Here Lies Mother's Day's Worst Enemy

Editor's note: The following is from the staff at .

In 1907, Anna Jarvis began a campaign to establish an official national Mother’s Day in the United States. Reportedly, it wasn’t until she gained the support of John Wanamaker that her cause was truly heard. By 1911, most states were celebrating Mother’s Day and in 1914, President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed Mother’s Day a national holiday.

Ironically, Anna Jarvis spent the latter years of her life protesting the commercialization of the holiday. She said:

“A printed card means nothing except that you are too lazy to write to the woman who has done more for you than anyone in the world. And candy! You take a box to Mother—and then eat most of it yourself. A pretty sentiment.”

Anna was interred beside her mother at West Laurel Hill Cemetery in 1948. The cemetery offices, located inside Bringhurst Funeral Home, will be open on Mother’s Day, Sunday, May 13 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. if you would like to receive a map and directions to the gravesite.