know I promised an entry of birthdays and Valentines and first steps (yes, you read right!) but I wanted to make a post in honor of an amazing woman.
Bertha Rany Hides, A.K.A. Grandma Hides (my Mom's Mom) passed away on February 9, just three days after her 95th birthday.
She was the embodiment of goodness, kindness, compassion, and love. Her life couldn't have been more different than ours and yet she always understood and had the right thing to say. Growing up, she was not given the love and tenderness and frequent hugs that every child should have. But she was never bitter and never felt sorry for herself. She said she was thankful for the care she did receive.
When she was a teenager, she became a "nanny" to 7 children in a family who loved her very much. Ultimately, after the matriarch of that family passed away and the depression was in full force, she married George Hides and became Mom to those 7 children. They had 3 more (my mom being the youngest of those 10.)
She always had a hug, a song, a story, a kind word (unless your room was too messy, hair was too long, or skirt was too short, she'd mention that, too.) She brought us all together and began my life of "we feed because we love." Whether it was Browns Chicken, or Chinese ordered from the place down the road, Homemade mostoccoli, greek meatballs, lamb & shells, corned beef & cabbage (I'll never forget how her apartment would smell when we'd arrive for a dinner!) pancakes after a sleepover, grahm crackers with cream cheese, or pound cake with homemade frosting, she was always looking to feed her family (biological and everyone else she cared for, including friends that she'd "adopt" as family) body and soul. Her first concern when she started losing the sight in her one good eye was who would help Marie (a friend of hers in the nursing home) play Bingo?
She decided on hospice care on a Friday. She was tired of fighting and being in so much pain and was ready to go. That Saturday she had (no exaggeration) 20 people in her hospital room to celebrate her birthday. She was comfortable, lucid, talking, laughing, and eating with us. She got to talk to Molly (9) Charlie (7) Adam (4) and she got to hold her namesake, Samantha Rany (1.) As the throngs of people left and we helped her out of her wheelchair & back into bed she said "What a way to go- big family party!!" I kissed her and told her I loved her. She died peacefully in her sleep (just like she wanted) 3 days later.
She loved her kids, grandkids (I was her favorite, but she told me not to tell the others*) and great grandkids. She is loved - very much. She will be missed.
Here are some pictures of her with my kids from just this year.
*Gram was pretty notorious for telling all of us we were her favorites- but not to tell the others... but she meant it to me.
Rest now Gram. We love you.
Some cheezy choral music, some tough stuff, some jazz (since we were graced with a Kevin's drum, Tony's sax, Ron's bass, Bob's violin, & Drew's piano) some traditional Christmas tunes. We sounded like angels in the heavens (at least that's how it sounded to us after a couple bottles of wine.)
Really, my favorite song of the night is when we all sing "O Holy Night." No music- we all just sing whatever arrangement we know. It's beautiful. It's moving. It makes me tear up EVERY year. The only thing missing from the evening was Sandy's beautiful soprano voice singing with us.
After a visit to the hospital, Andrew & I sang the 4:00 service at St. Rosalie's (Sandy's church.) Thanks to Bob's amazing violin skills, it was beautiful & special.
After much kielbasa, pierogi, ham, beef, mushroom soup and other tasty treats, we broke oplatki (a Polish tradition of breaking bread and making well wishes for one another for the following year.) Santa came for another visit. Sounds like a long day, huh? Santa didn't even get there until 9:30 (2 hours past the Blenderkid's bedtime.) But they were angels and we had a great time.
