I find myself at a loss for words after hearing of so many people who have recently left us here on Earth. While I have faith that God uses these moments of our lives for a purpose and is always carrying us through, it's still hard. I sometimes can't even fathom the idea of losing a loved one close to me, yet I know it is part of life. I think the best we can do to handle losing those we love is to honor them by living. Do the things you don't normally make time for. TELL people how you really feel about them. Be spontaneous. LIVE. I hope to always remember this and to live my life in a way that honors those who are not longer living on Earth and honor my creator whom I will forever owe my life and love. I wanted to share a speech I wrote for my husband's grandmother who passed away last March. She was quite the character but she really did have a big heart. I was blessed to know her and so grateful to see her laugh, yell and cry with my husband, her grandson whom she loved oh so much! Her daughters are a true example of living your life and they are the best Aunts I could ask for. Her legacy will most certainly live on through the color purple, the Irish traditions, the cackle and infamous stories and through the memories of her love.
Miss you Nana! 
Nana Bunny
When I think of the Nana I came to know
I instantly start to chuckle. There were few moments when she didn’t laugh at
someone (usually Andrew or Katie) or she didn’t make us laugh. Some of my
favorite memories of Nana include the first time I asked her about her
birthday, which she replied was on October 30th and that is why she
was Spooooky. I’ll also never forget her advice to me upon getting my prom
dress my senior year. I asked her for her opinion, I think, and she told me to
not get white, no blue, no green, no pink, no red and definitely not yellow
which of course was what I set my heart onI then asked her okay then what am I
left with to which she replied black and walked away. . I also will always
remember the way her eyes lit up when she saw Cal Ripken or some of her
favorite others: Donald, Danny and Marty. She definitely had a thing for those
blue eyes! I had the priviledge of spending many days with Nana in the
Fetterolf household and am honored to know of the love and caring that went on
in their house. Although at times Nana could use her wittiness to the best of
her ability, she was always so loved and was quite the entertainment. She truly
appreciated all that her kids and grandkids did for her and I could see that
through her spirit while at Singerly Manor. Nana had a tough exterior at times
but certainly had a huge heart. My mom even told me recently that during one of
her first times at Cindy’s house, Nana sat with her and just spoke so openly.
She remembered feeling so welcome and always felt comfortable talking with
Nana.
I’m
so blessed to be a part of this family and thankful for her being able to see
her grandson get married in the same church as her daughters. If this family is
any indication of her love, strength and thoughtfulness then I would say she
fulfilled her job as a great mother. All of you in this room are here because
you have been touched and influenced by this family in some way. To me, there is no more powerful indication
of the power of God’s grace. Let us always remember our job here on Earth and
to not take one bit of it for granted. Up until her last days, Nana still found
a reason to laugh and to have her nails painted. Please take time to laugh
yourselves, to smile, say thanks to those whom you love and just live. I thank
all of you for blessing my life and filling it with so much beauty. Nana was
truly a great grandmother and will be surely missed. Please carry on her huge
spirit and live with no regrets.
The Dash
by Linda Ellis copyright 1996
I read of a man who stood to speak
at the funeral of a friend.
He referred to the dates on the tombstone
from the beginning…to the end.
He noted that first came the date of birth
and spoke the following date with tears,
but he said what mattered most of all
was the dash between those years.
For that dash represents all the time
that they spent alive on earth.
And now only those who loved them
know what that little line is worth.
For it matters not, how much we own,
the cars…the house…the cash
What matters is how we live and love
and how we spend our dash.
So, think about this long and hard.
Are there things you’d like to change?
For you never know how much time is left
that can still be rearranged.
If we could just slow down enough
to consider what’s true and real
and always try to understand
the way other people feel.
And be less quick to anger
and show appreciation more
and love the people in our lives
like we’ve never loved before.
If we treat each other with respect
and more often wear a smile,
remembering that this special dash
might only last a little while.
So, when your eulogy is being read,
with your life’s actions to rehash…
would you be proud of the things they say
about how you spent YOUR dash?
by Linda Ellis copyright 1996
I read of a man who stood to speak
at the funeral of a friend.
He referred to the dates on the tombstone
from the beginning…to the end.
He noted that first came the date of birth
and spoke the following date with tears,
but he said what mattered most of all
was the dash between those years.
For that dash represents all the time
that they spent alive on earth.
And now only those who loved them
know what that little line is worth.
For it matters not, how much we own,
the cars…the house…the cash
What matters is how we live and love
and how we spend our dash.
So, think about this long and hard.
Are there things you’d like to change?
For you never know how much time is left
that can still be rearranged.
If we could just slow down enough
to consider what’s true and real
and always try to understand
the way other people feel.
And be less quick to anger
and show appreciation more
and love the people in our lives
like we’ve never loved before.
If we treat each other with respect
and more often wear a smile,
remembering that this special dash
might only last a little while.
So, when your eulogy is being read,
with your life’s actions to rehash…
would you be proud of the things they say
about how you spent YOUR dash?
"Every time we make the decision to love
someone, we open ourselves to great suffering, because those we most love cause
us not only great joy but also great pain. The greatest pain comes from
leaving. When the child leaves home, when the husband or wife leaves for a long
period of time or for good, when the beloved friend departs to another country
or dies … the pain of the leaving can tear us apart. Still, if we want to avoid
the suffering of leaving, we will never experience the joy of loving. And love
is stronger than fear, life stronger than death, hope stronger than despair. We
have to trust that the risk of loving is always worth taking.”
