Rest in Peace- Grandma passed
Grandma was a talker. Not so much a story teller, but a "visitor". She could chit - chat for days on end. Always cheerful and warm, she welcomed all who came to their house. If it was meal time, you ate with them. No questions asked. She could make a 2 pound roast stretch for 20 if she needed to, and always had plenty to fall back on "in the pantry in the celler" In the summer, there may have been 15 grandkids staying there at one time The house was full --- with love. I learned things during those summers that will stay with me forever. Killing chickens for the freezer, picking pumpkins and "putting them up" for the winter. The best part was when grandma fried the pumpkin blossoms for us. And she always wore her yellow apron with the mended pocket when she fried them. She taught us to sew- she taught us to can, she taught us about african violets ( her posies). When I say us - I mean the grandaughters. The grandsons were out in the field with Grandpa learning to bale hay and farm with horses. Grandpa was a wonder too. In fact, there was an article written about him in "Farm Jounal". He would never give in to the "modern ways" of farming. He needed to walk behind his team of horses, and "feel the earth" He only used tractors for baling hay. Planting and such was done with the horses. When he passed, his casket was taken to the cemetary by my Uncle Ronnies "team" - with all of his sons ( all 6 of them) in the wagon. I am one of the older grandkids, 3rd in line of 58. I remember Christmas's at Grandma and Grandpa's when we got "Easy Bake ovens" and bigger items. As the years progressed, and the grandkids grew in numbers - the "big stuff" went by the way side. Our presents became mittens for the girls and gloves for the boys. Then- the numbers grew some more-- and the gifts became hand-made. I have a bear that was made from an old bedspread. Grandma made 67 of them that year. One for each grandchild and one for each of "her bunch of kids" ( 9 ) Those gifts were nice, but the thing we looked forward to the most, was Grandma's "brown bread" . She made the bread in round loaves- and - each was in a used bread bag, tied with a twist tie with a red bow on top. She handed them out as each family left for the day. Last year each of us got the bread , and an ornament with our names handwritten by Grandma. That will be the most cherished of all gifts. I could go on for days with memories. The smell of Grandma's hot chocolate in the morning, coming up the stairs. The down matresses... their undying faith in God. They never preached. They raised their kids to do right, and expected they would be good people. And they are... and so our their kids. Love and pride has a way of continuing on through the generations. 
Yesterday, my Dad and all of his brothers and sisters got together at Grandma's house for a work day. There was yardwork to be done, and my Aunt's ( the 3 "girls") wanted to spruce up the inside a bit. They worked until dark, and then all had "supper" together. My Aunt Nancy was staying the night with Grandma. At 1:30 this morning, she went to check on her. Grandma has died peacefullly in her sleep. Goodbye dear Grandma. You were a strong, special woman and I truly loved you with all my heart. |
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| Lori, I am so very sorry. It sounds like you have the same wonderful memories that I do of my grandparents and my Parents.
My Mother passed away last month, She was in her 97th year and died the day of her kid sister's (85 yrs) funeral. I was so lucky to have had my MOM bright and active for so many years and I do miss her very much. But remember the memories are there and we are so lucky to have had so many years of them . |
| I am so sorry to hear of the passing of your dear Grandmother. She and your Grandpa have left behind quite a Memorial in all of the children and Grandchildren they have inspired.
Thank you for sharing this very special woman with us. Tears,  |
| What a wonderful tribute! She was an exceptional lady who loved her family and return had an exceptional family all filled with her love. Is there any better life? She treasured her family more than "things" and you in returned learned the same lesson.
How wonderful her end came peacefully! I know your loss is great, my condolences to you. susan |
| Lori,
That was a beautiful tribute. Your Grandmother should be proud. She sounds like one dynamic lady....may you always keep those memories close to you.... xo, darcy |
| I am sorry about the loss of your Grandmother.
But how awesome that her kids were all together, working around her house, getting along, right before she she died. How happy that must have made her. And how wonderful that they got to see her too - imagine the teasing, the hugs, the kisses. |
| I am so sorry for your loss, but such beautiful memories will carry you...xx |
| Lori,
I am very sorry for your loss.  Your Grandmother sounded like an amazing woman. It sounds as if she lived life to the fullest and right up until the end. I am sure she had no regrets. What a great way to live!
My deepest sympathies to you and your family. |
| I'm so sorry for your loss.... |
| She sounds like a GRAND lady, who will be greatly missed!! |
| What a beautiful summary of how wonderful your grandmother was... and the big family you have. I'm sorry about her passing, but am also glad her memories will forever live on. |
| Lori - it sounds like your grandma and grandpa were truly wonderful people.
What a full life she led and your family was so lucky to have her be part of your lives for so long. |
| What a beautiful story you wrote honoring your Grandmother's memory.
I love the detail of your memories; the "yellow apron with the mended pocket" and the smell of hot chocolate. Just a beautiful piece of writing. What a woman! 58 grandkids! 67 handmade gifts at Christmas! Yeow! It sounds like she was able to live up until the day she passed... that's the way I'd like to go too. I am so sorry for your loss. Get together with your family and grieve, and remember all of the good memories. Together. |
| Lori
I am so sorry for your loss Your stories of your grandma sounds just like mine who lives in Sparta, Ohio. What a great lady she was, I am sure I used to love to go to Gramma's house! I hope your memories of Granma's house can guide you through the hard times. Tears and hugs to you..... Please find comfort in knowing she is at peace with all her kids surrounding her in her last days with love |
| Lori, How wonderful not only for the time you had with her, but the fact that you knew to appreciate it... I'm so sorry for the younger generations that are coming along and it's all about what can I have now! We didn't grow up that way either. My grandparents were all gone by the time I came along, my father being in his mid 50's when I was born, but I still appreciated every moment I had with my dear darling father and while he has been gone for nearly 30 years, still hard to believe. The younger generation has no idea how precious it is to learn something at the hands of your mother or grandmother. My mom taught me to knit and to sew and to garden and to cook and I think to be a good person. Everytime I see my hands forming stitches on my knitting needles, I thank her for the wonderful gift of knitting. I'm fortunate that I still have my mom and she lives with me and I look forward each day I have with her. I know you did with your grandmother, and better yet Lori, she will be with you for the rest of your life, always near by to help you with a project you are involved with or to pick just the right violet for the light you have available.
Bless you and your grandmothers memory, she did a good job with you, thats for sure. L |
| Lori,
I'm sorry for the loss of your grandmother. Your tribute to her was lovely. She would've been proud! |
| Lori,
I grew up without any grandparents as both my parents lost their own parents early in life. Sadly, I never met them. As a kid I often wished for a grandma....the kind you had, right down to wearing the apron and baking pies. How lucky you were to have such a wonderful grandma the kind often portrayed in storybooks..you had her for real! Your tribute and descriptions brought her to life and they were lovely. You will have memories of her in your heart and your mind forever. I'm so sorry to you and your family for your loss. Sending you hugs Marianne |
| Thank you very much for all the sentiments. I do appreciate it so.
My immediate family was together today for Father's Day, and of course, we reminised and talked all day of Grandma and Grandpa. It's funny to hear the differnt stories of my siblings, and the things that stick in each of our minds, and become memories. My brother Brad reminded us of Grandma's blackberry cobbler, and how she made it for him every birthday. He says whenever he hears or see the word blackberry-Grandma's face flashes. He remembers picking the berries along with fence, with my cousins, and the scrapes they endured from the bushes, for a serving of berry cobbler with home made icecream. My brother Scott says his favorite memory was Grandma humming in the kitchen. I guess it was so much a part of Grandma, I forgot that she did that -- ALWAYS. He said that he used to sit on the porch outside the kitchen window, by himself, and just listen and listen. I never knew that. My sister Traci said that Grandma taught her how to make her famous potato salad... when she was about 5. Grandma told her to pull up a chair, and to listen to everything she told her. And-- that when Traci had a daugher and granddaughter, she should show them how to make it-- and then every generation would have good potato salad for picnics. The secret is to dice everything fine and put it together hot. She said she remembers it like yesterday.
Funny, but Grandma always made the potato salad, and , very rarely do we have it but at Grandma's. I am sure my Aunts and my Mom know the receipe -- but it was Grandma's speciality. Now Traci can try her hand at it. How did a woman with all those grandkids-- make us all feel so special? With each memory I miss her a little more, and realize how blessed we were to have her for so very long. |
| Lori, I'm so sorry for your loss. You write so eloquently about her and your memories that it makes us all feel like we knew her too. What a legacy she has left in her family, and I'm sure she was just as proud of all of you as you were of her.
My deepest condolences to you and your family as you grieve. |
| Just back from vacation, and catching up.
Please accept my deepest sympathies on the loss of your amazing grandmother! I know you will miss her greatly. She sounds as though she was a wonderful person. |
| What wonderful memories you have! The smallest details of the life of someone you cherished and who cherished you in return will comfort you as you grieve. |
| What a wonderful legacy she left of all the wonderful memories you all have of her. Lori, I am so sorry for your loss. She apparently was a wonderful woman. |
| When I am a Grandmother...I will try to make the kind of memories for my Grandchildren that your Grandmother made for you...it is inspiring. So sorry for your loss. |
| What wonderful memories of your grandmother .I am sure she is truly missed. I am blessed to have my own mother (whowill be 95 in Dec) and she is just like your grandma. My thoughts are with you and your family. |
| I'm sorry to hear about your grandmother. My grandmother turns 94 in a couple of weeks, just moved to a nursing home recently and I hope that she'll be with us for a few more years. Your memories of her are sweet and something definitely to be cherished. |
| You wrote so beautifully about your grandmother, Lori, that it brought tears to my eyes. I'm sorry for your loss and I'm sorry for those of us who never got to know her. I wish I'd had a grandmother like her. I believe my own mother is that kind of grandmother to her grandkids. You were so lucky to have had her. What an amazingly GRAND LADY she was. |
| I'm sorry about your grandma. It sounds like she had a great life and a great number of people who loved her. |
| I have tears in my eyes from your wonderful story of your grandmother.
I think you inherited her gift of story telling. peace to you. |
| your story just brought back memories of MY time at my Great Grandmother and Great Grandfathers home. Every summer we went and it was our job to clean out the storm cellar.
I remember Fannie (My GGmom) in the kitchen iwth HER apron on and pumping water at the kitchen sink! (My GGF insisted indoor plumbing was newfangeled and wouldn' ever last!) And she made teacake cookies from sour'd milk. I am the only one that can make them like Fannie did. And to me was the treat of eating on the pull out board in the kitchen with Fannie. You never went to the dinner table wearing shorts, curlers in your hair and men had to have shirts on and no hats. A prayer was always said by Sambo (GGF). Would that i could go back to a day / night with them! |
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