Sweet Nana

While blogger has been down for maintenance, a lot has been happening in our world.

Sweet, precious Nana (my husband's paternal grandmother) went to be with Jesus this week. After 92 ½ years of living and loving well, her body was tired. She laid down for a nap at home and woke up in Heaven.

She was truly one of the dearest, most dignified women I have ever known. A long-time family friend wrote the following about her.

“She represented all that was good, kind, elegant, charming, and generous. She was unfailingly cheerful, glad to see us, interested in our family- even to our very last visit. When I think of her, I think of quality, beauty and grace. She was special, even in a generation that kept their problems to themselves and did not go on and on about their aches, pains, and suffering. Marie seemed like a person who just didn't complain nearly as much as she could have. She would have thought that unladylike and unseemly. She endured and overcame until she just couldn't anymore.”

Her daughter-in-law, my husband’s mother, wrote:“Her focus was her family where she was a constant reflection of God’s love and tenderness.” Perhaps my favorite compliment about her was my mother-in-law’s comment that in 45 years as her mother-in-law, she never had an unkind word.

Her grandson, Scott, described her as loving, compassionate, Godly, kindhearted and a survivor who beat breast cancer twice and lung cancer once.

In my experience with Nana over the last 13 years, I found her to be the definition of a lady. She had a quiet strength. She was infinitely graceful, kind and dignified. She was a genteel woman, whose dignity was never, ever snotty or intimidating. I always wanted to sit up a little straighter in her presence, not because she would look upon me any differently if I did not—but because she inspired me to embrace femininity and grace.

She adored my husband and my children—and we loved her. When we told the children of her passing, they took it like champs. I am sure the service this weekend will bring many questions, but I am so thankful for the hope that Eternity gives—and the blessing of celebrating a life well lived.

We are so thankful that we just got to see her Saturday. We will always treasure those last moments and hugs. Heaven has picked up a beautiful citizen, but Earth has lost a precious soul.