This isn’t going to be a sad story. It just can’t be. But my only grandmother passed away last week. She was 91, lived a great long life, and there’s not a person in the world who could say a bad thing about her. After retiring from the school district for which she worked she took up golf, billiards, and started taking college classes. When she was taking a history class of South Dakota (where she lived most of her life) her professor asked her to not do the usual history assignment. Instead, he suggested, why don’t you write your own personal history of having lived in the Dakotas.
That assignment turned into a booklet that my aunt self-published and gave to all living relatives. Each of my own children has their own copy and now knows that their relatives came from Belgium, Luxembourg, Ireland, and Germany. Ever feisty, she proved to all of us that she was a trooper and that woman loved to laugh. She’s been my only granny my entire life. I’ve never known another grandparent.
My mother has been dealing with the day to day of granny’s laundry, visits, etc… and it has fallen to her to finish the details. Just now, we both helped clean the last of her laundry. Things we don’t care to keep necessarily, but will be donated to others in need.
In the emergency room where granny, Marguerite, took her last breath and forgot to take another, my mother had a priest come in to give her Last Rites. In the middle of it my mother’s cell phone rang and since it was the funeral home in Lemmon, South Dakota she felt that she best take it. She told me that the priest didn’t like her little joke that she made when she returned, but I just know in my heart that granny would have loved it.
“That was St. Peter. He was just making sure mom got there safely.”
{ 28 comments… read them below or add one }
Beautiful, touching, and I am sorry for your loss.
(But I’m glad St. Peter called to let your mom know she arrived there safely!)
This is a great little story with which to eulogize your grandmother.
A lovely tribute. My sincerest condolences.
Great story. The priest needs a sense of humor. Your Granny sounds like a real winner. I love people like that. What a gift to you. And you obviously appreciate it.
You liar. That made me cry. I wish I could give you a big hug in person. I’m sorry for your loss K.
mwuah
My condolences on your loss. Such a treasure as she can not ever be replaced nor should ever be forgotten.
That was classic. Too bad the priest didn’t like it, but who cares? Granny heard it and she probably laughed out loud!
Sorry for your loss sweetheart. xo
I have no doubt that the important people DID, indeed, appreciate the joke.
Sorry that you’ve lost your grandmother.
Randomly enough, some of my family is from Lemmon, South Dakota.
I’m so sorry for your loss. Those warm, loving, happy memories of her will surely bring you joy always.
I’m sorry for your loss, but so happy you had the opportunity to enjoy the company of such a remarkable woman for so much time.
I’m sorry to hear of your loss.
Hugs,
~ FC
So sorry for your loss. That is such a great story though! Hilarious!
Wonderful story, as usual. I am so sorry for your loss–we’re never really ready for grandparents to go, regardless of how old they may be. I think it’s because they’ve always been there–your whole life, your Granny has been there…
Sending you hugs.
Oh, Kelly – I’m so sorry to hear this. What a special woman she must have been. And it sounds like you get your strength and humor from your mom’s side.
Sincere condolences to your whole family.
Sounds like the priest was a stick in the mud… I’m glad St. Peter called to confirm her safe arrival
)
When my Mum passed away the funeral director was explaining to us that we wouldn’t recieve her SS check for that month (she died on July 30th), that you have to make it through the WHOLE month to get the check. I looked at him and said – if we had known that we would have kept her on ice for a few hours. I don’t think he appreciated the joke – but my sister cracked up and I know my mother was laughing her tushy off too!
Your granny sounds like she was a strong, beautiful woman – seems like that runs in your family – take care.
My thoughts are with you. I’m so glad she lived such a great long life!
I’m so sorry for your loss. I lost my grandma about 18 months ago, and I still miss her.
I’m so sorry for your loss. May her memory be for a blessing.
Sniff! Sorry about your grandmother.
again, sorry about your granny.
your mom is hilarious & granny would be proud to have been part of such a funny joke.
As a genealogy researcher I wish more of these stories were published. They are treasures.
I have to say I laugh out loud every day about something and anyone who didn’t see the humour in that crack your mom made is not living the life he should be.
To nesSaid: that is also laugh out loud funny.
If someone doesn’t have their drink coming out of their nose at some point at a get together at my house then I have not been a good hostess.
I am so sorry. But I loved your mom’s joke.
That was a great story. Simple and priceless. I’m sorry for your loss, but so glad you had the opportunity to know such a great lady and that she was able to live a good, long life.
I had only one grandparent that I knew in my lifetime. My mom’s dad and it’s hard to let them go; I’m sorry. I love the joke your mom made; made me choke up a little, ya know.
Sorry to hear about granny but I love the ending. Your mom has a great sense of humor and it sounds like granny did too.
Funeral laughs are the best. You cry, you laugh, you open up, you heal.
Love and prayers to you and your family.
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