Grandma Marian

Today we celebrated the life of my Great-Grandma Marian (pictured above with me and the girls - I had just had a baby, so no funny comments!). Grandma Marian passed away on Friday from pneumonia (among other things). She was 97 years old!

She lived in the neighboring town growing up. As her closest relatives (her kids all lived here in Chicagoland), we frequently took her out to eat, helped out around her house, and had her over for birthdays and such. I can't remember a time when Grandma wasn't OLD, but I also can't remember a time when she wasn't quick witted and enjoying life either.

Today at her service, family members shared memories about her and I enjoyed recalling a few things as well:

• Her recipe for good health included a shot of Black Velvet every day. I discovered today that she liked buying her BV in Wisconsin so she didn't have to pay Iowa's sales tax!
• Occasionally her and her friends went up to Marquette, Ia. to "make their donation to the county" (AKA gamble on the riverboat).
• Up until the day she gave up her license, she was the only lady over 70 that drove that fast! In fact, I always bucked up in the back seat of her boat of a car (before that was law) because I was scared to death!
• She made the world's best homemade applesauce!
• Despite being legally blind she walked everywhere she went in her home town and even around the block alone when moving in with her daughter 3 yrs ago!
• She had the first big screen TV I ever saw - so she could see her Cubbies!
• She had an endless supply of DoubleMint gum (distributed in half pieces to us kids)
• Her laugh was incredibly contagious - loud, boisterous, and genuine!
• She knew all of her grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great-grandchildren by name - and didn't miss a birthday!
• She was the benchmark for determining the age of things in our house. If something was older than Grandma Marian it was considered ancient!!

I appreciated seeing all of my extended family and reminiscing about Grandma. I was privileged to have known her and even more blessed that my children knew her! My prayer is I can be as fun-loving and generous as her when I am 97!

We'll miss you Grandma Marian!