On March 19th, my beloved grandmother went to heaven. It happened unexpectedly and I still feel as though it is not real and I can pick up the phone and give her a call. She will be missed greatly and always loved so much. She has the biggest giver of love I know. I have also included the eulogy that I read at her funeral, which isn't even a start about how great she was, but shows a small piece of the influence she had on me.
Here is the eulogy I read at my grandma's funeral:
It is hard to even start to put into words your thoughts and feelings about some body's life. Especially when that someone is your grandmother. My grandma was one of a kind, unique in many ways. Growing up, I can remember visiting her and my grandfather on Starr street, now Adventure City where they lived. She would take me over to hobby city and we would ride the train around the track. We would then visit the doll museum and my favorite place, the cabbage patch doll store and hospital. She would tell me stories from the past and as a young child I was eager to always learn more.
Growing older, we would enjoy shopping trips together, she would pick me up and we would go all sorts of different places. She always made sure that I had that one thing that was special and I can still remember her asking "would you like grandma to get that for you?" and of course in my mind I was thinking, yes, but would respond, well, if you really want to, or oh you don't have to do that. She would always end up buying whatever it was.
At Christmas time, our special event was going to see the Glory of Christmas at the Crystal Cathedral. I would get all dressed up, she would take me to dinner and then we would go and watch the performance. There were actual live animals in the performance and as a small child, I thought this was really cool. Then there were the angels, that would be suspended by a wire that would fly over and sing beautiful songs. I thought that was the greatest part. An angel flying and watching above, what could be more magical than that for a little girl. Just like those magical angels, I believe that my grandma is now in heaven among the angels flying high and free.
As I have now gotten older, been away to college, gotten married and started a family of my own, my grandma has taught and always shown me how precious and sacred life can be. She would always find the good in people, no matter what. She always had positive thoughts and if anyone would say anything negative, instantly it would be turned around into a positive. And speaking of people, she knew a lot of people. Everyone was connected in one way or another. I would call her up and as a result would get an entire run down of everybody else's life. She always had some new updated information, whether it be about her friends, family or the lady she had met at the store, who had a son that knew somebody that knew somebody else that she knew. This is what made her so wonderful. She would always find a connection somewhere.
Upon coming her today, I had been looking for some inspiration on what to speak about. You always think this day may come when your grandma goes to heaven, but never even imagine it would happen this soon or at this time. Last night after coming to my grandmother's viewing, I discovered a picture frame that I had created upon graduating college that I had given to my grandmother labeled "grandma's hearts". The premise of the frame was a thank you gift for all that my grandmother had done to support me through college along with a silver bracelet made of interconnecting hearts. Within the picture frame were the following words:
Grandma's Hearts:
Caring
Supportive
Listening
Comforting
Giving
and
Loving
These were the words that I had used to describe my grandmother. In a small way, one could say that she did not just have one heart, but many hearts. Many hearts that have touched so many people's lives.
Her Caring Heart and nature to always be worried about what was going on with everyone that was around her. One example that exemplifies this caring nature is that she would watch the news and anytime she would hear a story about a firefighter, she would call me up and make sure that my husband, a firefighter was alright.
Her supportive heart always was there with any decision anyone would make. My dad has always loved to ride motorcycles, and while she might not have liked it and worried so much for his safety, for Christmas she still bought him all the racing gear he could ever want. She would support any decision that was made no matter what.
Her listening heart, was always there to listen. I could talk to her and share just about anything. If I had something that no one else would listen to me talk about, she was there to listen.
With that listening heart came her comforting heart. There was always comfort in her voice and reassurance that things would turn out good. She was the comfort that you knew was always there.
My grandma's giving heart was bursting at the steams. She is the biggest giver I know. Not only of herself, but of everything around her. Christmas was one of her favorite time of year with her family. She could not wait to give her always abundance of gifts with everyone. She found such joy in giving to everyone around her. The biggest thing though that she gave was her love. Her love for everyone.
By looking at all that are here today, one can attest for the love that she had for others. All of my grandmother's great qualities will always be remembered and cherished As I am sure each one of you holds on to some great memories, may you cherish them as much as I do and . As I hope to continue, to pass on the greatness of my grandmother's hearts to my own children and those around me.
In the last couple of days, someone wrote to me:
Ardell was one of those blessings one meets along life's path. And that is what she truly was and always will be, a blessing!
