My beautiful grandma passed one week ago, today, at 11:22pm. My husband and I were the only ones in the room. We had sent everyone else to bed. I felt incredibly guilty about that and still do, but that’s for another time. I also feel so incredibly lucky and blessed to have been there. She awoke and smiled. I said, “I love you, grandma. There’s that beautiful smile” and was gone. She was 77 years old.

My grandma and grandpa met when he was in the army. His story is that she chased him all over tarnation. Every time he told this story, she would just shake her head at him. Grandma was not the chasing type. I have a feeling it was the other way around. That picture over there was a picture of her when she was 18. They were married 3 years prior and grandpa carried that picture with him all over while he was in the war. He said, “I’d pull that picture out of my wallet and say, ‘Look what’s waiting for me at home.’ No one ever believed me. She was so beautiful.” Now, my grandpa is no slouch, himself, but I still joke that he was pretty lucky to have her. They were married for 62 years.

My grandma had 5 kids of her own, in addition to raising 5 siblings. I’ve met more relatives in the past week than I knew I even had. I reconnected with my very, very estranged half-brother who, much to my and my family’s shock, brought his children (15 and 11) and wife to the memorial to meet us. My dad got to meet his grandchildren for the first time. It was…well…uncomfortable, but I know my grandma was proud of him and ridiculously happy to see everyone reunited. It’s all she ever wanted for us, to enjoy the family she’d created and, even though it was only for a few minutes, we did just that.

My family has amazed me over the past week. I expected an implosion. I should have known better than to think so little of them. We’ve pulled together in the way that grandma wanted us to before the cancer struck. I regret not doing so then. I want to make sure we make up for it now.

My beautiful grandma passed away, at home, on March 8th, 11:22 pm. She was married 62 years, had 5 beautiful children, 7 grandchildren, 8 great-grandchildren and too many friends to count. At 77 years old she was still as beautiful as that photograph at 18.

We love you, grandma, with all our hearts and we will miss you so, so much. Thank you for being the rock for our family and for being my grandma. I couldn’t have asked for anything more.