My great aunt Lydia passed away during the night. The Iowa nursing home called at 2:20am (I was afraid to answer the phone at that hour!) and again at 3:20am. She peacefully passed at 3am. The nurse assured me that they were doing everything to make her comfortable. Of course I couldn't sleep for a few hours! Mom and Dad were here and that's why they were calling here. Dad is the POA. Mom and Dad were going to stay until Monday but they left this morning instead, lots of things to do back home, and they wanted to go and tell my grandma personally this afternoon after they got there.
Aunt Lydia was a kind, sweet and gentle woman. She never married and she moved in with Grandma in the 70's (I think). It was pretty much like having 2 grandmas in that home. She was 98 and hasn't had much of a quality of life for many years now... mostly blind and deaf. My head tells me not to be sad, she is in a much better place in heaven now, her suffering has ended and her body is renewed. Today was her heavenly birth day and what a day of rejoicing they must be having today in heaven! My heart feels sad though. A chapter closing. She's ALWAYS been there. The circle of life is natural but painful too. I can't wish her back and I don't. She has finally finished the long race and she has won her prize. I consoled myself with this and didn't even feel any tears until the song/skit of "Come to Jesus" this morning at church. Wow. What timing.
The funeral will be Wednesday in Iowa. I'm planning on leaving early Wednesday morning right now. When you are 98 you don't have many friends left; and she never had her own family, we were her family. Everyone needs someone to grieve for them... for the loss of them. I need to be there with her neices/nephew and the greats and great-greats to remember her life.
A few words to describe my Aunt "Lydi"
Scrabble and dominoes
Chicken Gumbo over rice
Black tie shoes with a little heel
She helped me sew a wrap-around skirt for my 4H project. I have her sewing machine and stand (although the machine no longer works).
She taught me how to do embroidery. (I made tea towels for Amy for Christmas, with her embroidery floss).
Smooth dewy skin
Aunt Lydia has always been part of my life. I will still carry her with me in my heart.
2 comments:
I know how much you loved her. How blessed you were by having her around all the time and having her teach you your "crafty" talents. Not only do you have those talents, but more importantly, those memories!
I want "Come To Jesus" to be my funeral song (I've never said that before, right?)...and think about Aunt Lydia, "going in peace and laughing on Glory's side"!
I will be saying extra special prayers for your family this week! HUGS!!
How cool to have had 2 grandma's in one house. My heart goes out to you for your loss. The Lord says in the Beatitudes say "Blessed are those that mourn for they will be comforted"
Love,
Cheryl
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