Peace be with you Grandma.
My Grandma Cathy (seen in the 2004 layout above) passed away on Friday evening after living a very fantastic full life.
Grandma Cathy was my Mom's Mom. Awesome, independent, vivacious, confident - all words that come to mind when I think of her. She was a super classy dresser and she gave the best hugs. She and my Grandpa always had the coolest drink stirrers in their bar area. She kept an immaculate home: tidy and organized and the most formal of any of my relatives. The ticking of a grandfather clock and the crazy sound of a cuckoo clock will always generate thoughts of my Grandparents. Her simple vinaigrette salad dressing is still one of the best I have ever tasted.
As a child one of my favorite things to do when visiting my Grandma was to have tea + cookies with her. I always felt really special and grown-up during those times. She had a delicate white cat teapot (which now lives with me) that poured the best cups of tea in the whole wide world.
One of the things I will treasure most about my Grandma is that she was such an awesome Mom to my Mom. I benefit from their relationship daily because she taught my Mom how to be a good Mom (through her words, actions, kindness, example, etc) and a good friend. My Mom and Grandma were close as adults, just as my Mom and I are close. My Mom means the world to me and I am so very lucky to have her in my life.
Thank you Grandma for giving me such a wonderful Mom.
I also want to share with you a very special email that Chris sent to my Mom on Saturday evening:
I talked with Simon a little about Grandma Cathy tonight. I brought it up during a break in our TV time, and then later when I tucked him in. We said a special prayer for Grandma Cathy and then I asked him if he loved Grandma Cathy and he nodded yes in the pure way that only he can. Then I asked him what he remembered about Grandma Cathy and he said: "Going to the city, in the tall buildings, and going in the elevator like this" (followed by upward motion with his hand) : )
I asked him if he remembered all the cats and that Grandma Cathy always called him Tiger. He shook his head and said "yes". Then I asked if he remembered the x's and o's for the tic tac toe game. He again nodded yes and then said, "and I look out the window at the city and all the tall buildings".
I am really grateful that Simon has some memories of Grandma Cathy and he seemed happy thinking about them.
Sometimes you have powerful moments that you can feel are being seared into your memory as they are happening. This was one of those. It wasn't long, but the few minutes remembering Grandma Cathy with Simon was moving and brought to mind all kinds of emotions. Good ones. For Simon, for Grandma Cathy, and for all the family.
Just thought you might like to know.
Love,
Chris
We all miss you Grandma. I am going to have a special cup of tea in that fantastic cat teapot to celebrate you today. Give Grandpa a big hug from each one of us.
Many prayers for you and your family.
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Indeed, may God be with you, your mom and your family and all who have been touched by grandma Cathy. She sounds like such a loving, warm and awesome woman! May she rest in peace. Hugs.
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Ali-my thoughts and prayers are with you and your family. Almost exactly a year ago (in one week), I too lost my grandmother, my kids' great-grandmother. There are so many memories to be cherished for having our lives touched by these special people.
Take care, Christa
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I'm sorry to hear of you loss. My thoughts are with you and you family.
That is such a wonderful photo above. Sounds like she was a very special woman.
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So sorry to hear of your loss. Grandparents are such wonderful people and leave us with the best memories.
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My sincere condolences to you and your family in your lose. Keep those wonderful memories dear to your heart.
I am sure that each time you have a cup of tea from that special tea pot that you will think dearly of Grandma Cathy and she will be looking down upon you with fondness and so happy the tradition is carrying on.
God Bless.
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"May God's love heal your sorrow and may His peace replace your heart ache with warm and loving memories." Not sure who said this but it comforted me when I lost my Grandpa this year. This post was a wonderful tribute. Hugs! Kim
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I'm so sorry for your loss. Our prayers and thoughts are with you!
Monica
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My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family. Revel in your precious memories. Take Care.
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My prayers are with you and your family
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Ali, I am so sorry to hear that your grandma has passed. The loss of a grandparent is a loss like no other. All but one of mine are long gone and I miss each of them and think of them often. Blessings.
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I am very sorry for your loss. It sounds like you have many special memories of your grandma. May they give you comfort.
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What a blessing that your grandparents are reunited again. And you all, even Simon, are left with such great memories.
Hugs to you.
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i'm so sorry for your loss, ali.
this is such a beautiful post.
i will keep you and your family in my prayers.
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tears. Ali, God be with you, your Mom, your family and your Grandma. Thank you for sharing Chris's letter, with its content so poignant for you personally, with points relevant for all.
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Ali,
I am so sorry for your loss. But it sure sounds as if you have gained quite a bit from having such a wonderful grandma for so long. it's lovely that you were able to be an adult and have a grandma around you! i lost my grandma at age 5 and the other one i never even met. so you are very blessed. but still, the missing part is hard and i am so so sorry for the loss of such a wonderful person on this earth>
God bless you.
tara
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I'm sorry for your family's loss. It is a treasure that you have some good memories of your Grandma.
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Ali--I'm so sorry to hear that your grandma passed away. {{{Ali & family}}} I love those treasured memories you shared with us here. Thank you for that. I didn't have the privilege of knowing my grandparents. They all, except for my paternal grandmother, died way before I was born. As for Gramma Emma (my dad's mom), she lived in MN and we moved to UT. I only remember meeting her once when I was 4 or 5. Much love to you & your family. I hold each of you in my heart in your time of sorrow. Loved Chris' letter to your mom. Thank you for sharing that too.
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I am so sorry for your loss Ali!! My family is going through the same thing as I lost my Grandma a week ago Friday. It is so hard because you feel such a hole where they used to be. (((Hugs!))) and Prayers for your family.
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So sorry for your loss, but also happy to see that you are looking at all this in such a positive lights. Its wonderful that you have such fond memories of your Grandma! :)
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Ali-
I am so sorry for your loss. It sounds like she was an amazing woman and has left you a great legacy filled with love and respect. Enjoy your cup of tea.
Anne-Liesse
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So sorry to hear about Grandma Cathy. My thoughts and prayers go out to your family. What a touching note for Chris to send your Mom. I hope that Simon always remembers the times with his Great-Grandma and of course "the tall buildings" lol
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Peace be with your family. Deepest sympathies.
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(((HUGS))) to all of you Ali.
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I'm so sorry you lost your Grandma and so very glad that your whole family has such wonderful memories of her.
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