Beech Tree News Network

My maternal grandparents were very involved in my life and the lives of my siblings. They were like our second parents, which is probably as it should be. In my eyes, my grandmother was an amazing woman.

Since grandparents have a role in the care and nurture of grandchildren, they often hold a special place in the hearts of family members. The following quotes represent some of those thoughts:

• A grandmother is a little bit parent, a little bit teacher, and a little bit best friend. -- Author Unknown

• A grandmother is a mother who has a second chance. -- Author Unknown

• Grandmother - a wonderful mother with lots of practice. -- Author Unknown

• Grandmother-grandchild relationships are simple. Grandmas are short on criticism and long on love. -- Author Unknown

• Just about the time a woman thinks her work is done, she becomes a grandmother. -- Edward H. Dreschnack

My grandmother was born October 26, 1906, and died April 7, 1988. She was the oldest of six children (two of which died very young), grew up in Muhlenberg County near Beech Creek, and lived most of her adult life in the Dunmor area. She had two children and nine grandchildren. She taught elementary school until she retired, beginning in a one-room school. My siblings and I all had our grandmother as our first grade teacher.

Grandmother had strength of character. Her life was characterized by her determination and well-honed work ethic. At times, my grandmother was a caregiver for her parents, her mother-in-law, and her brother; she also helped her children’s families. She froze and canned items from the garden as well as blackberries, strawberries, damson plums, and apples. These things all became part of a good meal. Grandmother sewed, too. She was seldom idle.

Grandmother was a generous and caring woman. Both of my grandparents were willing to help their children and grandchildren with their presence, their labor, and their money. When I was a child and a teenager, Grandmother listened to me, gave me advice and always fed me. When I went to her house, I would eat: I did not have to be hungry. When I told her I planned to marry my late husband – a minister, she cautioned me that as a minister’s wife, I would be unlikely to accumulate earthly possessions (She was right.). She was always willing to loan her grandchildren money to help cover college tuition, medical bills, or unforeseen expenses.

My grandmother was faithful to her family; she did not walk away. She stayed with me when I had ulcers during my senior year in college and following the births of my children. When my grandfather came to the nursing home here in Morgantown, Grandmother stayed with us during that time. I would drive her to the nursing home on my lunch break – she always had a sandwich made for me. She went to visit my granddad every day. To entertain her great grandchildren, she read to them, played cards and games with them, and made them snacks. She made pink flannel pajamas for my daughters. Through her actions, my grandmother showed love to family members until her last day.

After my grandfather died, my grandmother was tired and a bit lonely. She died less than eight months later. One of the last times I saw her, she was at her house standing under the porch light, smiling and waving goodbye to me. I like to think she’ll be waiting for me when it’s my turn to cross over.