thanks so much to all who sent thoughts, prayers and hugs last week when my gram died. i really appreciate the warmth of the DIS.
the calling hours and funeral went smoothly, as gram had pre-paid and planned it years ago. couple of things that give insight into the woman i loved so much:
1) she held her 'wake' in 1999; always said, 'i know there'll be a party when i go to the happy hunting ground, and i want to be there, so i'll have it now'. she rented the fire station in the small town that she had retired to (to run a coffee/pizza/game shop until she was 80), bought food, pop, etc, and held court for hours while people stopped in to visit (she had moved from the town to stay with my mom-five years before this). it was kind of strange, but very much like gram!
2) she had told mom, for years, that there would be a $400 'rebate' from the funeral home when she died, and mom could never figure out why. she went to finalize plans for the calling hours, service, etc, and the funeral director said, 'oh, i remember your mother. sweet lady. now you know, there is a $400 refund? oh, you didn't know that your mother came back after she had planned and paid, and cancelled the calling hours; didn't think she'd need them'. we, of course, had them put back in, and many people showed up to pay their respects.
gram lived the last two years in the nursing home where i work, as the social worker. i was planning to go back to work yesterday, but just couldn't do it. i needed a day to myself, when the kids were back in school and dh was doing his own thing (works afternoons). as luck would have it, or maybe gram is working it so i'll go back to work, the state dept of health is there for our annual survey. it's very stressful, so i'll be busy, but i need to be there. i just dread walking past the rooms where she lived and where she died
well, forgive me for using the DIS to purge my feelings, but i do so appreciate it! i'm back to the grind today, with memories of the wonderful woman who held my hand through life.
the calling hours and funeral went smoothly, as gram had pre-paid and planned it years ago. couple of things that give insight into the woman i loved so much:
1) she held her 'wake' in 1999; always said, 'i know there'll be a party when i go to the happy hunting ground, and i want to be there, so i'll have it now'. she rented the fire station in the small town that she had retired to (to run a coffee/pizza/game shop until she was 80), bought food, pop, etc, and held court for hours while people stopped in to visit (she had moved from the town to stay with my mom-five years before this). it was kind of strange, but very much like gram!
2) she had told mom, for years, that there would be a $400 'rebate' from the funeral home when she died, and mom could never figure out why. she went to finalize plans for the calling hours, service, etc, and the funeral director said, 'oh, i remember your mother. sweet lady. now you know, there is a $400 refund? oh, you didn't know that your mother came back after she had planned and paid, and cancelled the calling hours; didn't think she'd need them'. we, of course, had them put back in, and many people showed up to pay their respects.
gram lived the last two years in the nursing home where i work, as the social worker. i was planning to go back to work yesterday, but just couldn't do it. i needed a day to myself, when the kids were back in school and dh was doing his own thing (works afternoons). as luck would have it, or maybe gram is working it so i'll go back to work, the state dept of health is there for our annual survey. it's very stressful, so i'll be busy, but i need to be there. i just dread walking past the rooms where she lived and where she died
well, forgive me for using the DIS to purge my feelings, but i do so appreciate it! i'm back to the grind today, with memories of the wonderful woman who held my hand through life.
