Linda lost her last living grandparent earlier this week. She was 97 years old. Unfortunately, Alzheimer’s Disease had taken her from us many years ago. For many years, we would visit, but it was disheartening knowing that she didn’t know who we were. However, she had a life-long love of music. So, for many years Linda and the girls would go to her place of residence and put on piano and violin recitals for her and all her fellow residents. She clearly enjoyed listening to the music.

She will be missed now that she is truly gone. However, the family has lots of good memories.

One of the memories most retold among our family is best described by Linda’s sister at her blog, Connor and Helen Grow Up:

My grandma didn’t say a lot, didn’t smile in photos, and should’ve stayed out of the kitchen. Her two kitchen legacies are the ability to turn tin-foil into gravy (how else to explain the similarity in taste?) and burning rolls.

Years ago, we were eating Thanksgiving dinner at my grandparents’ home. My brother-in-law put into action the tried-and-true practice of smothering the turkey and potatoes with gravy, because that? That would make everything taste good. My mom, sister, and I all stood there in shock, because we had spent so many years avoiding the gravy, that I think we had forgotten how powerful the stuff was. We have had more than one laugh reliving the look on my brother-in-law’s face when he took a bite.

That same dinner, my grandma had put a pan of rolls in the oven. Mind you, these are just the store bought rolls that come in packages that essentially need to be reheated or browned a little bit. The rolls were done, and my Aunt came into the kitchen and removed them from the oven – right on time. I observed the bold act, thinking that for the first time ever, the rolls would not be burnt. Only, before my aunt could set the pan down, my grandma put them right back into the oven and admonished my aunt that the turkey wasn’t done yet. And that pretty much sums up every cooking memory I have of my grandma

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The funeral was held yesterday at her home church in Salina, KS – University United Methodist Church.

Eternal rest grant unto her, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon her