Editor’s Note: Tomorrow, August 13, there was be a memorial service at Emmanuel Church in Chestertown for Ann Wilmer Hoon. We wish to share with the community an copy of a eulogy by her son, Dr. Alexander H. Hoon Jr of the Kennedy Krieger Institute.
I am Alexander Holliday Hoon Jr, grandson of Chestertown Mayor Philip George Wilmer and Isabelle Perry Wilmer, and son of Alexander H Hoon Sr. and Ann Wilmer Hoon. I am very honored to give my mother’s eulogy today.
As I stand in this church where so many Wilmers, Perrys and you have worshiped- where my parents were married and my brothers and I baptized- and look over the multitude of family members and friends of my mother, Ann Wilmer Hoon- I can only smile with gratitude, appreciation, sadness and celebration. I know that many of you here were recipients of her kindness, compassion and joy for life.
Where to start. Mom brought it all when it came to her boys, her husband, her grandchildren, her extended family, her friends and community.
As Eleanor Roosevelt once said: “A woman is like a tea bag – you can’t tell how strong she is until you put her in hot water.” Well- no water was ever too hot- or too cold- for Mom to handle.
For me- there were so many moments…
Some of the best were the summer weeks during late childhood that our family spent at Eastern Neck Island- fishing, crabbing, swimming and sailing. Just the 5 of us: Mom, Dad, Phil, David and myself- and our grandparents. Priceless memories.
When my brother David needed to improve his hand-eye coordination by doing special motor exercises- Mom insured that all 3 Hoon boys did them together so that David would not feel different.
Mom’s advice was always spot on. When I was 8 years of age, I accidentally threw a baseball through a neighbor’s window and ran home terrified about the likely consequences of this. My mother insisted that I go by myself and apologize- which I did with great trepidation and fear. Well- the woman was kind and I returned home with the lessons to face life straight ahead and that there was no shame in apologizing.
When young love infatuations went bad, Mom was always there to balm the hurt.
As you know, Mom had a wonderful sense of humor. It would be difficult to describe the chaos and hilarity of Mom and a group of other mothers helping their 10 year old sons pick out and try on dirty used football uniforms and pads in the basement of a building converted to a locker room in Philadelphia PA.
Mom could open the barn door when needed. When Phil and I had the adolescent urge to “see the world”- Dad provided the motorcycles and Mom gave the Green Light to kickstart our Honda Davidsons.
Overall, as Michelle Obama recently said about her children- “My most important title is still ‘Mom-in-Chief.’” My daughters are still the heart of my heart and the center of my world.” This is how Mom made us feel- all the time.
Mom and my Dad adored each other. They were happiest when together. And they provided support for the personal goals and aspirations of their beloved life partner. He was with her in his heart from their first blind date to her last breath.
The lifelong bonds Mom forged in childhood with her “almost sisters” Jerry Bristoll and Mackey Dutton were treasured by all three cousins.
Mom loved Chestertown and Kent County and was immensely proud of her deep family roots and heritage here. You all here were the touchstone of her life in so many ways. She felt loved, supported and cherished here. This was home.
From the days of the Kennedys and Martin Luther King, Mom was a champion for the rights of women and for people in general. While some of you might disagree- for her to hear the words, “Madam President” would be a dream come true.
Like all of us Mom had challenges to face- later in her own life. For those of us who loved her, they were very difficult to witness. All we could do was to support her as best we could.
Near the end of her life in the loving care she received at Heron Point, Mom found peace and was able to accept her own passing- dreaming that she would again be with her son David and her parents.
In closing, I could not speak here today without the love and support of my wife Cindy Starr, whom Mom always made feel like her daughter. And for me Abraham Lincoln said it best. “All that I am or hope to be I owe to my mother.”
To everyone here- thank you for coming. Mom loved all of you here in Chestertown and outside of the area. The best way to honor her is to simply “Pay it Forward”- and do the things that she did so well.
I love you Mom!
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