Celebrating a life.
My grandmother passed away last night. She was 91 1/2, and died at home.
She was an AMAZING lady. My favorite person. She raised 6 children on a farm, all of whom turned out great. My grandfather was not the easiest person to live with, and she struggled at times just to get food on the table. So she did odd jobs, usually sewing, to bring in the cash just so there were groceries. I remember when I was 7, she ran for public office. She actually arranged for all of us grandkids to ride an elephant with her in the 4th of July parade.
When my grandfather passed away from lung cancer when I was 16, I remember she stayed so strong. She sold the farm, moved into a small little house in town. She let me live with her for 6 months until I found an apartment when I first left home at age 17. She was always so loving and welcoming.
While I was there, she went on a bus trip to Branson, Missouri.... and met my next "grandfather". A HUGE teddy bear of a guy - and he treated her like a queen! When all of us kids and grandkids were out of the house, they moved to Arizona, where they stayed active, golfing daily until they hit their 90's. My X and I took a 2nd honeymoon 2 years ago to go see them (with a stop at the Grand Canyon, lol), and they both looked AMAZING. "Grandpa" still looked like he was 60 even though he was 95 and he was still buzzing around on his golf cart, much to Grandma's chagrin, and Grandma still looked as happy as ever.
Little did I know though, was that "Grandpa" had cancer and it was catching up to him. He passed away that September. I continued to call Grandma every other week, usually to just talk to about the weather, and she always sounded so happy, so upbeat. The calls were usually silly little conversations, but ones that made us both feel so blessed. She was so strong...
She passed away in her sleep last night, and even though she laid on her deathbed yesterday, she still sent words of love, hugs... she told me NO REGRETS, just be happy. I'm really going to miss her, and hope I can be just like her.
She was an AMAZING lady. My favorite person. She raised 6 children on a farm, all of whom turned out great. My grandfather was not the easiest person to live with, and she struggled at times just to get food on the table. So she did odd jobs, usually sewing, to bring in the cash just so there were groceries. I remember when I was 7, she ran for public office. She actually arranged for all of us grandkids to ride an elephant with her in the 4th of July parade.
When my grandfather passed away from lung cancer when I was 16, I remember she stayed so strong. She sold the farm, moved into a small little house in town. She let me live with her for 6 months until I found an apartment when I first left home at age 17. She was always so loving and welcoming.
While I was there, she went on a bus trip to Branson, Missouri.... and met my next "grandfather". A HUGE teddy bear of a guy - and he treated her like a queen! When all of us kids and grandkids were out of the house, they moved to Arizona, where they stayed active, golfing daily until they hit their 90's. My X and I took a 2nd honeymoon 2 years ago to go see them (with a stop at the Grand Canyon, lol), and they both looked AMAZING. "Grandpa" still looked like he was 60 even though he was 95 and he was still buzzing around on his golf cart, much to Grandma's chagrin, and Grandma still looked as happy as ever.
Little did I know though, was that "Grandpa" had cancer and it was catching up to him. He passed away that September. I continued to call Grandma every other week, usually to just talk to about the weather, and she always sounded so happy, so upbeat. The calls were usually silly little conversations, but ones that made us both feel so blessed. She was so strong...
She passed away in her sleep last night, and even though she laid on her deathbed yesterday, she still sent words of love, hugs... she told me NO REGRETS, just be happy. I'm really going to miss her, and hope I can be just like her.
Replies
Oh I\'m so sorry. I remember very well the empty feeling I had when I learned of my Grandmother\'s passing. Your relationship was truly special it sounds like great advice: NO REGRETS.
No Regrets sounds like good advice from your grandmother. Something to remember during hard times. She has left you a lot of good memories and you will miss her. She was an amazing woman.
I am sorry for your loss of such an amazing person, but what a legacy she has left you. I hope you can find comfort in all those wonderful memories of a truly amazing lady. It sounds like she really lived her life to the utmost. What an inspiration to you!