Eulogy
My paternal grandmother died last Tuesday at the age of 96. She had a pretty amazing life, I think, and a very full one as well. My dad made it to Michigan to say his goodbyes, which I think is important and probably made her happy. Her death was not unexpected by any means, and had you asked her 30 years ago, she would have told her that she was dying imminently, so it's something we've all been long prepared for.
Her life was not easy, but she overcame a lot of challenges, and it amazes me to think that she got her family to the US from Eastern Europe in the early 50's, that she learned a new language, that she saw both of her children married happily, saw all 6 grandkids (of which I am number 5) grow to adulthood, marry, and met 3 great-grandchildren before she died.
I don't have a lot of memories of her, since we only saw her once a year for a few weeks while I was growing up, and I saw her a few more times when I was in college at U of M, but I do remember these few things:
1. Her apartment was VERY hot.
2. She did all of the embroidery on my first communion dress, which my mom made. It was beautiful. Grandma did a lot of embroidery when she was younger and it didn't hurt her hands or her eyes so much. It was some sort of Hungarian craft, I think, and it involved, from what we have, lots of brightly colored flowers. She never showed me how to do it, but I do remember her telling me, when I was about 10, not to cut an extra-long thread when I was sewing. She told me about a little tailor who cut his thread so long that he had to jump out the window of his shop each time he made a stitch, just to pull the thread all the way through the fabric, so he didn't save any time in the end.
3. Apparently, grandma was a fencer in her youth in Hungary. I found this out at cousin Hugi's wedding.
4. My dad brought his clothes home to be washed every weekend when he was in college. They went home in a suitcase, and came back in a bag, because she filled the suitcase with bottles of beer, which dad then snuck into the dorms.
5. She would tell you that she did not snore, no matter what. Those of us who slept in rooms near her could tell you otherwise.
My family is fine, doing well, actually. I think there is some relief that it's over, that she's happier wherever she is. And you know, congratulations on a life well-lived, grandma. Well done you.
-Stephanie
Her life was not easy, but she overcame a lot of challenges, and it amazes me to think that she got her family to the US from Eastern Europe in the early 50's, that she learned a new language, that she saw both of her children married happily, saw all 6 grandkids (of which I am number 5) grow to adulthood, marry, and met 3 great-grandchildren before she died.
I don't have a lot of memories of her, since we only saw her once a year for a few weeks while I was growing up, and I saw her a few more times when I was in college at U of M, but I do remember these few things:
1. Her apartment was VERY hot.
2. She did all of the embroidery on my first communion dress, which my mom made. It was beautiful. Grandma did a lot of embroidery when she was younger and it didn't hurt her hands or her eyes so much. It was some sort of Hungarian craft, I think, and it involved, from what we have, lots of brightly colored flowers. She never showed me how to do it, but I do remember her telling me, when I was about 10, not to cut an extra-long thread when I was sewing. She told me about a little tailor who cut his thread so long that he had to jump out the window of his shop each time he made a stitch, just to pull the thread all the way through the fabric, so he didn't save any time in the end.
3. Apparently, grandma was a fencer in her youth in Hungary. I found this out at cousin Hugi's wedding.
4. My dad brought his clothes home to be washed every weekend when he was in college. They went home in a suitcase, and came back in a bag, because she filled the suitcase with bottles of beer, which dad then snuck into the dorms.
5. She would tell you that she did not snore, no matter what. Those of us who slept in rooms near her could tell you otherwise.
My family is fine, doing well, actually. I think there is some relief that it's over, that she's happier wherever she is. And you know, congratulations on a life well-lived, grandma. Well done you.
-Stephanie