10/3/99
My Nana passed away...
For Nanna Evie:
"As I thought about what I should say about Evelyn, "Nana", so many memories of her love and her kindness to us all poured through my mind. I think of all the times she was there to inspire us, to comfort us and to love us unconditionally. She gave so much to each and everyone of us whom where fortunate enough to know her. Her generosity, like her love, knew no bounds. No matter how much she gave, she was always sorry that she couldn't give more.
Nana would always put our needs before her own. I remember when I first talked to her in the hospital, gravely ill, the first thing she asked me was "How is your tooth, dear?", knowing that I had a dental visit the day before.
There are few things as precious as a mother's love. My brothers, sisters and myself where doubly blessed. For Nana loved us all with a mother's love. Whether it was reading to us, teaching us or comforting us, Nana treated us all as her own children.
Up until her retirement, Nana had always worked full time. But when she came home, she always had time for us. She would help with the cooking and the cleaning as well as our school work. She made sure that we knew the states and their capitals as well as our multiplication tables. Up until her health started to decline, Nana was always knitting. We all received homemade scarves in our favorite colors made by loving hands. She would knit afghans and when complete, she would unravel them and start all over again. We all have fond memories of occasionally climbing into Nana's big bed in the attic to watch late night movies with her.
Nana was a incredibly intelligent woman with a wide command of vocabulary. She was famous for her lifetime love of crossword puzzles and would have them completed before most people could even answer.
While I know she is in a better place, I will never walk be her room without wanting to call her name.. and I will always feel a great sadness when I look into her empty room. But Nana is not gone, she will live in all of us who's lives she touched. In our hearts, our acts and our fond memories we share.
Children, and we were all once children, require years of care in order to survive and, hopefully flourish. Our family, iyr entire large wonderful family, was the beneficiary of the care and love given by Nanna Evie. In today's world, lucky are those children who receive the love and care of two good parents. We were blessed each and every day not only by the love and support shown by Mom and Dad, but by that shown by Nana Evie as well. It was as if we had two mothers. I can still hear Grandma Pumphret telling us as children that we had no idea how lucky we were to have Nana Evie. It was like having two mothers, and she was right, it was like having two mothers. Nana Evie was extremely loving and caring. It was a love that was heartfelt- much stronger than mere words could ever express. It is this sweet memory of Nana Evie that connects us all here today. Her love for us, all of us, and our love for was, is and forever shall be innocent, immortal and imperishable.
Nana loved and was loved by everyone in this room. Her children, her grandchildren, great grandchildren and friends.
I hope you are looking down on us Nana, because I know we will be looking up."
