Grandma Jeannette

My grandmother passed away last week at 91 years old. This was my mom's mom and my last grandparent. She had a long battle with Alzheimer's and the last few years have been very hard on my mom and her siblings. After my grandfather passed away 10 years ago, she moved from Ft Lauderdale to Texas to live near my Aunt Eileen. She spent her last years in nursing homes and as my Aunt Sharon said at the funeral, she was truly a "prisoner in her own mind" at the end.

This picture was the last time I saw my grandmother, 7 years ago.



I had just gotten engaged and went with my mom to stay in Texas. At that point, she could hold a conversation, but had to be reminded of who everyone was, what we were doing, etc. I didn't see her again after that and from what I have heard, I am glad that I have the memories of the strong healthy woman from when I was younger and not who she had to become at the end.

The end is sad to think about she was an amazing woman and I have very fond memories with both of my grandparents. Whether it was one of our annual trips to Florida, a family reunion, a party (like their big 50th anniversary party where 10 year old me sang "Glory of Love" and "I Think We're Alone Now" in front of 150 guests!) or one of the many times they stayed at our house. I just remember a warm feeling when they were around, lots of laughing, lots of good food and lots of stories. She truly put family first, raised 4 kids (my mom as the baby of the family) and survived many grandchildren, great grandchildren and even great great grandchildren. I've heard so many stories about the cooking, shopping, and laughing, and overall craziness and happiness that took place in that household in Aliquippa, PA with one bathroom. Even now, I love asking my mom about when she was little. It was just such a different time and it shaped my mom and her siblings into who they are today and in turn, had an effect on all of us too.

I had a hard time deciding if I would go to Florida for the funeral but am so glad that I chose to go. It was wonderful to be with everyone, my mom's sisters and brother, my aunts and uncles and my cousins. We haven't all been together and really spent time as a family for around 10 years and although it was a sad occasion, it felt good to be together. As we said numerous times, Grandma would have wanted us to be together celebrating life and not being sad. So, that's just what we did...with lots of food (even Grandma's cookies!), some drinking (just a little), and laughing and stories and togetherness. It felt like a really special weekend full of old and new memories.






On the first night we were all in Florida, we were eating dinner when my cousin Michael noticed kind of a shadow of a heart under my Aunt's martini glass. Soon after, my mom saw a heart under her glass, then I saw one under mine and my dad saw one under his. We thought it was coming from what was inside the glasses-the orange peel twist, or the olives, but we removed them and the heart stayed. It was hard to tell where it was coming from or why but we had 4 hearts and the waiter said noone had ever noticed that before. We took it as a sign that Grandma was with us that night...




We will miss you Grandma!