In Memoriam...

GotoworkJulie's grandmother, Dorothy Neudecker, passed away last night. She was the matriarch of this fine family in every sense of the word and is the first person that Amelia has really known to have died.

For the first few years after we moved here, Dorothy would watch Amelia as I would mow her lawn. They would delight in each others company and I was always inspired by her vitality.

In the fall of our third year here, Dorothy had me pick the grapes from the vines in her yard and instructed me in the making of wine. A favorite picture of mine is of Amelia, in the basement, up to her elbows in grapes as she helped me mash them before fermentation. Drinking a glass or two, with Dorothy, every time I came to help her out in some way became a little tradition that I relished.

Julie and Amelia were at her aunt's house last night when the news came in. It was not at all unexpected as Dorothy has been in a nursing home and under hospice care. Her health was quickly fading. Julie called me and told me that her grandmother had passed, that she was ok but, the kid was a little sad. She related this story to me when they got home later in the night:

As they were driving home they were talking about 'Greatgrandma' and Amelia said "I think when Greatgrandma died she turned into a star" as she stared out the window. There was a short pause then finished with "I think I see her right there..." Julie said she lost it and started blubbering. I was fixing them a little food when they came in and Julie told this to me. At that point, I blubbered a little too.

Dorothy, you will be missed...