On the recordMay 8, 2024
Mr. Speaker, with Mother's Day coming, I am thinking about the one-in-a-million woman who raised my six siblings and me. I have never before spoken about my mother on the House floor, but today I celebrate our beautiful mom, Mary Eaton Dean, here in a photo taken many years ago by my grandfather, William Dean. Mary Dean was an only child who went on to become the mother of seven--five boys, two girls, one for every day's grace, and grandmother to 16. She gave freely of her kindness, her wisdom, and her friendship throughout our Glenside community. Mary Dean was a woman of love. She loved our dad. She loved her life. She was a woman of faith, of adventure, and of loyalty. When our father, Bob Dean, died at 58, my mom was our anchor, determined to live the best life for herself and for us. Mr. Speaker, I will say to my siblings, Bob, Harry, Michael, Jim, Chris, Maryann, aren't we lucky? This Mother's Day, may we celebrate the mothers in our lives and honor those no longer with us knowing their lessons of love are forever imprinted on our hearts. ____________________





