Always Great

Our wonderful "Great" died on Sunday morning. She was 95 years old! 

          She died peacefully in her sleep. I know she had a wonderful life, but we really miss her!

This picture was taken two days before she died. Great had fallen off her bed into her wheel chair. She had quite a few stitches, but she never let anything keep her down. When she was at the hospital getting her stitches, she kept yelling, "Hey, get the doctor in here! I'm tired of waiting already!" 

She sure had spunk.

Great was always cheered up with Cheetos and Twizzlers. When I would ask her if she wanted some chocolate candy or some licorice, she would always say, "Bring them both!" (I obviously take after her in my love of all junk food).

Her infamous "Hello Kitty" slippers. 

Here is Great when she was only 16 years old. She was born in Chicago, but grew up in Pittsburgh. She had five daughters and then she decided to go to college to become a teacher. 

She and my Grandpa (who I called Grumpus) were married for 65 years! They had a wonderful, loving marriage. They always kept their sense of humor. Once, when they were younger, Grandpa had forgotten to pick up Grandma at the store. Great smushed a pie in his face. Then, they both dissolved into laughter. 

That's my mom on the left! 

They were always dancing and having fun together and they worked hard together too. Grumpus worked at a steel mill, and then opened his own business designing logos. He and Grandma worked many long hours with their business in the basement. Grandpa had his own column in the newspaper too. 

In their later years, they moved to Florida. Grandma always made the best stuffed cabbage! She was feisty and was known for her "creative language" when someone bothered her when she was cooking.

 Great was definitely a rock star! 

Grumpus died in January too, about 9 years ago. Grandma had a dream about him and he told her it wasn't time for her to come be with him yet. About eight years ago, Grandma came here to live with my mom. As her legs got weaker, we got her a Power Chair to scoot around in. Many times she would be zooming around and knock down entire displays at the store. "Did I do that?", she would ask me, as she darted away. We are so lucky that we got to spend so much time with her. 

Catherine made a special angel picture for Great. 

Today, I had to go clean out Great's room at her assisted living home. That was tough to do. I will miss all our friends there, but we will still visit. 

You're always in our heart Great. You and Grumpus have fun up there!