids grew up properly and treated others with respect.

Mom and Dad divorced in 1978 / 1979 timeframe. It was then that she went to work in the nursing homes. She worked at Hill Haven nursing home in Webster for 11 years until she moved from Webster to Fairport. Her next job was with the Fairport Baptist Nursing Home where she worked for 1 7 years. Mom retired at 62 years old.

In 2003 Mom suffered a heart attack. She was 63 years old at that time. She had to have emergency quadruple by-pass surgery. She recuperated quite well and very quickly. She was independent and wanted to remain living on her own for as long as possible. She lived with me (her daughter) for about 9 months and found it too boring! I worked most of the time that year and was not able to spend lots of time with her. She moved again for the last time to a senior complex in Palmyra, NY. This was close to her son and his family where there was a lot more to do and be a part of. She enjoyed her new friends and neighbors playing bingo and going shopping together.

Mom and I traveled frequently back to Edwards, NY to see her mother Helen Webb. My grandmother is 93 years old and has lived on her own until this last week and now resides in the nursing home in Canton.

In September of 2007, Mom was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer. She did all she could to keep her spirits up and did well with the treatments. Sadly, she passed away in a hospice home on July 17, 2008. Needless to say, we miss her terribly. She was a wonderful mother.

 

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