Good Bye to a Beautiful & Loving Lady

March 6, 2013-

I just missed The Call from Beth….

Mark, Beth and Margaret's Grandma has just passed away.  

Words can't fully express what an amazing, warm, loving, thoughtful, intelligent, clever, charitable, resourceful, gentle, sweet lady she was. She was all that and more.  She welcomed me into the family with open arms and without hesitation.  She was beautiful both inside and out.  Honestly, I can't think of a better role model.

Here are a few photos from the last time we got to see her (which, sadly, was at Granddad's funeral; May 2012):

Here she is playing Scrabble with Mark. She played a killer game of Scrabble!   

Just before saying our tearful good byes.

Taking a step back in time to May 2008- Grandma and Granddad's 70th wedding anniversary party in Phoenix, AZ:

Going back a few years to Aunt Margaret and Uncle Jon's wedding (June 29, 2007):

Grandma is holding a fresh-out-of-the-mommy-oven great-grandson (yep, that's Henry!). She's talking to Annika.

There is one very beautiful photo of Grandma and Granddad dancing at the wedding but sadly I don't have a copy of it.  (could someone email it to me???)

Don't you just love that photo???  I adore it!!!!

And going even further back to the girls' first trip to Phoenix to visit the Great Grandparents (March 2007):

Annika meeting her Great Grandma.

A sleepy head Ava meets her Great Grandma

Grandma, Annika, Mark and Ava…three generations. 🙂

She carefully and gently encouraged Annika to paint inside the lines. She'd bought a watercolor set and the coloring book for Annika.

The first few photos in this particular series included a screaming Ava sitting on her Great-Granddad's lap. Well….Great Grandma to the rescue!

It was a true honor to have known you!  We will miss you….at least now you can dance for all eternity with Granddad!!! 

Want to read more about this amazing lady?  You can read her obituary HERE (The Arizona Republic).