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.
Ali,
I am so sorry about your loss. What wonderful memories you and your family have of her. How wonderful to have that very special teapot. My thoughts and prayers to you and your family.
Love,
Jenny
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My parents are still alive and will turn 91 this year and I think that is so special that they know my grandchildren, their great-grandchildren. Simon is lucky that he had/has your grandparents in his life. My thoughts are with you and your famuly.
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ali, i can't imagine...thoughts & prayers are with you
Lori
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Ali,
I am so sorry to hear of you and your family's loss. I am sending you my sincere condolences, and my thoughts are with you.
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Thoughts and prayers for you and your family. Your Grandma sounds like a great lady and you are lucky to have had so many amazing memories.
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I'm sorry for your loss. It sounds like your grandmother was a wonderful woman.
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Hi Ali!
I am so sorry for your loss. You and your family are in my thoughts and prayers.
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I'm so sorry to hear about the loss of your grandma but at the same time glad to hear she lived such a good life. You and your family are in my thoughts and prayers.
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Hugs and prayers to you and your family, Ali. So glad you have such wonderful memories to make you smile when you need to. She sounds like the kind of woman that radiated joy to others.
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You have my deepest sympathies and heartfelt prayers. I lost my grandparents (my mom's parents) within a few months of each other 2 years ago. I was torn between feeling happy that I'd had so many years with them -- that I could be 35 and still have had them around -- to realizing how hard it is to lose them, no matter how long they lived. Part of you is always the little girl, remembering special moments and missing having a grandma or grandpa. Love that you have moments captured in scrapbooking -- you can go back to those for comfort and remembering.
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hi ali
what a beautiful woman! sending my love and condolences as your mourn and celebrate the life of your beloved grandmother.
i loved that you shared chris' email too (so sweet) and of the gorgeous memories of Simon. So precious.
The Lord bless and keep you all close to His heart :)
Lusi x
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Hey Ali--
So sorry for your loss, it sounds like your grandma was an amazing woman. How wonderful that you have such beautiful memories of time spent with her. That is the most important thing in my opinion. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family. I can relate as my grandma passed away several years ago. We were very close and not a day goes by that I don't think about her with love. I hope you, too, will look back with fond memories and a heart full of love for years to come.
So sweet was that email from your hubby, you are very lucky to have him in your life! Take care!
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My thoughts and prayers are with your during this time. How beautiful that you and Simon have so many memories.
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Sending hugs to your family and your mom and siblings. You have been blessed with some wonderful memories of your grandmother. May her memory always warm your heart and bring a smile. There is nothing better then the life wisdom a grandmother can bring. Thank you for sharing her with us, too.
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I'm sorry to hear of you loss. My thoughts are with you and you family.
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I'm sorry for you and your family's loss, but it seems by your post you gained so much from her life and for that I'm gratiful. Thank you for telling us about her.
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my thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.
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What a beautiful way to remember a woman who sounds so real.
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So sorry that you lost your precious gramma Cathy. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family during this difficult time.
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(hugs)
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So sorry for your family's loss. What a beautiful post today in remembering a very special person in your life.
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I am sorry you will be missing that special lady, but THANK you for sharing YOUR personal thoughts and memories and the amazing email Chris sent with Simon's thoughts and memories.
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I am sorry you will be missing that special lady, but THANK you for sharing YOUR personal thoughts and memories and the amazing email Chris sent with Simon's thoughts and memories.
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So sorry to hear about your grandma Ali. She sounds like an amazing woman. You were lucky to have her. ((HUGS))
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i love your perspective - to celebrate grandma cathy. to celebrate her life. indeed she sounds like a amazing person.
I'm happy for you guys that you have so many great memories of Grandma cathy. Enjoy that..
My love goes out to your whole family.
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