Saying Goodbye to Nana

2019 has been a rough year to say the least, and just when we thought it was going to end on a good note, my Nana passed away on Christmas Eve, my favorite day of the whole year.

Nana in 1960 at age 26

The day before Christmas Eve my dad received a call from the doctor at her nursing home where she’s lived for the past 11 months saying that she had taken a turn for the worse and that it was almost time.  My whole family dropped everything and gathered around her bedside to spend some time with her that day, even though she wasn’t awake or aware that we were there.  We laughed about some old Nana memories and shed a few tears, and then we said our goodbyes.

She had different family members around her bedside the rest of that day as well as the next day, Christmas Eve, and then our family met up at Christmas Eve children’s mass at 4 o’clock, my favorite hour of the whole year.  Towards the end of mass, right after Communion, a little girl in the children’s choir got up and sang a solo of O Holy Night that brought me to tears.  I cried the whole way through and all I could think about was my Nana.  It almost felt like I could feel her. 

Right after mass, we parted ways with my parents to go grab everything from home to take to their house for Christmas Eve dinner, but five minutes down the road my Momma called to let me know that the nursing home had tried to call my Daddy during mass to let him know that my Nana had finally passed. 

I don’t think it’s a coincidence that I felt her during church that day.

My parents immediately headed to the nursing home to take care of business while the rest of us headed to Momma and Daddy’s house to try and carry on with our usual Christmas Eve things.  Momma and Daddy eventually made it home and we had Christmas Eve night together as we always do, minus Nana.  (She used to join us every single year on Christmas Eve night, but she hadn’t been able to do so for the last few years since she had been so sick.)  We went on to have many joyful moments that evening, but much of the evening also felt a little bit hollow. 

We laid her to rest on Saturday, December 28 and she’s now resting peacefully beside both of her parents as well as several of her siblings and other family members who had gone before her.  She’s had many ailments through the years and these past couple of years had been especially bad after she went blind and dementia settled in, so we’re at peace knowing that she’s finally at peace. 

Christmas 1989

1993ish

At our wedding, 2007

Holding Jacob, 2011

With Olivia, 2014

My Nana was deeply spiritual – she looooved Jesus – so there’s no doubt in my mind where she is now... she’s finally home.  She also had a flair for the dramatic, so we thought it was only fitting that she go be with Jesus right in time for His birthday.  She got to celebrate with Him on His day and she also knows that now we’ll never forget the day she left us as it’s our favorite day of the year, too. 

We’ll miss you, Nana.  Sleep in heavenly peace.

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