Funerals are filled with sadness, feelings of loss and the feelings of missing someone. At Grandma Gloria's funeral today, there were also feelings of relief, gratefulness, and even happiness. The running joke in the family was grandma greeting her best friend on the other side while grandpa, also waiting for her, probably had to stand in line! This best friend of hers, known to us kids as "Aunt Lorraine" was her friend since childhood whom she gossiped with every night even into their eighties. It's the same thought I had as soon as I heard of grandma's passing; I thought of the excitement she must be feeling to see everyone!
She was the grandma I thought would live forever because she was so busy and active and never stopped. Grandma even continued working at the Catholic elementary school until she was at least 80 and if that's not a sign of someone who never stops, I don't know what is.
Before I rave about her, I want to note how beautiful Catholic funerals are. The wake, the church, the precession line and the cemetery, it was all so symbolic. It was celebratory of her life and a way to bless her soul that has passed. I was very impressed and felt close to the Spirit of the Lord and to her through the whole thing.
Grandma Gloria was the cutest little Italian lady. She was so sweet and loved my family more than I know. She's the mother of my dad and has always been there for my mom as she stuck by my dad's side while he got sick. She loved us, her grandkids, more than anything. She kept photos in her wallet to show her friends and I know how much she loved showing the photos of her great grand kids too! Several people at the funeral said they heard all about me because grandma loved talking about us. One of the greatest things she ever did was when my mom was in a car accident nearly losing her life and she came to Minnesota from Chicago to care for us, cook and clean and hold down the fort while mom was away. What a sacrifice.
More of my memories include:
- Her home smelling as tobacco from my grandpa's pipe and while that scent faded after he passed, I still have that childhood memory of her home.
- There was always a candy dish available just like her mom, my great grandma, always had.
- Her Italian cooking from calzones to pizzelle cookies. The other day, I ate an Argentina empanada and the dough tasted exactly like her calzone dough and I think I found the secret. I "think" she added a few anis seeds in there?? This taste was a sweet memory to have right after her passing.
- The lamb cakes she'd mail us every Easter...literally a pound cake in the shape of a lamb!
- I remember her dining room table with the big mirrored wall, where we would all sit and eat every time we got the grandkids together at her condo. She was at the table least of all because she was always so busy cooking and serving everyone else.
- Her books: she had a fully stocked bookshelf and went to the library often.
- She loved to watch old movies with actors like Humphrey Bogart and Doris Day. I don't recall her favorites but it was always the black and white films on at her place.
- Grandma was my family history rep as she helped me through school genealogy projects and loved to talk about her family members and show me the boxes full of black and white photos.
- She was a night owl, from when we would visit Illinois and stay with her to the phone calls I'd over hear with my mom at 11pm.
- Grandma was great at speaking her mind and if you did something stupid, she would tell you. That's not always a pleasant memory but in hindsight it was needed. The same goes for politics and baseball playing on her tiny kitchen TV. You could often hear her yelling at the politicians and sports players for their stupidity. One of my favorite memories was when we ate at "Sweet Tomato" and she made it clear how dumb she thought the place was to pay $8 for a bowl of lettuce. That's how I feel too about the overpriced salad bar.
- She was a great listener and shoulder to cry on. While she did this almost every night with my mom, I too remember talking to her about a break up once and her being there for me!
- I love that my hazel eyes come from her as well as my animated mannerisms and talking with my hands. I learned today that was definitely an "Italian" thing.
I'm so grateful Grandma Gloria has been in my life. My list of memories could go on much longer. I love her! Funerals are a hard realization that someone is gone but my faith tells me otherwise. I know I will see her again, I know that she is now out of physical pain and she is happy. As cliche as that sounds, I felt it stronger than ever this week.
 |
| The Zeck grandkids |
No comments:
Post a Comment