My Grandma passed away this morning. She wanted to go for 6 years, since my grandpa died. It was a relatively easy death. She suffered more in mind than in body. She had Alzheimer's disease and for the last year hasn't really known me without my kids around, and then eventually didn't know me with my kids around. This morning or late last night she fell, now she's gone. That is easier than cancer. I don't know if Sammy will remember her, but I know Ada will. I told her that Great-grandma had died and she started crying and told me that she really liked her because she read books to her and gave her stuffed animals.
Reading to Ada.
I will always remember Valene Camenish Wilcox as the collector of knick-knacks, the connoisseur of custom made jewelry, the maker of beautiful dresses, the writer of fun filled poetry, the bringer of apple-gum drop turkeys, the advocate of olives and pickles, and a grandma that ultimately loved all children.
She was one of four sisters, only Wyla is left now. They were all very tall and very feminine nonetheless. Ada gets her height from her Great-grandma. I get the apple part of my cheeks from her I think. My sister, Janelle looks like her in a lot of ways. Education was important to her. She taught school for many years as well as becoming president of the poetry society and writing lyrics for Janice Kapp Perry songs. She brought yearly birthday bags of various items that she'd found throughout the year with you in mind (sometimes they'd still have your name pinned to it because it was something she found months ago and didn't want to forget who it was for). My favorite thing she brought was a sweater she had found at DI. It was horrendous... the sleeves were different lengths and it was bright colored checkers. I was a favorite at my high school on ugly sweater day.
She was a reporter during WWII. Loved my grandpa more than anyone in the world. Loved her four boys and wished that she could have had more. She followed grandpa around the world, and served faithfully as a missionary in the Macon, Georgia mission. She was also a down-winder and cancer survivor.
At Sam's baby blessing 4 years ago.
On Halloween, she'd wear a witch hat with a giant spider on it. At school time, she always brought paper and pencils and other school supplies as would befit a third grade teacher. Before her hands started to shake, she drew and drew and drew. I love her pictures from Ethiopia and the portrait she drew of me as a child. She invited all the granddaughters to spend the evening learning etiquette. We used to have Sunday bbques, irrigation parties, and most of all.... every Christmas eve for the first 30 years of my life were spent around her Christmas tree singing carols, bearing testimonies of Christ, eating sandwiches, eggnog with sprite, olives and pickles. Until my Grandpa died 6 years ago I felt like Grandma was too formal, hard to get to know, maybe that she didn't even really like the grandkids all that much. After Grandpa passed, I found that she did love us... just didn't want to be an imposition. Also that she loved children. I loved watching her read story after story to my little ones and be amazed at how much patience she had for them.
Feeding Evelyn at a picnic on Grandma's porch last year.
Holding baby Samuel, Christmas Eve 4 years ago.
Grandma worried that I'd trip and fall 39 weeks along with our third baby. She insisted that she hold my arm to keep me from tripping in the grass. Two years ago.
Visiting Grandpa Wilcox's grave.
I love you Grandma. I'm glad that I got to know you better before you passed. I loved taking the shortcut down the hill, through Cove Point, and past Brad and Chris's houses to come visit you. I wish I would have done it more often. I'm glad that my kids were able to know you. I'm also glad that you get to be with Grandpa again. I know you missed him. We'll miss you too.
