May 12-14, 2000: Mother's Day Weekend

Grandpa and my Mom came to Chicago to visit me for the weekend. It was good for all of us to be together this weekend.   On Friday, we went to lunch at Berghoffs..  They got to meet my coworkers, Bryan and Jeanette.    They went to the museum to see the Titanic display.   

Saturday, we went through the Chicago Conservatory and saw the most gorgeous flowers. Grandma always loved flowers.    Then, we went to the movie at the Biograph Theater on Halsted which was where a mobster died many years ago.  

Sunday, we went for breakfast at Ann Sather's and then to Holy Name Cathedral for mass.   Then, we got popcorn from Garrett's pocorn.  Since Grandma's death, I realized how much my family meant to me.   

May 9, 2000: Hesperia and Whitehall

Marianne and I rode up to Hesperia to put flowers down by my dad and grandpa's gravestone.   Then, we went up to Whitehall and put flowers on Grandma Gonyo's mom's stone (Ora Morrison) which was in the middle of the cemetery.    It wasn't far from the building at the entrance.  Then, Marianne and I went for lunch at Russ's.  It was nice to spend some time with her.   

May 8, 2000: Grandma's Funeral Service

On May 7, we had visitation from 2-4 p.m. and 6-8 p.m. at Young Funeral Home.      I had never said the rosary so had no idea what to say.   We thought that grandma would want that as a part of the funeral.    It was scary for me to see Grandma in the casket.  I didn't think it really looked like her.    When Grandpa first got to the funeral home, he went in to see her and didn't recognize her either and blurted out that that wasn't her and walked out.    We had them put the pink square dance dress on her.   Grandpa wanted to wear his Hawaiian shirt to the visitation which we couldn't believe.  

On May 8th, we had the funeral service at Prince of Peace Catholic Church in North Muskegon.    We all walked behind the coffin up front. It was at that point that I realized that Grandma was really gone.    My Mom read the first reading and I read the 2nd reading.   Charlene and Kelsey talked about their memories of Grandma.  Kelsey said she had kept all of the cards Grandma had sent her.    After the service, we went to the Laketon Township Cemetery and put roses on top of the casket.    Grandpa said out loud that he had to go golfing. We were all shocked.    

Walked with Charlene down at Pioneer Park and walked along the beach.  We talked about Grandma's death, as well as my dad's death.    I had alot of anger about him dying so young. I wanted to know more about my dad's death. She told me that he sat down and tied the belt around his neck.   I guess I felt better that he had sat down as I had always had images of him hanging from a tree.   

Marianne stayed the night at our house. I was so glad to have her there.   Kara came over and all of us went to G and L for chili dogs and then had ice cream at Frosty Oasis.  

May 3, 2000: In Memory of Grandma Thomas

Grandma Thomas was a wonderful lady.  She used to make such wonderful meals for us at Easter, birthdays, and Christmas.  I remember her making us homemade chocolates which I looked forward to every year.     She was an Avon Representative for several years and had this room in her basement with all kinds of samples. Kelsey and I loved to try out the lipstick samples when we were kids.     

She had been battling with arthritis and alzheimers for many years.       

My mother had been keeping me up on Grandma's health the past week.     She said the priest was going to give her the last rites today.    When she said that, I knew it wasn't long before she would be gone.    After work, I walked down Oakdale and along Lake Michigan.   I was happy to be back in the city.   On my walk home, I was thinking about Grandma and my family.  It was as if I knew something had happened.  When I got home, I had a voicemail from my mom saying Grandma Thomas had passed away at 6:30 p.m.    My heart dropped.   She said Grandma died in peace and that Charlene had read Psalms 23 over and over to my Grandma.   Aunt Elsie heard the 'death rattle' which was where you hear this rattling sound in the person's throat.    She had heard this before with other family members. She quickly yelled for Grandpa, Charlene, and my Mom to come back to the room.  A few minutes later, she took her last breath.    She said it was the most faithful experience she had ever had.    She said as soon as Grandma died, her skin instantly cleared and the color came back.    It was the sign that her soul was already on its way to heaven.    I will miss Grandma dearly.   

Brandie came downstairs to give me a hug.    Then, I called Grandpa to give him my condolences and was surprised he was so cheerful.    He went out and cut the grass. I was shocked, but I guess everyone deals with grief in their own way. Plus, he knew she had suffered for so long.