Monday Memory: Helen Williams 1921-2000

Nine years ago, I was sitting on my sister's couch feeding my baby Caleb, then 3 months old. I remember looking up at the clock and it was around 11:30 a.m., 1:30 Evansville time, and wondering what was happening back there. My Grandma was terminal with cancer and we had already said our goodbyes to her on the phone.
Not much later, Mom called, telling us she had died...right around 11:30 our time...

It is hard to believe I haven't had this woman in my life for the last nine years. I have had two more children since then, and another on the way. I think about how she would love watching my kids play and teaching them card games or yahtzee. She would probably make chocolate chips with them. It really makes me sad to think they will never know her.

She was widowed at the age of 54 when my Grandpa died of cancer. She found a job,bought her own house and car (a '77 Chevy Nova that didn't even have 100,000 miles on it when she died) When my mom and her siblings were growing up, she ironed for other people so she could send the kids to Catholic school. She had to bury her third child, Jim, after he drowned at the age of 16. And she was a woman who loved the Lord. She was up early every morning reading her bible, and then on to church.

My Grandma was my favorite person growing up. When we lived near her in Indiana, I loved it when it was my turn to spend the night with her and then go to work with her. She was a cook at the rectory for the priests of her church. They all loved her, and her cooking. (somehow that gene missed me)

Grandma taught me how to play cards, and loved Yahtzee. We would go over to her friends' houses and play games. She loved to dance and would take me with her...and she loved to bowl. She was a fun person to be around.

After we moved to Florida, I would spend my summers with her, and when I went away to college, I chose to go back to Evansville so I could live with her. She was the first person I told when Mike proposed to me. (I was living with her) She told us "you remind me of me and Grandpa."

She would giggle when I would get something in the mail from Mike after missing him so much. She would get aggravated at me when I wouldn't keep up my end of the deal of living with her, and my room would be messy. She couldn't tell a joke without giggling at herself half way through, and always made me laugh.

I often wonder what she would think about me now, nine years older, soon to be a mom of four, just like she was. I hope she would be proud of me. I would love to have her over for coffee and a game of Kings Corners, I think I will teach it to my kids today...

I love you, Gram and I miss you...