Goodbye

1983, the year of the aforementioned reunion Grandma (Leola Swanson) spent a lot of time in the hospital. We visited as often as we could but distance limited our time.  I went to the reunion in August and answered the questions of many of Grandma's health. She had really looked forward to seeing everybody but it was not to be.  After the reunion we travelled the 40 miles to be with Grandma. She looked frail, lying in the hospital bed but was alert and she wanted to learn all about the reunion. Oh how I wished  I spent more time remembering names.  Finally, I had no more to tell. Grandma leaned back, grimaced in pain and was gone. I knew then that she had hung on, waiting for the reunion report.   News travelled quickly to the rest of the family. A funeral service was planned, visitation at the small funeral home in Glidden WI. Grandma had her own reunion as we said goodbye to her to the strains of "How Great Thou Art." Many of the cousins who had travelled for the reunion stayed the extra days so they also could say goodbye to the cousin they knew so well.

Grandma would be buried in Ogema next to her husband in Hillside Cemetery where many of her ancestors were also buried. After the funeral, the hearse departed for the trip alone.  Others departed the church for their respective homes. Tony and I followed Mom, Dad and Glen to begin the task of cleaning out Grandma's house. Memory escapes who else was there. While at the church we noted they were soon to have a rummage sale and it was decided that what was not wanted would be sent to Grandma's church.

Grandma was a great hostess, never letting anyone leave her house hungry. She always had cookies in her cookie jar "in case someone would come". That day was no different. We shared in the somewhat stale chocolate chip cookies knowing it would be the last we would get from Grandma. The task at hand was hard. The brothers were each generous with each other and many times the line "you take that" was uttered from both. They also thought of the next generation and saved  items for my cousins that were not there. I was allowed also to take what I wanted. 

Grandma's turkey roaster served her well and now over 30 years later it still serves me as do her cake pans and other kitchen items. Each time I use them, they remind me of a loving Grandma who hosted many family dinners.  As a budding genealogist, but not expecting to find anything, (they had all burned in the fire, I was told.) I quickly made it known that I would like any genealogical papers and photos. Imagine my surprise when deep in the closet were 2 large boxes of photos!  Grandma, I wish....