Tuesday, May 12, 2009

My Grandma Reece


It's been 10 years since my sweet Grandma Reece passed away. Both of my grandmothers passed away within a year of each other and I never knew my Grandpas. I really cherish all the memories I had with both of my grandmothers. They were both very strong women. For those of you with all your grandparents or at least some of them, how lucky you are...a.k.a. Brandon! He is one of those lucky people who has all four grandparents alive and well. A couple of years ago, I wrote some of these cherished memories of my Grandma Reece and since some of my cousins read this, I thought I would share:

*We were the same ward with Grandma in Orem when we moved to Utah in the early 80’s.
*She baked bread and liked to find new “healthy” recipes.
*She always took care of me at her house when I was sick and my mom had to work.
*I stayed with her when my Mom and Dave went to Hawaii for a week.
*She loved to watch People’s Court everyday with Judge Wapner! He was the best.
*We congregated at her trailer on Sundays with the Johnson girls. I have fond memories of this and I think at about 7 pm, the "grown-ups" would come in the bedroom with us girls to watch “America’s Funniest Home Videos”. We used to joke that the adults thought everything was funny-even the "toast popping"! Grandma loved us all there visiting together.
*After Dave died, I had to go upstairs to talk to Grandma. We lived beneath her in the four-plex at the time. She was so distraught. She loved Dave so much. It was a very hard time for her and all of us.
*When I lived beneath her in the four-plex, I took her goodies periodically. She was a “child of the depression” and always saved the paper plates to give back to me! But she really appreciated the goodies.
*She was a true republican. She loved Rush Limbaugh and listened to the radio a lot.
*In the few hours after she passed away, some of us were gathered at my Aunt's house clear until midnight to say our goodbyes. My cousin's daughter Tawni was about 3 at the time, and she called Grandma Reece "Reecie". When they wheeled Grandma out the door to the mortuary van, she called out, "Bye Reecie."

I'm so grateful for her presence in my life! What a great legacy she has left. Love you Grandma!