"I’ve thought about what I would say on this day for the past 6 years. There are so many things that I want each of you to know about my grandmother as she was one of the most wonderful people I ever knew. She spent her whole life worrying about us, and we spent the last 6 years worrying about her; praying that she would either live or die, but not suffer. God finally gave her wings and brought her home to spend eternity with grandpa. Oh what a celebration there must have been last Friday night, Good Friday, the best day either of my grandparents had had for 6 years as they were reunited.
Grandma was the center of our family; the nucleus I guess you’d say. Her life revolved around her children and grandchildren, as she took pride in making every day a special one. From birthdays to holidays, we were all gathered around her kitchen table laughing and celebrating life. One might say she lived vicariously through each of us, just as she will for many years and generations to come. That’s how she would want it.
Every milestone in my life had her in it. She was always supportive of my decisions, right or wrong, but it was clear when she might have chosen a different path. She was like that, always looking out for the best for me. How proud she was to be my grandmother and how fortunate I was to be her granddaughter.
I remember how she used to say that she loved the smell of “wet dirt” when it rained; how she was meticulous about having a clean bathroom, how Monday was laundry day, how much she respected all living things, how much all of us loved her fried chicken and peanut butter pie, how she loved the smell of lilacs, how she would account for every single penny she spent and would drive 3 miles back to the grocery store to claim the quarter that they overcharged her, how she couldn’t sleep at night until all of her children and grandchildren were safe at home.
It’s hard for me to imagine living the rest of my life without this wonderful woman. I knew she would leave us, but not this soon; not this way; she had so much life left in her before the stroke; so many things she wanted to do; so many memories to make with her great-grandchildren of which she was so looking forward to. We must now carry on, taking her with us through life’s adventures, and ensure that her memory is passed on.
Thank you, grandma, for being my rock, my mentor, and my guiding light. I will forever hold you in my heart. You may now rest in peace knowing that you lived your life, served your purpose, and that your family is as strong as you were. You taught us well. I love you always and forever and look forward to seeing you in heaven."
Joshua and Ella (my niece) collected pine cones throughout the cemetary before and after the ceremony.
Pallbearers: Uncle Joseph, Jim, Tony, Jason Silvas, Uncle Scott, Cousin Brian
Dominic chose a yellow sunflower to place on grandma's coffin
The grandkids: Me, Pattie, Amy, and Brian (and Owen snuck in to my right)
The kids: Vickie (my mom), Aunt Pam, Uncle Joseph
The Grandkids and Great-Grandkids:
Jim, Matthew, Owen, Pattie, Pam, Dominic, Amy, Blake, Brian, Ella, and Joshua
Joshua gently places a pinecone on grandma's coffin
Matthew pays tribute with a pink carnation
1 comment:
it was a beautiful funeral for mama! we love you so much mama!!!
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