Tomorrow marks the one year anniversary of my maternal grandmother's passing. It's hard to believe it has been a year already. I put together this post last year, but for unexplained reasons, couldn't post it until now. My Grandma and Grandpa were just about the cutest grandparent married couple you'd ever find. I was fortunate enough to look through their wedding album when Chris and I were home last April to be with my Grandma, which sadly was the last time I got to see her before her passing a few days later on Thursday, April 29, 2010.
Being with my grandma those last two weeks of her life was extremely bittersweet for the whole family. We got to share some great times and memories with her. She was surrounded by an entire family of people who love her, and she had time to say her goodbyes and prepare for what was to come. This was a blessing...but it was surrounded by an incredibly sad inevitability. I called her in that last week to ask her what she could tell me about her wedding day and courtship with my grandpa.
Grandma and Grandpa were engaged on July 19th (
Chris and I were engaged on July 23rd!) at the age of 26 (Grandma) and 25 (Grandpa) (
same ages Chris and I will be when we get married!). They met through mutual friends at church, and soon Grandpa was coming to Buffalo, NY from Illinois to see her quite often. He would sit in on her weekend church group meetings waiting for her to be done, which Grandma said was nice because all of her friends got to know him. On July 23, 1950, Grandpa drove to Buffalo to take her to a Museum at Delaware Park. As they were parked in front of the museum, he took out a box with a ring in it and proposed to her. They were married 5 months later on December 30th (
which was my birthday 34 years later) at my grandmother's church: St. Columba in Buffalo, NY. My Grandfather had converted from Lutheran to Catholic for the ceremony, which my grandmother was not aware he had done until that day! My grandmother's two sisters were her bridesmaids. After the ceremony, they had a brunch in the church basement with food that their family and friends had made, and that night went out to a restaurant for dinner with family and friends. They moved to Olean, NY for a few years before settling down in Allentown, PA. Together they had 6 children and 13 grandchildren!!
My grandmother asked me if I felt confident in the fact that I will be marrying Chris to which I replied "Yes...I really do" She said "Yes...it is amazing, but you just know, and I hope that you and Chris have as long and happy a marriage as I've had with your grandfather" ...I really hope so, too.
She was also able to give me, my sister, and other cousins some of her jewelry that was given to her by my grandfather. She told us "That was one thing your grandfather never skimped on with me....this jewelry isn't from CVS you know. I always told him that he bought me too much nice jewelry but now I'm glad that he did, because I have all this great stuff to give to my children and grandchildren."
...Makes your heart melt right? I am extremely happy that the pearl necklace she gave to my sister looks amazing with my wedding gown. That will be my "something old" and/or "something borrowed" for the wedding day.
It could not look more perfect with my dress. I am so happy that my grandmother can be a part of my wedding day even though she cannot be there. I know that this means a lot to my mom, and especially to my grandfather as well.
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| Grandma and Grandpa's Wedding day |
I've always loved pictures, as most of you probably already know. But when I look through albums of my grandparents and my parents, it makes me appreciate the value of pictures even more. I have so many great memories of things that are sparked when looking through them, and I can't wait to go through pictures of my life with my children and grandchildren one day.
Missing you Grandma ~ 1929-2010
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"Photography is a way of feeling, of touching, of loving.
What you have caught on film is captured forever...
it remembers little things, long after you have forgotten everything."
-Aaron Siskind. |
17 comments:
Aw sweet story. Glad the necklace goes with your dress.
Wow--great story! Those pictures are incredible too! I can't believe the number of dates that have meaning to both of you (for different reasons). It's nice that you'll have a piece of your grandma with you at the wedding, and to know that she was happy for you two:)
I'm glad you got to have that time with your grandmother! I know you'll treasure that always. My maternal grandmother passed away about a year and a half ago, right before I turned 21. We went down for her memorial service and I was given a little jewelry pouch that my grandmother had written "For Jessica's 21st birthday." It was this beautiful watch that had been handed down in that family for a generation or so. I will definitely be wearing that on my wedding day :)
What a great post! And it's wonderful that she'll be with you on your wedding day. I'm borrowing a piece of jewelry from my grandmother as well.
Wow, what a beautiful and inspiring story. She sounds like an absolute treasure, Laura, and I'm so sorry so can't be with you. It's wonderful that you were able to share those special moments with her before she passed.
So beautiful... I'm seriously tearing up.
My Grandma can't make it to our wedding because of the state she's in but I'm glad she got to meet Shawn twice last year so she knows I have someone.
I love that necklace. You've inspired me to write about my something borrowed now...
what a beautiful post. your grandma seems like she was an amazing and kind woman. i think it's great that their marriage lasted so long (and not to mention they looked so great on their wedding day) and i love that she was able to give you the necklace. it's absolutely gorgeous and i know it'll help make her feel like she's with you all day :)
Such a beautiful post. God Bless you and your family. Your grandmother sounds like one sweet woman.
O this post took me so long to read as my eyes kept tearing up. It was so great that you got to spend a little time with her!
I love this post--this is such a sweet story!
Your post is so beautiful! My Grandma passed away on December 30th of 2010 and it has been really hard planning my wedding and knowing that she won't be there. I have managed to find a few things that I will be doing on our big day to remember her as well as my other Grandparents that have passed on. Thank you for sharing your story!
How sweet is that?! The necklace is beautiful!
What a tender, heartfelt post. Your Grandma and Grandpa sure sound like they were extra special people!
I adore that you are going to be able to wear something of your Grandma's when you walk down the isle...that is so touching (and I am sure she will be right by your side in spirit)
xx Cat brideblu
Very sweet story. She made a beautiful bride! I love the necklace too. I wore my grandmother's engagement ring on my wedding day.
This totally brought tears to my eyes and made me think of my maternal Grandpa and paternal Grandma who died just about a year apart from each other, in April 2009 and March 2010.
I think it's amazing that you can wear her necklace on your wedding day. I have a really great brooch that was my Grandma's that will be my something blue on my bouquet... every time I see it, I think of her wearing it, and it's so her!
Thank you for sharing your touching story!!
Couldn't comment yesterday due to technical difficulties. Thank you for this beautiful tribute to Grandma and Grandpa. And thank you to everyone for all your touching comments.
what Laura did not mention is that her granmothers two daughters wore grandmother's wedding dress for the occasion of their respective weddings. That dress still is in excellant dondition, 60 years later.
Gpa
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