Linda Borman was Becky's best friend when they were both freshman in high school. Becky's family moved away after that but Linda and Becky remained best of friends forever. Here is a note sent to me following Becky's funeral.
Dear Jay,
I miss Becky so much - and I know the void her passing has left in your life is staggering. I think of you and your family often. Everything surrounding Becky's funeral and Celebration of Life was so well done. I am so glad I was there. I was truly welcomed with open arms and treated like a member of the family. I thank you for that.
I will never forget your eulogy for Becky - you could not have done a better job - so touching, heartfelt -with pain and joy and humor. I know she loved it. And Jessie's was wonderful also - what mother doesn't want to hear their daughter say "You were right, Mom"?
"For Good" is tagged #1 on my ipod and I listen to it at least once a day. In fact, I am going to listen to it right now.
Love and Prayers to you and your family,
Linda Borman
Linda's Eulogy:
I had not intended to speak at Becky’s Celebration of Life luncheon, but as I sat there I realized I was the only one there outside of family who knew Becky when she was a young girl growing up in Council Bluffs, Iowa and I wanted people to know a little bit of that part of her life.
In 1964 St. Albert High School opened its door to the first class of freshmen. The plan was to add a class each year so that first year we were in the only class in the new building. We had all come from small grade schools so it was very exciting for us to have lockers and a cafeteria and P.E. and sports teams. There were no upperclassmen so we were the top dogs.
Becky and I were among the six girls that made cheerleading and we became close friends right from the start. We were inseparable in and out of school and spent many nights at each other’s houses. We were typical 14-year-old girls who giggled a lot and talked about boys and hair and clothes. We loved the Beatles and the Beach Boys and CYO dances. We often went to King’s Restaurant after school and ordered cheese frenchies and cokes over the telephone. We liked to ice skate at Big Lake.
We were good kids but we did get in a fair amount of trouble – mostly things like talking in class or passing notes or wearing our uniform skirt too short. In fact if you look at the cheerleading picture you will notice that Becky and I are the only two whose skirts were above our knees! We would roll up the waistband of our skirt the second we were off school property. As Evelyn mentioned, we were “mischievous”.
Many people thought Becky and I looked alike. Teachers and people around town often mistook one of us for the other. Maybe because we dressed and acted alike and wore our hair the same way – whatever the reason, I was flattered because Becky was “cool” and I wanted to be just like her.
The Matuskis moved to Naperville in 1965 and even though Becky and I only went to school together that one year we remained close for the next 47 years. We wrote letters and visited each other as often as we could. She lived in Des Moines for awhile and we made frequent trips back and forth on I-80 to see each other. We went to colleges 80 miles apart and spent many weekends together during that time. No matter how many miles were between us, we always found a way to see each other and keep our friendship alive.
Whenever Andy played baseball in Iowa I went to the games and we saw each other any time I was in the Chicago area. One time when Ty and I were there for a convention Becky and Jay decided to stay at the Hyatt with us so we could have a night out on the town. Becky and I were in our prime - decked out in fur coats and high heels and lookin’ good. When we returned to the Hyatt Becky and I walked into the lobby while Ty and Jay paid the cab driver. We were immediately accosted by two men who started to whisk us away. Of course we protested and looked at each other in confusion but these two guys were on a mission. They didn’t let us go until our husbands arrived in the lobby and rushed to our aid. They asked the guys what the heck they were doing and they sheepishly apologized and mumbled that they thought we were the “ladies of the evening” they had called for!!!! Becky and I fluctuated from feeling a little flattered to being mortified! We laughed for years over that story.
When Ty and I bought a retirement home in Scottsdale, Arizona Becky and Jay and Jessie visited us a couple of times. We had plans for many more get-togethers until she was afflicted with myositis. I feel cheated out of the future girlfriend trips we were looking forward to.
Becky had the most amazing attitude - she rarely complained about her limitations. In fact the only time she expressed her frustration was concerning her grandchildren – she wished she could do more physical things with them.
She loved her family so much and was so proud of her children – she would do anything for them. She also was very creative and I have to admit I copied many of her ideas. She loved to laugh – we could get each other laughing so hard we would be in tears. She was a loyal and caring and fun-loving friend and I miss her so much.
At the end of my eulogy I proposed a toast:
Here’s to good women –
May we know them,
May we raise them,
May we be them.
