A Very Delayed Post

 I must apologize for my absence over the past few weeks. Again life happened and here I am three weeks later posting. Normally I’d post something food or fashion related but today I’d like to post about my Grandma. Recently my Grandma passed away. It was very sudden and has left a major hole in my heart. Whether its sudden or you have time to prepare yourself, there is no real way to get ready for the emotions you are about to approach. My Grandma was and will always be my second mom. She had a very strong hand in my upbringing and I am forever grateful for everything she has done. In my family we have all kinds. Until recently I don’t think I gave my family the credit that they all deserved. Going home and seeing everyone over the past two weeks made me so happy to be a part of something so amazing. Everyone grieved together, laughed together and comforted one another when needed. From the outside we may just be a dysfunctional bunch but on the inside there is more love than anyone can imagine. For my Grandma family was the most important thing in life and I hope as a family we can honour that everyday.

I have attached the eulogy from my Grandma’s funeral below to give whoever is reading some insight to the wonderful yet crazy woman she was.

Hello, I am Ashley, one of Evelyn’s grandchildren. On behalf of our family, I would like to thank all of you for coming to this celebration of life. Each of you had a special connection to my grandmother and it means the world that you are here to celebrate the wonderful woman she was and will remain in our hearts.  It is difficult to put into words what Grandma meant to each of her family members. She was a daughter, sister, wife, mother, mother-in-law, aunt, great aunt, grandma, great grandma and beautiful friend. As a strong willed and intelligent woman Grandma was very successful and achieved a lot in her life and passed on much wisdom to all those around her.

 There are a few words that best describe my grandmother: caring, loving, helpful and compassionate are a good start. Growing up in St. Charles, Ontario grandma married our Grandpa Wilfred in 1957 and the two of them started our family. She raised four wonderful children; she was a loving grandmother to seven grandchildren; a fun and happy great grandma to twelve beautiful great grandchildren and a caring friend to so many. It was her love that created such a strong bond within our family over all of these years.

 Our grandmother loved life; she loved her family, she loved her friends, her precious dog Max, she loved fishing and Lake of the Woods and she loved God. Not matter what situation she was presented with, no matter how challenging; she was able to overcome it. Our grandmother always taught us that no matter what happens in life, if you don’t have your family then you don’t have anything.

 Grandma inspired us in many ways and she meant more to us than we could ever express. Grandma’s love for family was inspirational. When we would chat her family pride wasn’t something I could always understand but now I know what she was always talking about.  I hope that we can all live our lives with the same honor and respect as she did.

 Losing grandma has been truly painful for all of my family. But through this pain, the foundation of our family remains solid, which is all she ever wanted.

 Although her life was cut short we know in our hearts that Grandma lived a life full of love and happiness.

 When Grandma went into the hospital it changed all of our lives. Who would be there to tell her beautiful daughters what to do and how to do it? To proof read Sarah’s homework? Have grand and outrageous conversations with her other husband Uncle Rudy? Praise Gary for being a wonderful musician? Tell me my lipstick made me look pale but ask me in the same sentence if I had lost weight? Who else was ever going to get to boss around Joey and Nick to do things while always keeping a smile on their face?  They would do anything for their Grandma. Who would tell Daniel how much she loved his loud sweaters? And who would Richard have coffee and his long chats with?

 It is hard to imagine what life will be like without her here. We will miss her knowledge and how whenever we wanted to know the answer to something she was the one to call. We will miss hearing “You know if you were smart, you would do this”.  We will miss her love for George Jones and surprisingly all music. Most importantly we will miss her love and support. We will look back always knowing that no matter how harsh her tone was she truly just wanted the best for all of us.  She taught everyone a lot and we will all miss her wisdom, joy and love. The world and our lives are better as a result of your love grandma, and I truly hope we will all be able to pay that forward.

 We are truly blessed to have our Aunts and Great Aunts here with us today celebrating this beautiful life Grandma had. In them we are reminded of Grandma’s great qualities and attributes.  It also gives us a great piece of mind knowing Grandma is in heaven in such great company. With her parents, her loving husband, her siblings and her son.

  While being with Grandma at the hospital as she quietly snored the way she always did, there were many tears. Through the tears there were great memories shared and lots of laughter. Some of us learned things we didn’t know about Grandma. The stories we shared will always be with us because Grandma will always be with us.

 Grandma “May the wind always be at your back and the sun always upon your face and the winds of destiny to carry you aloft to dance with the stars”.

xo

Ashley

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