Goodbye Sweet Grandma Della

Grandma passed away on October 15th, 2018 at 93 years old.  Although she had been battling cancer since January, the end came unexpectedly.  I was at work on a Monday morning and my Mom called me.  I heard the words she told me, but I couldn't process them.  I didn't want to believe she was gone.  I'm grateful she didn't have pain and that she was her sharp-minded, loving self until the end.  Her memory was really just amazing.  Oh, the stories she told, I loved to hear them.  I'm glad she went peacefully, and that she knew all of her family loved her so much.

I was so incredibly lucky to have had such a wonderful, loving, special person in my life.  She was such an important part of my childhood and my adulthood, too, sharing all of the important, special moments and so many of the everyday moments, too.  I close my eyes and I'm transported back to her house.  I'm about 9, I think, and her and my Grandpa are babysitting Kristin and I.  We're watching the Laurence Welk show together and I'm stirring my rainbow sherbet in my bowl until it is super smooth and creamy and the colors have combined to turn brown.  Perfect.  I can even smell the smell of her perfume.  We always played with her jewelry and clothes and makeup.  She was so fashionable.  I have so many of her clothes that I wear all the time, we were the same size!  She made a lot of them, too, which makes them even more precious to me.  She was such a good listener.  A kind and gentle soul, thoughtful and generous to her last day.  She had an optimistic outlook on life and just a tendency toward happiness.  She taught me so many things.  

She was a good person, just a fantastic grandmother.  I'm going to miss her so much.  It is hard to imagine a life without her in it.  I'm praying she's in heaven having the most wonderful time, smiling her infectious smile with her eyes sparkling like they do.  I love you Grandma, thank you for being you.  

Kristin wrote this beautiful tribute to Grandma on her blog that I also wanted to share:

https://carpentercrib.blogspot.com/2019/01/working-through-grief.html

The funeral was quite lovely, so many people were there, it was a great turnout.  It was a great celebration of her life and wonderful to have the whole family together.

Beautiful Della

The pictures of Grandma's life were so touching to look at.

Apple noodles!