September of 2012, my Dad took his stepmother, my granny, out for lunch for her 77th birthday. It was the last time they would ever see each other...
In December he and my mom left on vacation to Arizona, and he died there from a massive heart attack Jan.23/2013.
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When I call her his stepmother, I say it for the sake of accuracy, NOT because any of us felt that way about her... Especially not my dad.
She was MOM.
She was the woman that helped a young boy put the pieces of his heart back together after his parents divorce. He adored her. 2/

The feeling was very mutual.
Like all of us, Granny was crushed when we lost my dad. She kept saying, "I'm supposed to go first! I'm supposed to go first!"
Not being one to linger in grief long, Granny would have a moment, then turn her attention to taking care of everybody. 3/

She busied herself with loving on her hurting grandkids, the big ones and the small ones. The time with them was as good for her as it was for them. Granny never could sit still, and so many special memories were made.... 4/

One in particular took the death of his best fishing buddy and grandpa especially hard, our oldest son...
Having had three sons of her own, and two step sons, Granny had a knack with boys. She was tough when she needed to be, but so soft when toughness wasn't necessary. 5/

Our son was in grade 11 the year my dad passed away, and it was a brutal year or so for him. One day he was talking to her about how he wasn't excited about grad b/c his grandpa wouldn't be there & didn't think he would go. Granny told him she'd always regretting missing hers../6

So my son asked Granny to be his date. She was reluctant at first, concerned he'd rather go with a girl from his class. He said he could do that any time, but only had one chance to make sure she went to a prom. Granny was a HUGE HIT at grad! /7

In 2016 not long after her 80th birthday, we got the news that Granny had cancer and wasn't expected to have more than 6 months, but she held on for a year, and then another year.....
We were told "Any day" in February, just as Covid arrived. /8

We have spent months, sick with worry and unable to see her, but that's now over....
Granny left us this morning, and my heart is broken, but oh, the memories she left behind! I sit here and find myself flooded with them.
I love you so much, Granny. You can rest now.
/END