Today was my Grandpa's funeral. It was a nice celebration of his life and the man he was and will always be in our hearts. Taking a two and a half year old to the funeral was not such a great idea, but we made it through with only a few incidents.
I am thankful for all the memories I do have of Grandpa. Once a week for 8 years I was over at my grandparents place after school to have supper and then go to piano lessons. Gramps was often the designated driver--even though we could have walked. He also spent countless hours on the farm helping out and was our ally when potatoe season rolled around. He had the dirty, difficult job of being on the harvester with my sister and I, and he would speak up and help us out when things were going too rough. We needed him as our spokesperson! :o)
Even when he was in the home and the dimentia set in, he was such a soft, kind, compassionate man. You never saw a mean streak in him--ever! We could still always joke with him and he would joke back. One of the last visits we had with him, John brought the video camera and just set it up. We were watching it a few weeks ago and I am so thankful that John recorded the small amount that he did. Zech was crazy and almost pushed poor Gramps right out of his rocker, but Gramps seemed to enjoy the company and was quite intrigued by our little boy.
So Gramps (or Great Papa--as Zech calls him) you will be dearly missed and always remembered!
4 comments:
hey girl, fancy that...I caught blog the day you wrote it!
I am so sorry about your grandpa, I remember him so so so well, from his home in Thorsby and as a patient, what a wonderful man he was!
ooops, I am sure you realized it was me, Trish....
Hi Vanessa, John, and Zech,
I am sorry to hear of the loss of your Granddad. It is fortunate that you were able to spend so much time with him during your growing up years. Those memories will stay with you forever! I'm sure that you are thankful that you have made the time to visit him in these later years. It would not have been easy to see the effects of dementia; nor would it have been easy to visit with an active young child. Those pictures of your Granddad and Zech are a real treasure!!
Love,
Auntie Elaine
i'm so sorry to hear about your grandpa's passing. i remember his patience and gentle manner as well.
love those photos you have of him with zech!
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