September 10, 1906 - January 1, 2008
Myself, Grandma Madeline, and Great Grandma Anderson circa 1978
This New Years Day, my family lost it's matriarch, who lived to be 101 years old. My Great Grandmother (seen above in the background) was born in Belgium and immigrated to the city of Chicago in 1916. Emerence was born in 1906. The same year that the first Victor Victrola, a phonographic record player, was manufactured and President Theodore Roosevelt became the first US President to make an official trip outside the US while visiting the construction site of the Panama Canal.
Some events that occured within the span of her lifetime include: The First World War, both the rise and fall of the Berlin Wall, the Second World War, the Vietnam War, the first artificial heart invention, the Great Depression, the Gulf War, the Chicago Cubs winning the World Series, Kennedy's assassination, Apple Computer created, the Korean War, Chernobyl, Man landing on the Moon, and 9/11 changed our lives. Throughout these events, she managed to marry, own a business, raise a family, and survive the death of her husband, granddaughter, and great grandson. One child, three grandchildren and six great grand-children are her legacy.
I think I owe her for my fondness of correspondence. Throughout the years, she always made sure my mailbox was full of cards and letters. Holidays, birthdays, and special times were always remembered and it was comforting to know that I was always on her mind. During my years away at school, she would enclose a dollar in her envelope. This was the same amount that she gave my Dad when he was in college, back when a dollar stretched a little further! I believe that she may be the reason that I continue to send cards to those people who are important to me.
I leave for Fort Lauderdale next week to attend her memorial service. This side of my family has dwindled in size during recent decades and most of her friends have long since passed. It is important to me to be there to honor what a special Grandma she was. She was loved and will be missed.
5 comments:
Dear Jenny:
I read your blog often for humor, but saw this post and had to respond. I lost my great aunt back in May of 2007, and it was a terrible loss for my family. She too was our matriarch and it has left such a hole in our family. I just wanted to reach out to you and let you know that my thoughts and prayers are with you and your family in this time of loss.
Beth Campbell (aka one of Sarah Keel's co-workers)
I'm sorry about your Grandma...I'll keep you in my prayers during this hard time!
Sounds like you have many wonderful memories, and I am glad you will be able to be with family and honor her. Of course, I will be thinking of you, and praying those memories continue to warm your heart.
My great grandmother lived to be 99 -- just 6 months shy of her 100th birthday! We were both born in November, and I always feel close to her for that (weird) reason... she sounds like such an awesome lady and I hope you find comfort in knowing all the things she saw and witnessed in her lifetime - it is such an awe inspiring thing to think about how much they experienced. We love you and we'll be praying for you!
I'm sorry about your Gramma Jenny- we'll be thinking about you this week. I know it's such a hard loss.
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