In Loving Memory of Connie Ferlingere

Although this is not motorcycle related, I’d like to take this opportunity to share with you my recent story.

A little over a year ago, my mom, Connie Ferlingere was diagnosed with Breast Cancer. The type of Cancer she had was called triple negative. The worst kind one can have. Her odds were not good, but she was a fighter, and had a big, big spirit.

My mom lost her battle on January 19, 2013 at 5:17pm pacific time after 16 months of a hell of a fight. I wanted to take this opportunity to share with you who she was, and what she meant.

Connie Joyce Hedrick-Ferlingere was born October 8, 1949 in Raytown, Missouri. She lived most of her life in Missouri until we moved out here to Reno in 1991. She has 3 sisters and a brother who all still live in Missouri. They were all here for her in her final days.

Connie worked for Sparks Florist for 21 years. Flowers were a passion of hers, and she loved working there. She was also a big camper. She camped more in her life than I ever will in mine. She loved being in the outdoors and experience this beautiful world.

One of the toughest things for me through all of this was watching person after person that I didn’t know stop by her house to visit. Watching them breakdown by her side was very tough. Tough because, it showed me just how much of an impact she had had on so many people’s lives. And why should I have been surprised about this? She was an amazing person. Her personality was infectious. She had such a big heart, and made everyone she knew feel special. She never did anything for herself. It was always for us kids, or those around her. When I first set out on my own, she would occasionally show up with bags of groceries. She was always worried about me. She would still to those recent days, have me call her to let her know I was okay if she knew I was going any long distances on my motorcycle.

Her reception was taken care of by her work. Sparks Florist. They did an amazing job. And back to the impact she had on people. There were around 4 to 500 people there. I was amazed. So many people came to me and introduced themselves, and told me how they knew my mom. It was very touching.

I wish there was a way to even remotely put into words the kind of person she really was and what she meant to me, and so many others. That is an impossible task. I couldn’t get that out if I wrote a book about her. One thing I can say, during the entire Cancer battle, she never once complained. Not once. Nor did she not keep her sense of humor and smile on her face. She was being strong for us is what I think. She was such an amazing person, and she will be forever missed immensely.

I want to thank those of you who read this, and took the time to get to know my beloved mom just a little bit. I’m sorry you and the rest of the world never got to know her. You would have loved her.