Still Rising: A Mother's Day Story of Resilience, Purpose & Power
- 3 days ago
- 3 min read
By Jo Ann Nider
As I reflect on Mother's Day and the women in my life, I am reminded not just of the legendary women who came before us, but of the quiet warriors, the everyday heroes, and the modern-day trailblazers who rise in the face of adversity. I am one of them.
I am a wife of 32 years, a proud mother of three incredible adult children, a businesswoman, mentor and a Warrior of Multiple Myeloma, along with several autoimmune diseases. My journey is not one I would have chosen, but it has shaped me in the most powerful way. Each chapter brought lessons, but it was during the most difficult time that I found my strength.
Living with an incurable cancer and my various medical issues has not slowed me down. It has made my purpose clearer: to help women rise, organize their lives from the inside out, and thrive. Whether through my organizing business, Jo Ann’s Creations or through leadership and community, I continue to show up for women, because I know what it means to need someone to believe in you. We must also encourage and instill that same belief, bravery, hope, and perseverance in our daughters. They are watching, and the baton is not just passed but placed in their hands with purpose.
Legacy of Strength: A Mother's Day Reflection
One of the greatest gifts of my life has been the incredible opportunity to know and love my mother-in-law, Olga—a 99-year-old Holocaust survivor whose legacy continues to shape our family.
At just 15 years old, in 1941, Olga’s life changed forever when Hungary joined the war. By 1944, she and her sister Clara had endured slave labor battalions, Ravensbrück Concentration Camp, and a brutal Death March. Clara was ready to give up, but Olga insisted they keep going. “Mother would never forgive me if I came home without you,” she said.
After the war ended, Olga’s family ultimately migrated to Uruguay. Samuel, who she met after the war, followed Olga to Uruguay where they married. Olga opened a hair salon, had a son (my husband Dan) and later immigrated to New York so they could reunite with Samuel’s only surviving sibling.
Years later, Olga began sharing her story; first through Steven Spielberg’s Shoah Foundation, where her story is preserved in the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, D.C. She then began to tell her story to students during their studies of the Holocaust throughout New Jersey.
But I cannot talk about rising without also reflecting on my own mother Ella, who taught me what motherhood truly means. My mom raised five children while my father worked in NYC road construction, and she did it with strength and an incredible work ethic. She married at 18 and raised four daughters and one son.
As the town's local seamstress, my mom was always busy altering and making clothes. She made beautiful wedding gowns including my own. She didn’t stop there; when she wasn’t sewing for others, she made a lot of our clothes, dresses, bathing suits, Halloween costumes etc. My mom also made beautiful doll dresses, accessories, and seasonal decor for our home, including curtains and decorations. As we grew older, my mom continued to sew. This is when my creativity came out. We collaborated on everything she made for me. She made skirts, blouses, dresses and even a suit.
But my mom’s gifts weren’t just in her hands; they were in her heart. She taught me how to cook as my grandmother taught her. We had home-cooked meals every night of the week, a cherished tradition I carried on with my family.
My mom passed away a year and a half ago after a long battle with dementia. I will, however, forever carry her lessons with me, not just as a mother but as a woman. She lived for her husband and her children. She raised us to be strong, creative, and kind; traits I hope to pass on to my own children.
In part, because they survived… I thrive. Because they rose… I rise. And because the women in my life, past and present, never gave up, I will never stop fighting for my life.
On this Mother’s Day, as we honor the women who have shaped our lives, our mother’s grandmother, sisters, friends, and mentors who continue to walk beside us we remember that their strength is our legacy. A legacy to be passed on to those who come after us, like my daughters Rachel and Jessica, watching, learning and preparing to lead “It’s Time to Live.”
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