RSS 2.0 FeedMay 20, 2011, Freeport-Baldwin Leader
Meet the Leader’s Mother of the Year
Kathleen Randall is honored.
Mother of the Year Kay Randall, front row, fourth from left, is surrounded by her extended family at a recent family wedding.
“Love is patient, love is kind; It is not jealous, is not pompous, it is not inflated, it is not rude; it does not seek its own interests,” reads the first Letter of Saint Paul to the Corinthians.
This definition of love aptly describes our Mother of the Year, Kathleen Randall of Freeport, who has made many sacrifices to provide for her family but always with joy, wrote her children.
“I don’t know what to say,” said a teary Mrs. Randall on the telephone. “I have such a wonderful family; very supportive.”
Her children said the same thing in their letter nominating their mother. They wrote about her bravery and strength after their father died and her can-do attitude about life. “We have nicknamed her ‘NRA’ which stands for Never Refuses Anything,” wrote her four children.
Mrs. Randall was widowed at the age of 37 when her husband, a Nassau County police officer was killed in a car accident. “I had no experience in the work world, outside of a little bit of clerical experience, but I found work,” she said matter-of-factly.
Mrs. Randall had several jobs before working for the Nassau County Police Department; then in 1989 she became the second civilian dispatcher for the Freeport Police Department. “It was a hard job,” wrote her children, “especially when she had to send her baby boy, [Shawn Randall, president of the Freeport Police Benevolent Association], on a dangerous call.”
But Mrs. Randall had a strong work ethic and did what needed to be done to support her family. “Hard work was something Mom instilled in all of us at a very young age,” wrote her children.
Now that Mrs. Randall is retired, she is enjoying spending more time with her four children – Kathleen Randall Notheis, Doreen Randall Laffin, Robert Randall and Shawn Randall, as well as her eight grandchildren and “one great-grandchild, Sienna who is so adorable and will be three years old on the 30th of May,” said Mrs. Randall.
“Love never fails,” reads the first Letter of Saint Paul. Love has not failed the Randall family.
On Mother’s Day the Randall family were together to celebrate motherly love. “We had brunch at Bobby’s. He does it every year. Everybody attended. We are a close family,” she said.
Congratulations to Mrs. Randall. As Mother of the year she will receive the following gifts from our local merchants:
A $25 gift certificate from the Imperial Diner; a floral arrangement from Terranova Florist, a $50 gift certificate from Vincente Jewelers; a week free for two from Energexfitness; a gift certificate for one bottle of champagne from Atlantic Bayview Wines and Liquors; one free week for two from World Gym; a $25 gift certificate from The Schooner; a $25 gift certificate from Piccolo Pizza and a year’s subscription to The Freeport Baldwin Leader. See page 2 for winning letter.
The winning letter for The Leader’s 2011 Mother of the Year
We are writing to nominate our mother, Kathleen Randall, as the Leader’s 2011 Mother of the Year.
Everyone believes they have the best mother in the world, but we would argue that honor truly belongs to our mom. At the age of 37, she was left to raise five young children on her own after the untimely death of our dad. At the time, we ranged from 8 to 13 years of age.
Always a stay-at-home mom, she had to return to the workforce in order to provide for her family. Mom began working in the cafeteria for Freeport Public Schools, and then became a teacher’s aide in the library of the Bayview Avenue School.
Her career then took her to the Communications Bureau of the Nassau County Police Department and eventually, in 1989, she became the second civilian dispatcher for the Freeport Police Department. That was sometimes a hard job, especially when she had to send her baby boy, a Freeport police officer, on a dangerous call.
Mom taught us to be independent, but dependent on each other. We always said that the younger boys had three mothers because the two older sisters pitched in with keeping the house in order and keeping the boys in line.
Hard work was something Mom instilled in all of us at a very young age. She ran a very orderly house and fun activities were only allowed after homework and the chores were done. By following Mom’s example, each of us was raised to believe that having a good work ethic was the only option.
Her life has not been easy. Not only did she lose our dad at a very young age, but she also suffered the loss of our brother, a fate no mother should have to endure. But Mom carries on, taking joy from her favorite activity, which is anything she can do with her family.
We have nicknamed her “NRA,” which stands for Never Refuses Anything. No matter what it is you are doing, or where you are going, Mom is happy to be part of it. And we, the Randall family, are lucky to have Kay Randall as our mom! We hope that The Leader will agree that she should be the 2011 Mother of the Year.
The Randall Family
Submitted by:
Kathleen Randall Notheis
Doreen Randall Laffin
Robert Randall
Shawn Randall
