Elderly Woman Visits Her Parents’ Grave and Sees Homeless Woman Her Age Putting Flowers on It — Story of the Day

An elderly woman decides to visit her parents' graves one day, only to see a homeless woman her age there holding flowers. She's quick to assume who the woman is, but the truth surprises her and changes her world forever.

Jane was in her sixties and lived life alone. She never had a husband or children, and none of her relatives were still alive either. Despite being alone, she was content with her life as she enjoyed little things like watching medical TV shows, working in her garden, and taking walks to the cemetery on weekends.

Jane's mother died when she was still a little girl. Meanwhile, her dad lived until Jane was in her early 20s and was extremely close to her.

Although she knew that her dad loved her late mom dearly enough not to get married again, she started to doubt this one day after discovering someone standing by her parents' graves.

As she was approaching, she noticed a woman standing there. She was dressed poorly and looked homeless. She held a beautiful bouquet, including a bright orange arrangement of tulips and pink and white carnations. She then placed them on top of Jane's parents' graves.

When the homeless woman saw Jane approaching, her eyes went wide, and she ran away. Confused with the woman's sudden departure, she suspected that the woman might have been her father's mistress.

The thought sent shivers down Jane's spine and made her blood boil. "How can dad dare have a mistress?!" she thought.

A week later, Jane revisited the cemetery and hid near her parents' graves. The homeless woman appeared yet again with another fresh arrangement of flowers.

Jane stormed over and asked: "Why do you dare visit your lover's grave? He's not alive anymore, and there's no reason for you to keep visiting."

The woman was startled at Jane's voice. She looked afraid, but she decided to correct Jane's assumptions. "Lover?" she asked. "I don't come to visit any lover," she clarified. "I come to visit my mother's grave."

Jane couldn't believe what she was hearing. "To your mother?" Jane asked, dumbfounded at the sudden revelation.

The woman nodded. "I am an orphan. I grew up in an orphanage, where I met a nurse named Anna," she started to explain. "We became friends, and she took care of me as a little girl. She would feed me, bathe me, and shower me with even the most simple gifts."

Immediately, Jane knew the woman was telling the truth. Her mother had worked in an orphanage, and she invested a lot of time in it, according to stories told by Jane's dad.

"Unfortunately, one day, there was a fire in the orphanage. Anna had already gone out, but she remembered me. She went back up to save me, but she died in the process. I was only seven years old at the time. She was the only mother I ever had, and when she saved me, it was my second chance at life," the woman recalled tearfully.

Jane realized she was speaking to the woman she was talking to was a reflection of her mother's love, kindness, and selflessness. Her mother had sacrificed herself to save an innocent young child, which told Jane more than she could ever know about her mother.

"I assume you are Anna's daughter. You and your father are fortunate to have had her in your lives. Anna was a wonderful person. Her former colleague at the orphanage reminded me of all the good times we spent together, and I wrote them all down because I want her memory never to be forgotten," the woman told Jane.

Jane sighed. She didn't experience much with her mom, as she was only a toddler when Anna died. As much as she wanted to blame the woman in front of her for her mother's death, she knew she was not to blame, as her mother made her own decisions back in the day.

"I am Jane. You're right. I am the daughter of Anna and my dad James. What is your name?" Jane asked the woman.

"I'm Lisa. It's nice to meet you. Thank you for listening to my story, Jane, and I'm sorry if I somehow disrespected you by placing flowers in your mom's grave often," the woman replied.

Jane shook her head and told her not to apologize. She realized that the woman was lonely, just like her. "Do you live nearby?" Jane asked.

The woman shook her head and said she lived at a homeless shelter about a kilometer away from the cemetery. Jane revealed that she lived alone and had an extra room in her house. "Come live with me to live the rest of your life comfortably," she offered.

Lisa was quick to decline, but Jane insisted. "Please, do consider. It's what mom would have wanted."

Since then, Jane has taken Lisa in. They got to know each other and kept company every day. They were like sisters – although not united by blood. Joined by the love their mom Anna once shared with both united them, it eventually grew into a shared love for one another.

What can we learn from this story?

• Good deeds are never forgotten. Anna did something extraordinarily noble and selfless for a young girl whom she loved dearly, even if it cost her life. Lisa, the woman she saved, chose to continue honoring Anna in simple ways, refusing to let her memory be forgotten.
• Family doesn't always mean blood, but love. Lisa never had a mother, but she experienced motherly love through Anna. Likewise, Jane lived most of her life without a family until Lisa came along and became a sister to her.

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If you liked this story, you might like this one about an older woman who visited her husband's grave, only to find two little children standing there, waiting for her.

This account is inspired by our reader's story and written by a professional writer. Any resemblance to actual names or locations is purely coincidental. All images are for illustration purposes only. Share your story with us; maybe it will change someone's life. If you would like to share your story, please send it to info@amomama.com.