grandmother update #[n-1]

[chanaleh]

My mom called at about 10:30am (7:30 her time), to say that my grandmother had died about half an hour earlier. "At last," my mother sighed, "she's at peace." Baruch dayan emet. She was 91.

Of course, it didn't occur to me at first why Mom might be calling -- as she was calling from the hospital, but not the same one: my stepfather had (long-scheduled) back surgery yesterday, and she's there with him for the foreseeable future. Oy.

And tomorrow is the birthday of both my niece (9!) and my uncle (more than 9!). Double oy.

I don't anticipate going out to California, at least immediately; she'll be cremated and they'll take her (later) to Indiana for a memorial service and burial there. And I will definitely go to that.

ablock says, "How are you doing with all this?" I'm pretty well numb about it, honestly. It's been so long since we had her the way she used to be, that there's not so much mourning left to do. It helps that my mom sees it that way too, of course; I don't know how my other aunts are going to hold up in the coming days and weeks, but we'll have to see. OTOH, if I start thinking, "She'll never see my wedding... she'll never hold my children..." I start to get choked up. So.

Meanwhile, no news from Florida on my Grandma S. I should call my dad, though.

And tonight I have a date for a walk on the beach and a nice dinner. (I also have a new piece of art I finished the other day, but I'll try to post about that separately later, when I have it uploaded to my website.)

Comments

[greenlily.livejournal.com]

I'm sorry. My thoughts are with you and your family.

(It was the same when my grandmother passed away. Her personality had long since gone, and she'd been waiting to join my grandfather since he died in the 1950s, but it was still hard to wrap my mind around the fact that she'd never see her great-grandkids.)

[chanaleh.livejournal.com]

Thanks, yeah. I am glad to say that her mind was still sharp, but her hearing and vision (not to mention her mobility) had deteriorated so far that it was hard to communicate. Then, when she had the second stroke several weeks ago, it's not clear to me how responsive she was after that.

And her husband, my grandfather, died when I was 3-1/2, and she often said that she NEVER thought she would outlast him this long... or wanted to.

[gnomi.livejournal.com]

Baruch dayan ha emet.

[magid.livejournal.com]

Baruch Dayan Ha-emet.

My condolences.

[bex77]

*hugs* My prayers are with you and your family.

I've found that it helps to tell stories, to remember. If you get to that point, I'd love to listen.

[bikergeek.livejournal.com]

I'm sorry for your loss. My condolences.

[geoffroi.livejournal.com]

*HUG*

My prayers are with you and your family....

[coraline]

*hugs* i'm very sorry for your loss.

[mattblum.livejournal.com]

My most sincere condolences on your loss.

*hug*

[vanguardcdk.livejournal.com]

My sincere condolences. ~long hugs~

[sanpaku.livejournal.com]

I'm so sorry.

[besamim.livejournal.com]

Barukh dayan ha-emet. *Hug*

[gilana]

Baruch dayan ha-emet. *hug*

[jehanna.livejournal.com]

I'm sorry to hear of your loss. *hugs*

[hammercock.livejournal.com]

*hugs* I'm sorry, sweetie. May her memory always be a blessing and a source of joy. Baruch dayan emet.

[kvschwartz.livejournal.com]

My condolences.

[lyriendel.livejournal.com]

*hugs* Our condolences.
Which beach are you going to? I hope you have a good time and it takes your mind off things.

[chanaleh.livejournal.com]

We went up to Nahant, though the beach didn't look terribly inviting at that point, so we walked and sat along the Lynn riverwalk instead.

[ceo]

I'm terribly sorry. *hugs*

[lifecollage.livejournal.com]

As you share your sorrows, may they become lighter and easier to bear. Baruch dayan ha-emet.

[miraclaire.livejournal.com]

I'm so sorry for your loss. *hugs*

[trowa-barton.livejournal.com]

My condolences on your loss. Requiescat in pace

[points.livejournal.com]

Not much I can say right now, but *hugs* here, and in person if you want them.

[gosling.livejournal.com]

I'm so sorry for your loss.

[drwex]

My condolences on your loss.

[elizabear.livejournal.com]

I'm so very sorry. Baruch dayan ha-emet.

[zvalium.livejournal.com]

My condolences...

[thevortex.livejournal.com]

My condolences, and *hugs*

The Vortex

[muchabstracted.livejournal.com]

And also my condolences. You and she will be in my thoughts.

[mabfan.livejournal.com]

My condolences on your loss.

[jessruth.livejournal.com]

I'm so sorry, hon. If there's anything I can do, please call.

[ladymondegreen.livejournal.com]

*many hugs*

[tapuz.livejournal.com]

Barukh dayan ha-emet
Hugs to you and your family. I hope that you will find ways to gather together with memories of earlier years in the time leading up to the memorial as well.

[vettecat.livejournal.com]

Our deepest sympathies on your loss.

[bluepapercup]

my condolences, Erica.

[davidfcooper.livejournal.com]

Baruch dayan emet. *hugs*

I just added you (I've been meaning to since February).