Excited children 'round her lap
Delighted motley crew
Savoring her bounty
Of biscuit, cake, or stew

Our Ma knew how to keep the faith
Through famine and through sorrow
With hope she welcomed every day
Believed in her tomorrow

Our coats and mittens crafted
By  never-resting hands
A bit of lace, a fringe of wool
Warm style in war-worn lands

Our Ma knew how to keep the faith
Through poverty and sorrow
With cheer she welcomed every day
Believed in her tomorrow

She knew to keep us in suspense
About the cinema
In foreign tongue she'd make our plans
As we beseeched, "But Ma!"

Our Ma knew how to keep the faith
Through happiness and sorrow
With glee  she welcomed every day
Believed in her tomorrow

What commotion in the house
When one eventful year
Ma learned to drive a winged car
Resumed her lost career

Our Ma knew how to keep the faith
Through industry and sorrow
With strength she welcomed every day
Believed in her tomorrow

With relish she embraced her work
Attended Daily Mass
And in her rusty Cadillac
Returned us home from class

Our Ma knew how to keep the faith
Through changes and through sorrow
With zest she welcomed every day
Believed in her tomorrow

As Ma's memory grew dim
She still surprised us all
Her favorite flower's name she knew
In Latin to recall

Our Ma knew how to keep the faith
Through illness and through sorrow
With thanks she welcomed every day
Believed in her tomorrow

And as we say goodbye to Ma
The echoes of her laughter
Recall her greatest lesson taught
Her sunshine here and after

It's our turn now to keep the faith
Through absence and through sorrow
With cheer to welcome every day
Believe in our tomorrow