Grandma Burkhart

My Grandmother passed away in January, just a few days before her 96th birthday. She was my last living grandparent. My sisters and I traveled to California for her funeral. I took Baby Sister with me. It was really nice for her to meet her aunts, and even nicer to have some one on one time with her. Just me and my baby girl. I also got to see one of my previous roommates, Lauren, and PJ who doesn't even remember me anymore :(

But more about my Grandma...

The funeral service was really good. There were several musical numbers by her kids and grandkids. If nothing else, she should be proud of her posterity.

My grandparents traveled all over the world and they would always bring us little gifts from their travels.

I spent one summer in California with them. We met them in Utah and I drove with them in their RV back to Riverside, stopping along the way at Bryce, Zion and I think even the Grand Canyon. The refrigerator was stocked with Black Cherry soda. My Grandma and I played cards to pass the time.

My Grandma was also really involved in the community and Scouting. The turnout at her funeral was really quite remarkable, I thought.

She graduated from college, which I suspect was a little bit rare in her day, and taught school for a few years before she got married. I remember having a conversation with her once about how when my Grandpa proposed she was thinking "wait, do I want to do this? I've got a job, I've got my own money, I don't have to worry about anyone else" and I realized that maybe she was a lot more like me than I thought. Of course we both made the right decision.

She left my mom a hope chest full of heirlooms....baby gowns and shoes, handmade items that she or her mother had made. Priceless things. My sisters and I got to each pick out a few things. I got the dress she wore to her wedding reception, with matching hat of course, and a plaid wool coat. I'm not certain, but I suspect at one point she used to be quite stylish. I also got a couple of pieces of jewelry. One is a necklace with blue stones that looks a bit flashier than I can picture her wearing. Maybe it was for a special occasion. I wish I knew.

The last time I saw her was at a rehabilitation home after she had a stroke. She actually seemed quite normal at the time, sitting up and talking. I think she needed a walker or cane to get around though. My Grandpa would go visit her every day and there were several other older people in the home. They sat around eating lunch talking about the "good ole days". It was really cute to see my Grandparents in a social setting like that.