It's still kind of crazy to me how losing someone in your life makes you stop and put your life into perspective immediately. Right when you are getting carried away focusing on such little, silly things life comes around and hands you a wakeup call. Grandma was 87 but seemed like a 70 year old until just a few years ago. She would always go over to the nursing home to play cards or do projects with the residents there. We always got a laugh out of it because she always claimed she was going to play cards with the "old" people. Of course she wasn't "old" and we always believed that. Maybe that's why it was extra hard to see her not acting herself this last little while. It's all so bittersweet. Selfishly I want her to be here forever but I would imagine she has at least two people that couldn't wait to see her. Right when a tear is about to fall down my cheek from the thought of losing her I try to imagine the reunion between her and Grandpa (who she hasn't seen in 25 years) or her and Kathy (who she hasn't seen in 6 years) or the reunion between the three of them. What a moment that would be to see. So selfishly as I want her back I can't help but smile to think how happy they will be to see each other.
As Nolan said after her learned of her death I hope that "Grandma Grape and Grandma Mitchell will have fun playing together in heaven". Nolan doesn't totally understand but I think he does a little. He shouldn't, he's only four. He's been asking questions about Grandma Grape and has been reminding himself that we can't just go up the street to visit. Like today he asked if Grandma Grape is still wearing those "things to help her breath in heaven". He was always extra intrigued by her nasal cannulas because he knows that he wore them for a while when he was born. Right when she started using oxygen he was kind of proud that in some of his newborn pictures he looked like her :) Again that is just one of those interesting things about life. Nolan was using the oxygen to make his lungs stronger and to make him healthy. We knew that at some point he would no longer need them. Grandma Grape used oxygen because her body was slowly shutting down. It wasn't trying to make her healthier although I wish that would have been the case.
Sweetie Tessa was heartbroken. I can't even write about her reaction to the sad news without crying. We were having breakfast when I told her that Grandma Grape had gone to heaven. She quietly pushed her cereal to the side, placed her head down on her arm on the table, and cried very hard. One of the saddest, most genuine cries I've really seen from her. I wanted to make her feel better but watching her reaction just broke my heart. My sensitive peanut definitely understood what I was telling her. She asked tons of questions and I answered the ones I could. But when Nolan made the comment about Grandma Grape and Grandma Mitchell playing together in heaven that made us all feel a little better.
Over the past four days I've seen more of my Meade family all together than I probably ever have. The stories that everyone had were so fun to hear. There are so many of us and we all shared part of Grandma's life at different points of her life. We all hold our own special memories of her and will miss her.
I decided to put a copy of her obituary in here so my kids can see this when they are older. As I turn this blog into books for Tessa and Nolan, I want them to see just how great Grandma was and to know more about her history that is listed in her obituary.
Grandma, as Nolan would say have fun playing in heaven. Boy we will miss her.
LODI - Victoria M. Meade, age 87, passed away on Sunday, April 6,
2014, at Meriter Hospital, surrounded by her loving family. She was
born on Aug., 18, 1926, the daughter of Victor and Mary Ligneel.
Vicky married Gale R. Meade on Oct. 20, 1945. She enjoyed many years working as a waitress for several local restaurants. She volunteered for decades at Lodi Good Samaritan. Vicky was an active member of St. Patrick's Catholic Church and delivered food for the Meals on Wheels program. She loved quilting, card playing, especially euchre, poker and nickels.
Vicky enjoyed her numerous gambling trips. She was an avid walker. She would walk three miles a day, until she was 80, usually with friends or her dog, Molly. Vicky had a lifelong love of dogs. She was a great cook and was well-known for her homemade noodles and pies. Most of all, she loved spending time with her family and friends.
Vicky is survived by her children, Mike (Cindy Ludke) Meade, Bob (partner, Peggy Howe) Meade, John (Patty Mitchell) Meade, Lynda (Steve Willadsen) Meade and Charlie Meade; son-in-law, Mark Reichow; grandchildren, Lisa (Shane) Lopez, Dan (Stacy) Skaluba, Aaron (Jen) Reichow, Mike Meade, Jason (Summer) Meade, Bob (Jesse) Meade, Christy Lincicum, Aaron (Becky) Meade, Becca (fiancé Adam Richmond) Meade, Shaina (Sam) Barker, Travis Meade, Jessie (Beau) Lane, Bryan (fiancé Edi) Meade, Emily (Derek) Pertzborn, Tim Willadsen, Carrie (Stewart) Rodriguez, Kathryn Willadsen and Gail Willadsen; 13 great-grandchildren, with one on the way; special friend, Kate; and sisters, Madge Buzzell and Marian Buchanan. She is further survived by many nieces, nephews and other relatives and friends. She was preceded in death by her husband, Gale, in 1988; daughter, Kathy Reichow, in 2008; brother, George; and sisters, Caroline, Rose and Mugs.
A mass of christian burial will be held at Blessed Trinity Catholic Parish at St. Patrick’s Church Lodi, 521 Fair St., Lodi, at 11 a.m., on Thursday, April 10, 2014, with the Rev. Father Chad M. Droessler presiding. Burial will be in St. Patrick's Catholic Cemetery. Visitation will be held at the Hamre Gunderson Funeral Home, 157 S. Main St., Lodi, from 5 p.m. until 8 p.m. on Wednesday, April 9, 2014, with scripture service being held at 8 p.m. Visitation will also be on Thursday, April 10, 2014, from 9:30 a.m. until the time of the service at the church.
Memorials may be made to Columbia County Humane Society, Lodi Food Pantry or St. Patrick's Catholic Church.
"Perhaps they are not stars in the sky, but rather openings where our loved ones shine down to let us know they are happy." - Eskimo Proverb.
Vicky married Gale R. Meade on Oct. 20, 1945. She enjoyed many years working as a waitress for several local restaurants. She volunteered for decades at Lodi Good Samaritan. Vicky was an active member of St. Patrick's Catholic Church and delivered food for the Meals on Wheels program. She loved quilting, card playing, especially euchre, poker and nickels.
Vicky enjoyed her numerous gambling trips. She was an avid walker. She would walk three miles a day, until she was 80, usually with friends or her dog, Molly. Vicky had a lifelong love of dogs. She was a great cook and was well-known for her homemade noodles and pies. Most of all, she loved spending time with her family and friends.
Vicky is survived by her children, Mike (Cindy Ludke) Meade, Bob (partner, Peggy Howe) Meade, John (Patty Mitchell) Meade, Lynda (Steve Willadsen) Meade and Charlie Meade; son-in-law, Mark Reichow; grandchildren, Lisa (Shane) Lopez, Dan (Stacy) Skaluba, Aaron (Jen) Reichow, Mike Meade, Jason (Summer) Meade, Bob (Jesse) Meade, Christy Lincicum, Aaron (Becky) Meade, Becca (fiancé Adam Richmond) Meade, Shaina (Sam) Barker, Travis Meade, Jessie (Beau) Lane, Bryan (fiancé Edi) Meade, Emily (Derek) Pertzborn, Tim Willadsen, Carrie (Stewart) Rodriguez, Kathryn Willadsen and Gail Willadsen; 13 great-grandchildren, with one on the way; special friend, Kate; and sisters, Madge Buzzell and Marian Buchanan. She is further survived by many nieces, nephews and other relatives and friends. She was preceded in death by her husband, Gale, in 1988; daughter, Kathy Reichow, in 2008; brother, George; and sisters, Caroline, Rose and Mugs.
A mass of christian burial will be held at Blessed Trinity Catholic Parish at St. Patrick’s Church Lodi, 521 Fair St., Lodi, at 11 a.m., on Thursday, April 10, 2014, with the Rev. Father Chad M. Droessler presiding. Burial will be in St. Patrick's Catholic Cemetery. Visitation will be held at the Hamre Gunderson Funeral Home, 157 S. Main St., Lodi, from 5 p.m. until 8 p.m. on Wednesday, April 9, 2014, with scripture service being held at 8 p.m. Visitation will also be on Thursday, April 10, 2014, from 9:30 a.m. until the time of the service at the church.
Memorials may be made to Columbia County Humane Society, Lodi Food Pantry or St. Patrick's Catholic Church.
"Perhaps they are not stars in the sky, but rather openings where our loved ones shine down to let us know they are happy." - Eskimo Proverb.
