Heaven's New Angel

She was movie star beautiful, 

with a heart to match, 

and we lost her this week; 

called to Heaven by our sweet Lord. 

I met her on a beautiful sunny day

in the summer of '69

when I was 13 years old and 

attending my first 'boy-girl' party

at her home. 

It was the day that I met her son, 

the man I was to marry, 

but on that lovely summer day, 

I had no idea that I would 

one day call this beautiful lady, Mom. 

With her first-born, whom I would eventually marry. 

She was as devoted a Mother as one could be, 

this lovely lady with the golden heart. 

Mother of four, as I would one day be, 

she was so easy to admire. 

She was just like Carol Brady of 'The Brady Bunch', 

but after 18 years of marital devotion, she found 

herself  divorced through no fault 

of her own. I can't imagine how difficult 

it was for a woman of her era, raised 

in the depression and WWll,
then a traditional 50's housewife, 

suddenly finding herself single with 

4 school-age children and no job skills of her own. 

Hard work was in her DNA, though, 

 and she joined the work-force

with the same enthusiasm she put towards 

everything in her life, eventually 

meeting a wonderful Navy man and 

embarking on the second chapter of her life.

They had many wonderful years together until she
found herself a widow the last years of her life.

Daughter's Donna and Terry helping out in the kitchen of the restaurant 

At the sink in her restaurant

The interior, completely remodeled by 2nd husband, Dick and family members

She opened and ran a successful restaurant, 

and was a devoted volunteer for the 

Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), 

earning awards for her many years of service.

Her loving and giving spirit made her
many life-long friends, and she was beloved
in the small town she called her home,

When I married her eldest son and 1 year later

 left for distant shores, 3000 miles away, 

 I know it left a hole in her heart, 

but she made it her mission to always 

keep us close in heart, exchanging cards and letters,
 phone calls, and visits as often as possible. 

Nana with daughter, Heather

Her visits were precious and always filled with 

 plenty of love and laughter. 

Nana with son, Gabe

She was eventually a proud Grandmother of 8, 

and Great Grandmother of 3, and one on the way. 

Nana with granddaughters, Jennie and Heather

Dustin, Jennie, Nana and Gabe, along with dog, Petey. 

When she came to visit, she was 'Nana'

and stayed as long as she was able, 

giving my children her full attention and love. 

She even brought her only brother, Sonny, twice, 

and my children had the joy of meeting and learning 

from their Great Uncle who was a proud veteran 

of the Korean War. 

Most often she traveled with her daughters

and here they are with Ramblin' Man and nephew

Clayton in a halo of sunshine, 

back when they were young and golden, 

and full of life's promise. 

Oh, my heart breaks for how quickly time goes by..........

Nothing made her happier than being with her family

especially when she could get her children all together. 

She was always full of fun and laughter

and never had an unkind word to say - 

full of encouragement and support. 

Don't you just love Ramblin' Man's pink cumberbund?
This was his brother's wedding, back in the 80's. 

Her daughters lived close by, but not her sons, 

and she enjoyed every moment she had to spend with them. 

, Whenever they were together, 

the laughter would flow. 

Mom, Ramblin' Man, and I at daughter Jennie's wedding. 

Eldest grandson, Gabe as escort at daughter Heather's wedding. 

Eldest granddaughter, Heather, pinning corsage. 

She loved weddings and loved to dance

and I saved this note after she attended my daughter, Jennie's wedding,

telling us how she enjoyed dancing with her grandsons

and 'my son', and thanking me for saving the corsage for her. 

She was never one to sit still, and whenever she would visit, 

she set to work, doing whatever needed to be done. 

Here she is painting the front of our house when it was first built, 

and cooking her signature spaghetti sauce on her last visit here.

We're going to miss her wonderful spaghetti sauce :(

Our diminutive Nana - with two of her grandsons;
 Gabe and Clayton. 

After the kids grew up, I could travel to visit her

and here I am on my first trip 'back east' in many years,

with Mom, my sister-in-law's, Terry and Donna
 and niece Amanda - now all grown and a married woman. 

The last 10 years, she was unable to travel and we 

 tried to make yearly trips to see her. 

Our last trip was with 3 of our children and their spouses. 

By then she was mostly house-bound and on oxygen. 

Ramblin' Man made his final trip just a few weeks ago, 

in early October and he was so very glad that he did.

xoxo

We leave on Thursday for our long and sad journey

to say our final goodbye's. 

We've lost our family's bright light, 

but Heaven has gained another Angel. 

Please watch over us, Dear One, until we meet again. 

You'll be missed forever, but always in our hearts. 

xoxo