Mumzy

At the end of October we found out that Max's Grandma "Mumzy" was not expected to live more than a couple days. Her health had been declining for years and her alzheimer's has taken over to the point where she hasn't recognized us for the last couple of years. Cancer had spread though her body, she had been losing a lot of weight from her already small frame. On a Friday afternoon, Max went straight to her house after work and after I fed the kids dinner, we made it over there. Most of the family had gathered. Max took each of the boys into her bedroom and had them talk to her as her breaths became more labored. Even though she couldn't communicate, in her last years (pretty much the whole time the boys have known her) she did light up whenever she saw a young child. When the boys visited with her, her eyes were closed and she was unresponsive but each person got a chance to talk to her. She passed away shortly after 8:30 pm. She was surrounded by family in her small bedroom while I was out in another room with the kids. It was an interesting experience that I believe the boys will remember for a long time. 

This photo is mumzy with Max's mom, Kay

Some things about Mumzy, she grew up as an only child to a single mother who worked multiple jobs to provide for their family. Growing up, being alone so much, she knew she wanted a big family and for them to always have a place and be welcome. She worked so hard her whole life, she was a model and a leading woman in the real estate industry in Oregon. She had properties all over. (Including where we live right now) Everything about her was eccentric and dramatic. She had a huge house, she liked to be pampered and would go on many cruises, she had a huge car to always have room for more people. She loved to be surrounded by people. 

She was quite fierce, she spoke her mind. One of Max's memories of her was when he was younger and his teeth were crooked and he gave mumzy a big smile and she responded with "Close your mouth, you look awful" haha! That being said, her no-nonsence, speak her mind, bold, worth ethic  took her far in life. Later, she also contributed to Max's fund to get braces and he is forever grateful for that. 

Another memory max shared was that she always made sure that her grandkids knew they were welcome to stay with her. They all had toothbrushes at her house, they could always stay in her huge tent (nicknamed the Taj mahal) on rafting trips. She would travel with a huge motorhome so she could be surrounded by her family. She always drove massive vehicles that could seat many people. 

She joined in on the rafting trips much longer than any elderly woman should, but she had always made sure that her family knew she wanted to be cared for by them and not in a nursing home. She would be carried into the rafts and rowed down the river. In the last couple of years, she became incredibly confused when her sons were carrying her onto the raft but once she was in the boat, she loved it.

 One of my memories of mumzy is when I was pregnant with Charlie and we would walk together, it only happened a couple of times but she liked the company and we would walk her dog and she would tell me how she really feels about a whole lot of people, holding nothing back. We'll just say that if Mumzy didn't like you, you knew about it. haha!

Anyway, I'll end this with these photos we took of Mumzy sleeping on the rocks on a rafting trip ten years ago.

And here's Mumzy and Max's dad all dressed up on a rafting trip.

Mumzy's funeral was held at our church building, it was a celebration of life. We sang Que Sera, and How Great Thou Art. Her children and grandchildren shared stories of Mumzy one of my favorites was when she met Elvis and didn't know who he was and sassed him a bit. They say there's a picture of them together somewhere. When it was time to leave the chapel and convene for a luncheon, Max handed out kazoos because Mumzy would always give all her grandkids kazoos and march them around in a parade playing yellow submarine. We marched out doing this. 

 Anyway, I think the best things we can learn from Mumzy and what I want my kids to remember is her love and value for education, her tenacity for accomplishing goals, her value of family and how that was her motivation for everything she did.