This is the last picture I have of my grandmother, when we were there for Easter this year. She is with my cousin who was also celebrating her 16th birthday while we were there. Look at that hair and those nails, the nursing home where she spent the last year and a half was a good place where they took great care of her. She passed away this morning at the age of 81.
Grandma retained her humor right up to the end. My mother said before they took her to surgery on Wednesday the anesthesiologist asked if she smoked. She told him yes, cigars. He asked if she smoked one a day. She told him no, two. He asked if she'd had one that day and she told him no, they wouldn't let her have one. Mom said by that time he wasn't sure what to believe and asked her if it was really true and she laughed at him. She'd never smoked a day in her life! There was a really difficult period after her stroke when she was confused a lot of the time, she told stories about her neighbors and that she had been out on trips. She repeated things and made strange requests. As hard as it was to see her disabilities from the stroke it was harder to lose "her." We were all grateful when she came back to us and was her old self telling us what to do and asking embarrassing questions.
Thank you grandma for cutting up my apples, complete with taking off the peels (Mom wouldn't do that) when I was little. Thank you for teaching me to cook. Thank you for being a great role model for marriage. Thank you for sharing your love for God. Thank you for trying to teach me to quilt, now I wish I had listened and watched more carefully. Thank you grandma for being the port in the storm when I needed to get out of the house, you always welcomed me with open arms. My best friend told me tonight that she'd miss you as well, she hasn't had grandparents in many years and she so appreciated that you were there for her without judgement as a surrogate. I will miss you, she will miss you, the rest of the family will miss you and many, many other people whose lives you have touched will miss you as well. You lived and loved well.
Grandma retained her humor right up to the end. My mother said before they took her to surgery on Wednesday the anesthesiologist asked if she smoked. She told him yes, cigars. He asked if she smoked one a day. She told him no, two. He asked if she'd had one that day and she told him no, they wouldn't let her have one. Mom said by that time he wasn't sure what to believe and asked her if it was really true and she laughed at him. She'd never smoked a day in her life! There was a really difficult period after her stroke when she was confused a lot of the time, she told stories about her neighbors and that she had been out on trips. She repeated things and made strange requests. As hard as it was to see her disabilities from the stroke it was harder to lose "her." We were all grateful when she came back to us and was her old self telling us what to do and asking embarrassing questions.
Thank you grandma for cutting up my apples, complete with taking off the peels (Mom wouldn't do that) when I was little. Thank you for teaching me to cook. Thank you for being a great role model for marriage. Thank you for sharing your love for God. Thank you for trying to teach me to quilt, now I wish I had listened and watched more carefully. Thank you grandma for being the port in the storm when I needed to get out of the house, you always welcomed me with open arms. My best friend told me tonight that she'd miss you as well, she hasn't had grandparents in many years and she so appreciated that you were there for her without judgement as a surrogate. I will miss you, she will miss you, the rest of the family will miss you and many, many other people whose lives you have touched will miss you as well. You lived and loved well.
7 comments:
That is such a great story about the cigars! I love that. She is such a beautiful lady.
I'm sorry for your loss, but I'm glad you have so many fond memories of her. I feel that way about Joey's grandmother, both of mine had passed away before I was born and she was the only grandma I ever knew, so I miss her terribly.
I think I'm going to steal that cigar line!
I'm so sorry for you right now. AND YOU'LL BE GONE FOR A WHOLE TWO WEEKS!
:-(
Thoughts and prayers and giant hugs from me. I lost my grandmother in April and was just as far away when it happened, so I can relate to that pull.... Your post about her is heartwarming and she sounds like a lovely lovely lady.
I'm just so sorry to hear about your loss. She sounds like an astounding lady. LOVE the fingernails and hair! She was a beauty!
I am sorry for your loss, MM. She sounds like an amazing, strong, interesting woman.
Aw Maven. I'm so terribly sorry! What wonderful memories you have to cherish.
Grandma sounds just like the Grandma I want to be...
I know you will miss her terribly!
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