Grandma Julie passed away on 5/26/09. Will and I were at a Reds game when we got the news. She had been suffering with Alzheimer's disease for a few years now. I feel like we had lost her a long time ago...but this is still so, so hard. I'm so glad she no longer has to suffer with this awful disease. I have so many memories of Grandma that will forever be with me. The night of her viewing the grandchildren all got together (except for me...to emotional and just knew I couldn't handle the situation) and wrote down something to be read at her funeral. It was perfect and so very touching. Here is what was read:
Grandma Julie Bell was an amazing caretaker, wonderful to all of us through her great kindness and patience.
Usually stationed in the kitchen, she will definitely be remembered for her delicious home cooking. You would never leave the her house with an empty stomach--her specialties included the comforts of mac'n'cheese, beef'n'noodles and pie with the perfect crust. Everyone knew where to look for her famous sour cream and sugar cookies topped with red hots and chocolate chips, they were sure to be in a round Tupperware on the lazy Susan. And the is no doubt--sitting--sitting in Grandma's kitchen surrounded with all of her wonders, we've all be told a time or two, "Don't tip the bar stools."
She always hovered around the table, serving everyone else before herself. She even prepared food for Grandpa, bringing him a hot meal to the gas station every night.
Grandma was also very creative and skilled in sewing anything we needed, from care bears to the best tooth fairy pillows, quilts for all the grand babies, and hand-made dolls and clothes for all the grandchildren, individually designed to match each child. From the 70's to the 90's, she kept us up with the latest fashion trends, with matching vests, jumpsuits, and yes, we all wore MC Hammer Parachute pants.
You could always play with Grandma no matter what it is you could imagine, she would be there to play with you. We spent countless hours completing puzzles and playing games from rummikub, memory, Chinese checkers, uno, monopoly, and carom.
We all lost marbles in her shag rug and insisted that the Barbies belonged on the stairs, which also served as the site for our purple slinky, the set for our make believe never ending cruise, and annual family Christmas portraits which grew increasingly crowded over the years.
With the background echo of the highway, we nestled in the red, purple or brown rooms to bedtime stories, goodnight kisses and sayings of "goodnight sleep tight, and don't let the bedbugs bite!"
We woke in the mornings to Grandma's "good morning sunshine" and the smell of blueberry pancakes, dippy eggs, our favorite cereals, and toast with homemade strawberry jelly.
We knew that what ever our favorite foods were, she was going to make it for us that day.
We bonded with Grandma singing in the car, watching her favorite shows, or listening to the crackling AM radio. And in the summertime we would sit outside and help her snap green beans.
As parents, Grandma and Grandpa never missed a single sporting event, choir concert, band concert, and for every event they were sure to bring Aunt Opal and Aunt Thelma with them.
She didn't pick favorites, but made us all feel special to her. Every birthday, every Christmas, Easter and 4th of July was such a great memory at Grandma's house. Every holiday was so special because she created a home for us all, a place for gathering as a family and sharing our time together. We are all blessed for knowing her and for learning to love and care for one another through her example. We love you Grandma Julie Bell and you will be greatly missed by all.
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