In Loving Memory of Margaret Mary Baczek

You are my sunshine...

You are my sunshine...

Total Number of Gifts: 33
Total Value of Gifts: $2,490.00

Recent Donors

Raymond and Mary Best

Candy Johansen

Jessica Laudati

Sarah Koenig

Jayne Gallimore

Sheri Anderson

Maureen Dubee

William and Dorothy Arrighi

Sarah Koenig

The Oliari Charitable Foundation Inc

Full Donor List Opens new window.Full Donor List

About the National Brain Tumor Society:

National Brain Tumor Society is fiercely committed to finding better treatments, and ultimately a cure, for people living with a brain tumor today and anyone who will be diagnosed tomorrow. This means effecting change in the system at all levels.

For more information about the National Brain Tumor Society, visit http://www.braintumor.org/.

Nature’s first green is gold,
Her hardest hue to hold.
Her early leaf’s a flower;
But only so an hour.
Then leaf subsides to leaf.
So Eden sank to grief,
So dawn goes down to day.
Nothing gold can stay.

That's Robert Frost. “Nothing gold can stay.” Nothing lasts forever.

My mom had stage IV brain cancer called glioblastoma. The diagnosis is terminal, and it's a miracle she lived as long she did despite it.

But really, life is a terminal diagnosis. None of us will live forever; none of us will get out alive.

However, we can make our time on this earth golden. Exactly as my mom did.

While this web page was created because my mom passed away, it is not meant to mourn her death. It is meant to remember, honor, and celebrate her life.

My mom, Margaret Mary Baczek radiated beauty and light from the inside out. She lit up the life of any person she touched with her kindness. She lit up every room she entered with her laughter, smile, and silliness or as she would call, “being a goober.” She arguably lit up the world. She surely lit up mine; she was my sunshine and she always will be. As an incredible wife, mom, teacher, friend, and person, she helped every person she could and changed us all for the better. Her impact will live forever in the radiance she shared with us all.

My mom was the epitome of the strength of the human spirit. She had superhuman spirit. Really, superwoman spirit. And this was true long before she was diagnosed with brain cancer, but I swear, when she was diagnosed with glioblastoma, her strength got stronger; as her body got weaker, her real strength persevered and never faltered.

Yes, my mom fought cancer, and no, she didn't survive. But I'd like to say she was the victor, because she didn't let it break her spirit. She beat statistics by a long shot. She danced on Broadway, walked me down the aisle, traveled to the Grand Canyon, and lived and loved every second of her life, even when cancer tried to hinder her from doing so.

I firmly believe I had the best mom and role model in the world. I'd be selfish not to share her or what she taught me: Donate your time. Donate your money if it's feasible. Don't take anything or anyone for granted. Be a good person, just for the sake of being a good person. Be kind to everyone. Be thankful. Remember, “it's nice to be important, but it's more important to be nice.” Be silly. Laugh a lot. Cry if you need to. Live while you still can. Hold onto hope. And remember, “somewhere over the rainbow, bluebirds fly.”

Please consider donating to National Brain Tumor Society in lieu of sending flowers. It's what my mom wanted: to help others. Please help us find a cure today. Thank you for your love, support, kindness, and prayers.

Information regarding her wake and funeral arrangements will follow. The one thing I know for certain is that she did not want anyone to wear black. I told her how in other cultures, people consider passing a time of celebration of life and wear bright colors. My mom liked that and wanted it for herself. She loved "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" and is my sunshine, so let's all please respect her wishes. Thank you again.

Please join me in the fight against brain tumors by making a donation to my fundraising campaign to support the National Brain Tumor Society.


Thank you for visiting this campaign and supporting the National Brain Tumor Society. Donations are tax-deductible and can be made easily and securely through this website. If you prefer to mail in your donation, you may send a check, made payable to National Brain Tumor Society to their east coast office. Please be sure to write my name/campaign name in the check memo line!

National Brain Tumor Society
55 Chapel Street, Suite 200
Newton, MA 02458

This fundraising campaign has been established by a third party for the benefit of the National Brain Tumor Society (NBTS). NBTS is not responsible for the creation or maintenance of this campaign page, the actions of the campaign owner, or the activities associated with this campaign.

If you think this page contains objectionable content, please inform the system administrator.