IRL_Joanie Posted August 30, 2016 #1 Share Posted August 30, 2016 This morning I was very saddened to receive a notification via my Facebook regarding Mama Lou's passing on August 26th, 2016..... QUOTE "I am so sorry to let you all know that Mama Lou passed away unexpectedly this morning. She loved her "dam" kids and her adopted friends and family so much. She will be missed ... " UNQUOTE She will be sorely missed by everyone who was blessed by her, whether in real life or the cyber community, onboard a HAL ship or on land. I will continue to strive to be a Mam Lou and enjoy life to the fullest for as long as I can. She is an Icon who will live forever in our hearts and minds. God Bless and keep you, your family and friends Mama Lou. God Bless you!! Joanie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
510picker Posted August 30, 2016 #2 Share Posted August 30, 2016 (edited) I only met her once, but she is one of those people you never forget after meeting one time. She would tell everyone not to grieve for her passing, but to celebrate her life, as she lived life to the fullest. Rest in peace, Mama Lou! Edited August 30, 2016 by 510picker Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare puppycanducruise Posted August 30, 2016 #3 Share Posted August 30, 2016 Our thoughts and prayers are with her family. Rest in Peace. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OlsSalt Posted August 30, 2016 #4 Share Posted August 30, 2016 She was the first person I had ever heard of who lived her life on cruise ships, and that made a lot of "dam" sense when you got down to it. She lives. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Krazy Kruizers Posted August 30, 2016 #5 Share Posted August 30, 2016 We were fortunate to meet her a few years ago. What a delightful lady she was. May she rest in peace and cruise on that bug ship in the sky. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Copper10-8 Posted August 30, 2016 #6 Share Posted August 30, 2016 Very sorry to hear about her passing! The crew on the dam ships, especially "Her boys and girls from Indonesia and the Philippines" loved her. Rest In Peace Mama Lou! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aliaschief Posted August 30, 2016 #7 Share Posted August 30, 2016 May she rest in peace. She was a inspiration to so many. Follow your dreams. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
frankc98376 Posted August 30, 2016 #8 Share Posted August 30, 2016 (edited) Rest in Peace Mama Lou- you will be missed by everyone you touched. I hope HAL does something nice on one of the ships in her memory. Edited August 30, 2016 by frankc98376 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare LAFFNVEGAS Posted August 30, 2016 #9 Share Posted August 30, 2016 Rest in Peace Mama Lou, Keep Sailing those Calm Seas in Heaven as you watch over those of us sailing on Earth. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2ptu/000 Posted August 30, 2016 #10 Share Posted August 30, 2016 Very sorry to hear this. I met her once on some ship. She was quite a character. Do we know if she was on a ship when she died? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lindaler Posted August 30, 2016 #11 Share Posted August 30, 2016 She will be missed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ger_77 Posted August 30, 2016 #12 Share Posted August 30, 2016 How sad - I never had the opportunity to meet her, but have heard so many lovely things about her over the years. May she rest in peace and enjoy cruising through eternity. Smooth Sailing Mama Lou ! :) :) :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Miata Posted August 30, 2016 #13 Share Posted August 30, 2016 (edited) I can recall the exact circumstances of the first time my wife, Holly, and I saw Mama Lou. We got on the elevator on a HAL ship and there was already a young couple on there. The young lady was quite slim and attractive. We stopped at an intervening floor and this older lady (Mama Lou) get on the elevator using a walker. The walker was adorned with various stuffed animals and a bicycle type horn. The elevator goes a couple of floors, stops and Mama Lou goes to get off. Prior to exiting the elevator she pinches the young lady’s hinny and says “You need to put some meat on that thing honey” and gets off the elevator. Our mouths drop to our chests while the young couple look at each other. I finally said, incredulously, “Do you know THAT lady?” They answered “NO!” We soon met her formally (As always with a swarm of crew members tending her) on the Lido deck. We ran into her another time (Veendam October 2007) and we told her about the Cruise Critic Roll Call gathering which she was not familiar with. She attended the party and was the highlight for everyone. She regaled us with stories of her younger years and even took out a photo she had of herself from when she lived in Hawaii with her husband. She was wearing a little two piece outfit and looked VERY appetizing. Later that cruise Holly mentioned that she, Holly, has a black belt in karate. Mama Lou insisted that Holly go back to her cabin where she gave Holly a little karate stuffed animal. We still have it and treasure it. I trust that her family bears her passing well and that there is more laughter then tears at her funeral. I know that I’ve just done both thinking about her. Edited August 30, 2016 by Miata Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RetiredMustang Posted August 30, 2016 #14 Share Posted August 30, 2016 I was delighted to meet and chat with Mama Lou on board Ryndam in sping 2011 (in the casino, as it turned out...): We chatted for a while, and discovered that we had actually met before - in 1996, in the Piet Hein bar on Noordam III. A delightful lady, and I am sorry we did not cross paths once again. RIP! Dave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
freestyling Posted August 30, 2016 #15 Share Posted August 30, 2016 What an amazing lady. She will be missed. God bless Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
InTheWASide Posted August 30, 2016 #16 Share Posted August 30, 2016 (edited) So sad! I met her a few years ago when we were on Nieuw Amsterdam in Costa Maya but ended up visiting the Ryndam as an excursion (hey... I was a HAL employee at the time, doing the DBA blog and I pulled a couple favors... I hadn't seen Ryndam before) We just happened to see her in the Lido grabbing lunch as we were wrapping up the tour. We told her we didn't want to interrupt we just wanted to say hi, and thank you and let her know she's a legend in the HAL office and it was so cool to meet her in the flesh and not just a HAL Blog article. She then chatted with us in the Lido for the next 20 minutes and we were almost late getting off the ship by the time we needed for our visit. Such a sweet woman who has lived a long and incredible life. RIP Mama Lou. Every person you've come across in your years and travels is better for having known you. <3 Edited August 30, 2016 by InTheWASide Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
avian777 Posted August 30, 2016 #17 Share Posted August 30, 2016 (edited) RIP, Mama Lou!!! Edited August 30, 2016 by avian777 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AtlantaCruiser72 Posted August 30, 2016 #18 Share Posted August 30, 2016 I had the good fortune of meeting her when I sailed the Ryndam a few years back, a lovely lady with a genuine zest for life, a warm caring heart, and truly left an impression on me. She will be missed by all those who have had the blessing to know her! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
serendipity1499 Posted August 30, 2016 #19 Share Posted August 30, 2016 (edited) We're so sad to hear that Mama Lou passed away.. We only had the pleasure of meeting her on the Ryndam in 2013.. She was an amazing lady! Everyone who knew her was enthralled with her wonderful sense of humor, her charm, her grace & of her love for the crew.. I only hope I can be like her & live my life to the fullest.. May God hold you in the palm of his hand Mama Lou.. Rest in Peace! Edited August 30, 2016 by serendipity1499 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SJSULIBRARIAN Posted August 30, 2016 #20 Share Posted August 30, 2016 I am so sorry I never met Mama Lou. She sounds like a Great Lady. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jhannah Posted August 30, 2016 #21 Share Posted August 30, 2016 So sorry to learn this. We enjoyed sailing with her a few years back. She was quite a woman! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare erewhon Posted August 30, 2016 #22 Share Posted August 30, 2016 Joanie, Thank you for advising of this sad news. We were fortunate to meet Mama Lou on board the Statendam during a 28 day Panama Canal cruise back in 2009.I had previously read about her here on CC, and seen the photos which had been posted, she must have boarded on turn around day in Fort Lauderdale, and saw her at dinner. A couple of days later we spoke with her in the Lido at lunchtime, and then when we saw her at other times around the ship. When we were looking around the shops at the Acapulco Terminal Building Mama Lou told me she was buying gifts to give to various crew members. She was a wonderful lady. I was impressed by the way the crew treated her with great respect and helping her when necessary. Since meeting her, we have often thought of her and wondered how she was. Rest in Peace Mama Lou. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Typhoon1 Posted August 30, 2016 #23 Share Posted August 30, 2016 May she sail into eternity in peace. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Randyk47 Posted August 30, 2016 #24 Share Posted August 30, 2016 We are so sorry to hear about Mama Lou's passing. We had the opportunity to cruise with her two times and actually got her to sit with us for lunch once. Quite a lady. She's on a great cruise now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dobiemom Posted August 31, 2016 #25 Share Posted August 31, 2016 I wish I had had the pleasure of meeting this wonderful woman. My thoughts and prayers are with all her family and friends. Rest in Peace, Mama Lou. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Please sign in to comment
You will be able to leave a comment after signing in
Sign In Now