Saturday, April 12, 2008
Our Gramma O!!
My name is Lacey Paupanekis, I am Elodie's daughter. When I think of Gramma O. I think of Jam-jam's, scuffles, and, constant eating. She like'd to make sure everyone was very well fed, with full meals every 4 hours. She always made sure everyone knew what others in the family were up to, went out of her way to keep the family as close as possible. She was a very strong woman. She took care of everyone, even when it was hard emotionally, and physically. We all love and miss her so much. She taught me to keep my family close, and by watching her take care of my grandfather, even when it was really hard, made me see just how much she cared not only for him, but for all of us. She had a heart of gold!! Even though we can't see her, she lives on in our hearts, and our memories forever. I LOVE you and MISS you so much Gramma !!
Saturday, March 22, 2008
Grandma O's Jam
I originally posted this on my personal blog, CHADMAC Speaks. Anyone who wants to, can go there to read other things I write. But please know that I occasionally post things that some family members may not want to read (particularly with regards to things like religion). - Chad
This morning, I caught a glimpse of a jar of jam that has been in my fridge for some time. Since Christmas, I haven't been able to bring myself to open it. You see, this particular jar is the last jar of rhubarb jam I received from my grandma and it is also the last jar of my grandma's jam that I will ever have. My grandma passed away on December 15th last year.
I wasn't going to post a blog about this, because it is very personal and such personal postings are not really why I started this whole blogging thing. Most people who know me know that I am a pretty quiet, introspective person who tends not to discuss such matters very often. But this morning, I realized that there are some things that I want to get off my chest that I otherwise would not discuss with people in person.
On December 15th, I was in Winnipeg making a stop to visit with friends before heading out to my grandparents' place in Saskatchewan for Christmas - My grandma had decreed that everyone was to gather at their place for the holidays last year. When I woke up around noon, I listened to a voice mail I had from my mom. She was crying and told me to call her back as soon as possible. I knew that someone had most likely died and the first thing that came to mind was that my grandpa had passed away (he has been in pretty rough shape for the last few years). When I called her back, my mom told me that my grandma had had a heart attack that morning and died. This news completely blind-sided me and left me speechless. I didn't know what to say and I didn't know what to do.
I wasn't getting on the bus to leave Winnipeg until early the next week. So, I had a whole weekend in Winnipeg ahead of me. I didn't want to cancel any of the plans I had that weekend, and in the end I am glad that I could get out see my friends to provide some much-needed distraction. Apart from the night I went to my godparents' place for dinner, I didn't really discuss my grandma's death with anyone.
In the end, I don't think the reality of my grandma's death hit me until I actually arrived in Davidson. You see, growing up, the moment I always loved and remembered about going to my grandparents' place was taking that right turn onto their street and seeing their house up on the corner. On the short drive up the street, I would know that my grandma would be waiting for me on the other side of that front door. This short drive was probably the one moment I looked forward to the most when visiting my grandparents. But last Christmas, when making that turn, I knew that my grandma wasn't going to be there to greet me.
It's the little things like this that I miss the most. Waking up in the basement to the smell of grandma making breakfast. Long hand-written letters in the mail with updates about distant relatives I don't recall ever meeting. Grandma's baking, including the ever-amazing jam-jams and scuffles. Grandma starting to prepare brunch within minutes of eating breakfast. Playing cards at the kitchen table. Stealing fresh peas and rhubarb from the garden outside. Grandma's laugh. And of course, the rhubarb jam.
When I returned to El Paso at the end of December, I immediately went to find the last letter that my grandma sent me. I reread it several times and then hung it on the fridge along with the pamphlet from the funeral and a picture of my grandparents. Only recently did I take them down (although they are still on top of the fridge). These mementos, along with the Christmas stocking that my grandma made me, are items that I will always have to remember her by. But there is something about finishing that last jar of jam..... Once it's gone, it's gone, and I won't be able to get any more. There's a kind of finality to it that I haven't had the heart to face yet. Maybe after spring break.....
Cheers,
Me
This morning, I caught a glimpse of a jar of jam that has been in my fridge for some time. Since Christmas, I haven't been able to bring myself to open it. You see, this particular jar is the last jar of rhubarb jam I received from my grandma and it is also the last jar of my grandma's jam that I will ever have. My grandma passed away on December 15th last year.
I wasn't going to post a blog about this, because it is very personal and such personal postings are not really why I started this whole blogging thing. Most people who know me know that I am a pretty quiet, introspective person who tends not to discuss such matters very often. But this morning, I realized that there are some things that I want to get off my chest that I otherwise would not discuss with people in person.
On December 15th, I was in Winnipeg making a stop to visit with friends before heading out to my grandparents' place in Saskatchewan for Christmas - My grandma had decreed that everyone was to gather at their place for the holidays last year. When I woke up around noon, I listened to a voice mail I had from my mom. She was crying and told me to call her back as soon as possible. I knew that someone had most likely died and the first thing that came to mind was that my grandpa had passed away (he has been in pretty rough shape for the last few years). When I called her back, my mom told me that my grandma had had a heart attack that morning and died. This news completely blind-sided me and left me speechless. I didn't know what to say and I didn't know what to do.
I wasn't getting on the bus to leave Winnipeg until early the next week. So, I had a whole weekend in Winnipeg ahead of me. I didn't want to cancel any of the plans I had that weekend, and in the end I am glad that I could get out see my friends to provide some much-needed distraction. Apart from the night I went to my godparents' place for dinner, I didn't really discuss my grandma's death with anyone.
In the end, I don't think the reality of my grandma's death hit me until I actually arrived in Davidson. You see, growing up, the moment I always loved and remembered about going to my grandparents' place was taking that right turn onto their street and seeing their house up on the corner. On the short drive up the street, I would know that my grandma would be waiting for me on the other side of that front door. This short drive was probably the one moment I looked forward to the most when visiting my grandparents. But last Christmas, when making that turn, I knew that my grandma wasn't going to be there to greet me.
It's the little things like this that I miss the most. Waking up in the basement to the smell of grandma making breakfast. Long hand-written letters in the mail with updates about distant relatives I don't recall ever meeting. Grandma's baking, including the ever-amazing jam-jams and scuffles. Grandma starting to prepare brunch within minutes of eating breakfast. Playing cards at the kitchen table. Stealing fresh peas and rhubarb from the garden outside. Grandma's laugh. And of course, the rhubarb jam.
When I returned to El Paso at the end of December, I immediately went to find the last letter that my grandma sent me. I reread it several times and then hung it on the fridge along with the pamphlet from the funeral and a picture of my grandparents. Only recently did I take them down (although they are still on top of the fridge). These mementos, along with the Christmas stocking that my grandma made me, are items that I will always have to remember her by. But there is something about finishing that last jar of jam..... Once it's gone, it's gone, and I won't be able to get any more. There's a kind of finality to it that I haven't had the heart to face yet. Maybe after spring break.....
Cheers,
Me
Sunday, February 17, 2008
Raeanne Kurtz (Obrigewitsch)
hi everyone!
I'm Raeanne, Edith's eldest grandchild. I'm married to Patrick Kurtz and we have one son Darien who is 3 1/2 years old. We live in Regina, SK. I am a Manager of Human Resources for Health Canada. I am finishing my Masters Degree in Human Resource Management and should be done classes in June of this year. Patrick is the Director of Training for Saskatchewan Safety Council. Darien is master of all, centre of the universe, non-stop talking machine...and really quite humorous :o) Once in a while he still asks about Grandma O and in fact this morning we ran out the her strawberry, rhubarb jam and he wants to know who is going to make more "Grandma O jam." And a few weeks ago wanted to know who would fix the hole in his "Grandma O blanket," the afghan she kept adding to as he was growing bigger.
All my life I have been a grandma's girl, spending countless hours visiting with both my Grandmas who I was so blessed to have living in the same hometown as I grew up in. Losing both within a few weeks of each other has been a great loss... I miss Grandma O very much. She loved us in a way noone else can.
Chad, thanks for setting this up and I hope others get a chance to add so we can share our updates and our memories.
I'm Raeanne, Edith's eldest grandchild. I'm married to Patrick Kurtz and we have one son Darien who is 3 1/2 years old. We live in Regina, SK. I am a Manager of Human Resources for Health Canada. I am finishing my Masters Degree in Human Resource Management and should be done classes in June of this year. Patrick is the Director of Training for Saskatchewan Safety Council. Darien is master of all, centre of the universe, non-stop talking machine...and really quite humorous :o) Once in a while he still asks about Grandma O and in fact this morning we ran out the her strawberry, rhubarb jam and he wants to know who is going to make more "Grandma O jam." And a few weeks ago wanted to know who would fix the hole in his "Grandma O blanket," the afghan she kept adding to as he was growing bigger.
All my life I have been a grandma's girl, spending countless hours visiting with both my Grandmas who I was so blessed to have living in the same hometown as I grew up in. Losing both within a few weeks of each other has been a great loss... I miss Grandma O very much. She loved us in a way noone else can.
Chad, thanks for setting this up and I hope others get a chance to add so we can share our updates and our memories.
Friday, February 1, 2008
Kitchen Table
Hello Again,
In her previous post, mom said that she wanted everyone to think of this site as Grandma's kitchen table. I really like this sentiment and I think it may actually be a better title for the blog. So, I've changed the name. If anyone has any objections or other ideas, please post them in the comments for this post.
Cheers,
Chad
In her previous post, mom said that she wanted everyone to think of this site as Grandma's kitchen table. I really like this sentiment and I think it may actually be a better title for the blog. So, I've changed the name. If anyone has any objections or other ideas, please post them in the comments for this post.
Cheers,
Chad
Thursday, January 31, 2008
Love from the Baby
Well, as you can guess, I'm Elodie, the "baby" of the family (or at least that's who I was the last time my Mother introduced me to someone in 2007). I would like to thank everyone who participated at Mom's funeral, it was great to see everyone and hopefully we can get the word out to even the most obscure relatives and friends that Mom kept in touch with about the site. Chad, thank you for setting this up for us, I think it will prove to be a real lifeline.
We are currently living in Virden Manitoba, Box 1299 R0M 2C0. I work at the Co-Op bakery/deli, Garry is with Manitoba Hydro in Brandon and commutes. Our daughter Lacey lives in Gillam, Manitoba where her husband Ryan works with ...Manitoba Hydro. Their son Dominick was born October 1, 2006 and is all boy. Lacey and Dominick spent a month here at home, after Christmas as Ryan was in Hydro schools in The Pas finishing his millwrights.
Our son Greg is 15 and his current love and passion is basketball. The mother of one of his school friends asked me in November if Greg was excited about Basketball season starting. I had to ask her dumbly, "When did it end?" Greg plays regular season here in Virden until April, then, there's Spring league in Brandon until June. July is Bobcat camp at the Brandon U, and the one at the Neelin high school in Brandon, and August is Legion camp in the Peace Gardens. That leaves just about enough time to once again go the Brandon, for the required school supplies...new basketball jerseys!
I have just spent 10 days with Dad, he seems to be doing fine. Really missing Mom tho'. Anyone who has a moment, maybe drop him a line. Other than family and a friend that picks him up for church, he doesn't see or talk to anyone. Unfortunatly, I don't think we'll be able to bring him into the computer age, it's still old-fashioned Canada Post. Anyone who has cared for an elderly person realizes quick that the mail is an all-imortant time of day.
Hope to see more people on here soon. Bye for now.
We are currently living in Virden Manitoba, Box 1299 R0M 2C0. I work at the Co-Op bakery/deli, Garry is with Manitoba Hydro in Brandon and commutes. Our daughter Lacey lives in Gillam, Manitoba where her husband Ryan works with ...Manitoba Hydro. Their son Dominick was born October 1, 2006 and is all boy. Lacey and Dominick spent a month here at home, after Christmas as Ryan was in Hydro schools in The Pas finishing his millwrights.
Our son Greg is 15 and his current love and passion is basketball. The mother of one of his school friends asked me in November if Greg was excited about Basketball season starting. I had to ask her dumbly, "When did it end?" Greg plays regular season here in Virden until April, then, there's Spring league in Brandon until June. July is Bobcat camp at the Brandon U, and the one at the Neelin high school in Brandon, and August is Legion camp in the Peace Gardens. That leaves just about enough time to once again go the Brandon, for the required school supplies...new basketball jerseys!
I have just spent 10 days with Dad, he seems to be doing fine. Really missing Mom tho'. Anyone who has a moment, maybe drop him a line. Other than family and a friend that picks him up for church, he doesn't see or talk to anyone. Unfortunatly, I don't think we'll be able to bring him into the computer age, it's still old-fashioned Canada Post. Anyone who has cared for an elderly person realizes quick that the mail is an all-imortant time of day.
Hope to see more people on here soon. Bye for now.
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