Grandma
My grandmother passed away early this morning.
I awoke at about 4 AM for no good reason and discovered a message on my voicemail from my mother, who had been staying with her, along with many of my aunts and uncles. I don't know how or why I didn't hear the phone ring. I always wake up when the phone rings. But not this one time.
Her death didn't come as a surprise. We've been expecting it for days now. Maybe weeks. I was there on Sunday night as my mother and my aunts poured through books of readings and hymnals in preparation. One by one, my aunts and uncles would come to the house, under the guise of helping to care for her, but really just to wait. Almost all her children were there at the end, so I guess it was a good time for her to go. My mother, her oldest, was in the room when she left.
It is certainly a sad event, and the next few days will be hard for the family, but there is a lot to celebrate. My grandmother had a good long life and she leaves behind a wonderful legacy. Mother of nine, grandmother of seventeen, great-grandmother of four so far. She used to say that she would have had even more children if World War II hadn't gotten in the way. She had a lot of love to give.
She will be missed.
I awoke at about 4 AM for no good reason and discovered a message on my voicemail from my mother, who had been staying with her, along with many of my aunts and uncles. I don't know how or why I didn't hear the phone ring. I always wake up when the phone rings. But not this one time.
Her death didn't come as a surprise. We've been expecting it for days now. Maybe weeks. I was there on Sunday night as my mother and my aunts poured through books of readings and hymnals in preparation. One by one, my aunts and uncles would come to the house, under the guise of helping to care for her, but really just to wait. Almost all her children were there at the end, so I guess it was a good time for her to go. My mother, her oldest, was in the room when she left.
It is certainly a sad event, and the next few days will be hard for the family, but there is a lot to celebrate. My grandmother had a good long life and she leaves behind a wonderful legacy. Mother of nine, grandmother of seventeen, great-grandmother of four so far. She used to say that she would have had even more children if World War II hadn't gotten in the way. She had a lot of love to give.
She will be missed.