In Memorium

Nancy's mother, JoAnn, passed away two years ago on President's Day. She was a wonderful mother, mother-in-law, and one of the two best grandmothers our children could ever have hoped for (my mom being the other).

This is a picture of Nancy and her mom on our wedding day:



Sometimes you don't really realize how much you have loved a person until they are gone. It would be so great to be able to hear her voice on the phone again. But we have a strong faith that she is somewhere much better and someday we will be there as well.

This picture of her in a denim shirt, comfortable clothing and seated at the table with coffee mug close by is one of my favorites:



Two years after her passing on President's Day, we received a phone call to let us know that JoAnn's mother Dorothy had passed away at 89 on President's Day. There was a viewing this afternoon but Nancy couldn't bring herself to go. She doesn't like seeing people she loves in a casket. Tomorrow we will be going to the funeral at 2 pm. As with Jo Ann and her father who passed away a few years ago, we know that Grandma Dorothy will be now reunited with her beloved Leo, her high school sweetheart, and her oldest daughter in His presence. This is a picture of Grandpa Leo and Grandma Dorothy:



Grandson Jaedan still remembers and asks about his Granma JoAnn. At the cemetary where she is buried, there is a pond with ducks and a playground for kids. When I first saw the playground, I felt offended because I felt that a cemetery should be reserved for solemnity and sadness. But as the kids fed some bread to the ducks, then went down the slide a few times, I realized that this is simply life at its best. We mourn for those who have passed, especially those taken it seems before their time as in the case of Jo Ann. Yet I couldn't help but envision Grandma JoAnn looking over the balcony of Heaven and delighting in watching her grandchildren at play. This is life. This is love. This is family.