I've been sitting with this post for awhile, trying to figure out what to write. My last remaining grandparent passed away on February 1. Clara was 97 years old. We last saw her in person in October, when we were able to visit her and take her on a scenic drive on the bluffs overlooking the Mississippi River. Christopher acted out one of his favorite Gerald and Piggie books for her outside of the car. I didn't see it, but I was told she loved every minute of that. She was so happy to see both kids, and talked about how pretty her namesake, Clare's, hair is. It was the last time she left the house.
My Grandma grew up in Chicago, Illinois, during the Great Depression. She worked to help support her family from a young age. After she graduated from high school, she worked at Marshall Fields and the University of Chicago. It was there that she met my grandfather, who was taking classes at the University as part of his Naval training. They went on a blind date (although my grandpa arranged to see her ahead of time) and the rest is history. They dated for six weeks before my grandpa shipped out to the South Pacific. While my grandpa was away, they exchanged letters. He addressed them to "Clare". They married in November of 1945, and lived on Bainbridge Island in Washington before moving to Sonoma, California, and then back to Wisconsin where they lived in several different towns (including La Crescent, Minnesota) before finally settling in La Crosse.
My Grandma had 7 children in 11 years. When my sister asked her how she coped with that, she said it was just what you did. You didn't think about it.
She loved to read, cook, bake and knit. I remember once going to visit when I had a really bad cold. I couldn't smell anything for a few days. Somehow, the aroma of my Grandma's freshly baked chocolate chip cookies made it through. It was such a wonderful smell. There are other smells I associate with her house - chicken soup, apple pie, and buttered toast. We used to spend the night there when we were kids, and I always slept in the same bed in the same room with my sister. We would eat buttered toast and cereal for breakfast, and drink out of small juice glasses. I remember watching reruns of the Dick Van Dyke show with her in the basement.
My grandma raised her family, and also worked in a business she owned with my grandfather. She volunteered at the hospital for years, and, as my Dad phrased it in her obituary, she "retired" at the tender age of 96. She even received a U.S. presidential award for her service. She was, however, disgusted with the signature on it. We all suggested that we should tape over it with Barack Obama's.
My grandma was very active in her church, and her faith was important to her. She was my Confirmation sponsor when I was in high school. I was able to spend a night or two there just visiting with her. I remember visiting in college as well, and all of these years after. I am so lucky to have had such a wonderful grandmother in my life for so long.
And she loved her grandchildren and her great grandchildren. Clare and Christopher knew and loved her, and were quite sad when I told them she'd passed away. They will remember her. I will, too, with love.
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| August 29, 1923 - February 1, 2021 |
