Easter Supper, The Young and the Restless (her story), All in the Family (or, as she passionately referred to the show, Archie Bunker), the Jeffersons, and Family Feud. Those are a few of the things I remember my grandma by as I mourn her loss one year later.
Tonight, we had raviolis for supper with garlic toast and salad with Olive Garden dressing. That’s a meal she’d be proud of cooking. Katie and Annabelle live in her house now and they’re keeping it up well. We ate Thanksgiving dinner there last year and I think she’d have been happy knowing we celebrated the holiday as a family.
Her favorite tradition was going to the Olive Garden for Great Grandma’s birthday. The whole family got together to celebrate. We ate great Italian food, laughed til we cried, and enjoyed each other’s company. She missed the tradition when Great Grandma passed away in 2006.
How about the surprise 80th birthday party at Persichetti’s? She knew nothing about it. We walked into the room and were greeted by family all wishing her Happy Birthday. Grandma was definitely surprised that night.
She took me in when Katie gave birth to Annabelle (the original plan was them living there and I continued living at home). I’d live there for several years. Eventually home would be calling me back.
We thought she’d beat her cancer last spring. When she took that fall in her kitchen, and she would hospitalized, and eventually put in hospice, we knew it was the end. We wanted to believe she’d get through this, but we knew better. She took her last breath the weekend I was at Hersheypark. I got the news coming home that she died.
Family and friends came to offer their condolences. Even some of the Gaffrons paid their last respects. Aunt Sue always thought of Lucille as family. Mr. Clougherty even came to the viewing to be there for me. After the funeral and burial, we had a celebratory lunch at Denunzio’s restaurant in Jeannette.
It was a lonely summer without her and I’d feel that loneliness even into the fall. Between seeing my coworkers happy together and my grandma passing away, I’ve begun longing for someone myself. But that’s another story that I blogged about last fall (one of my favorites to read).
I’ll close the blog with some advice to you. Love your family and don’t take them for granted. You never know when they’ll be gone for good.
Bye everyone. ❤️ you.
Stylish 🍒 