Friday, July 1, 2011

Grandma Peggy...

This past week has been an eventful one. Grandma returned home peacefully on June 22nd. We got together as cousins on Friday night to reminisce and piece together the final touches of her funeral. Grandma had planned her funeral from top to bottom. Their was nothing missing. She had everything done and paid for. She even chose a plan that would gain interest. So when it came she had almost 1,000.00 to cover the obituary and flowers.

I didn't think that it was going to be this hard with her passing. She has had Alzheimer's for 10 years now. I can't decide if it has been a blessing she was still here for those 10 years or if I should feel jipped because it was not a healthy way of living and my kids did not get to Know the real Grandma Peggy. My grandpa died in 1995. My kids knew Grandma but didn't really Know her! She was such an amazing woman.

Some of the memories that were brought up were your Birthday! You always got to go somewhere with just Grandma! She would be your first phone call! Singing Happy Birthday! You would go to dinner 5pm sharp or Grandpa would melt! Then to the store to pick out Breakfast for the morning and then in the morning she would take you to buy a gift. My favorite Birthday was my 14th! She took me to Park City to ride in a Hot Air Balloon! I still remember the first year she wasn't healthy enough to sing to me. I was 21.

Another memory were her Grandma Parties... She would send you an invite in the mail and the excitement would stir from there! You would always go to a Big Event, Sleepover and from the order you went to sleep is how you would chose prizes and cereal the next morning. We did some Amazing things. My favorite was the Train ride to Colorado so we could ride the river. After riding the river all day we went back to the hotel and grandma was the most prepared woman I ever knew, she pulled out a Birthday cake for my cousin Bryan and an electric frying pan so we could make Sloppy Joes for dinner. We went to Lava on a bus, Brian Head in Cedar City to tube down the snowy mountain, a Palm reader came once, we slept in a Tee pee in her front yard, we went to Professor Funs House in Provo and sooooo many more, and every party would end in a Parade just before bed. Banging of Pots and Pans and she had a box where she kept tambourines and harmonicas and hats. Grandma's biggest Love was a parade. She planned the South Salt Lake Parade for 35 years. It is the only Holiday where I know that we go together as a Family to the Granite Fireworks! Every year! No Camping over the 4th for us!

Her Funeral was an Excellent tribute to her life. She was a very religious and generous woman. She didn't want her Funeral in a Church because she picked out a song that she said wasn't chapel appropriate to have her body escorted out too.

I Love a Parade!!! The lady that played the Piano for this song did Excellent! It was loud and Perfect Grandma would be and was smiling from ear to ear! Oh how I love and miss you gram! Her Graveside service ended with All her Grandchildren and Great Grandchildren and my dad having a Parade, Grandma Style at the cemetery, Balloons, Pots and Pans, Sparklers and Hats. What a way to Celebrate her Life! Good thing there were no other people at the Cemetery.

Salutations as Grandma would put it! You are going to be greatly missed. I Love You!

Halloween was 2nd Favortie Holiday next to any holiday with a Parade! She passed out Life Savers in a 5 pack. They don't even make them any more. Now you have to get a big roll or singles :)


Her Grandsons and Son Scot. He was closer in age to the Grandsons


Her Children Scot, Ann, and Russ She had two sons pass away Tony 30+ years ago and Jim just 3 years ago.


Her GrandKids All 15 were there. We sang Angels Among us at the Funeral. At least I attempted too through my blubbering :)


The GreatGrand Kids minus two that were sleeping in the Car from the exhausting day.


Look what she Started!


The Fun!!!



3 comments:

Jill said...

What a cool grandma! She sounds amazing.....

Vuickie Oliver said...

What a terrific tribute
Abbi. You did a great job.
Vickie

life in red shoes said...

Most Grandma's are wonderful. Yours however, was extraordinary :)
I love a good send off, your family did it up right!