On Friday, August 18th, at approximately 6:45 pm, a remarkable and special woman, my Grandma, left this world for the next. While I snuggled her in my arms, and as her daughter Donna Kirkpatrick and her son (my father) held her hands, she went to sleep. We poured out love for her, letting her know she was not alone, but that it was time for her to be with Jennifer, Grandpa, her parents, her Granny, and other loved ones who have gone before her. Aunt Beeze, with love and respect pouring from her heart said, "Fly with the angels, Grandma." It was time for Grandma to rest and have peace.  

My Grandma was a survivor. She was brilliant, she was unique, she was hilarious, and in her fragility and weakness, even after 15 days of no food, she made it home as she wanted. She held on. She fought to the end. One of the most precious moments in her final hour was when my brother, David, and my mother were leaving her room. As David was saying goodbye, Grandma found the strength to lift her arm to wave goodbye. She couldn't lift her head, but found the strength to lift her arm for her grandson. That was powerful and beautiful to see. David in his purity, innocence, and transparency said, ' See you at the funeral Grandma. I will never forget that moment. His realism and blunt honestly carried profound beauty.  

Waving goodbye was always very special. It was a way she taught us respect and unconditional love. No matter how tired Grandma would be and even when she lost her eyesight she always came to the window to wave goodbye, imitating the Queen's wave. "Tootaloo the new", she would say!   Spending the last few weeks with Grandma at the hospital was a gift. Even when she was sick, sore, and sad, she still had her wit about her and could recall family stories, memories, and history. She remained hilarious and loving. Even her nurses and doctors were affected by her .

 It is an honor and a privilege to be with someone who is preparing to pass. You don't want to be anywhere but in the company of your loved one. It's a precious time. It really is a gift. It's teaches us. The purity, intimacy, and especially in the painful moments witnessing difficulty,  you experience the suffering through your loved one, it teaches us. It teaches us to be present and to feel being uncomfortable . Uncomfortable and not having control. All you want to do is help and to love with all of you praying they can let go and rest.  It speaks to what matters. It also shows us we can heal and we can bond in a beautiful way through the pain, and through being, present.  

Washing Grandma's body after she had passed in the company of Donna Kirkpatrick, the Nurse, and PSW was an honor. It was a privilege. It was dignity. It was as close as I could get to let her know how much she meant to me. I loved her with all of myself. She brought me joy, and incredible music. She was there for me. She attended any show she could from Ottawa, Brockville, Perth, Tweed, and Russell. When I was a tour guide at Fulford mansion she came with Grandpa, Dad, and with Katelyn. She came again for an additional tour and to have a traditional lunch. When she was beyond the ability to attend my performances, I brought music to her at the Hospital. She still clapped and moved her feet and legs to the music. She loved music as she loved her family: immensely.  

One of the key elements which reflected her endurance and zealousness was the extent of her medical history. As a young girl and even into her later years, she had undergone countless surgeries and health challenges.   She embraced them, and still remained commitment to raising her family, taking care of in-laws who lived under her roof, and maintained her garden's, and large farm house.   She was a marvel.   She was a surviour.  

We would talk for hours. Even at 2:00 or 5:00 am if I needed it. I remember a time when I was sleeping across the hall in Pappy's bedroom. Grandma was in her room. We talked and sang songs and she told me stories . We didn't fall asleep until about 2:00 am. We were reminiscing, and having a grand time singing away, and all of this from across the hall. Singing the songs of Al Jolson . She would tell me about her mother, her father, her Nanny, and her brother. We were giggling. She was making jokes that she was a ' crazy old dame ' to be singing and talking to me across the hall at 2:00 am. I knew I was: blessed. I felt so fortunate to have a Grandma who was remarkably committed and such a sport.   Watching her dance with Grandpa was a treasure. They loved to dance. Grandma would say, "I just loved to dance. I lived to dance!" It was wonderful and special seeing them. They danced beautifully. You could sense their love for each other and, watching Grandma, you could see she was humming the songs. Grandpa was crazy about Grandma. He was so in love with her and right until his very last day.  

Grandma loved her family. It reflected in the commitment of her family to her, and the care and concern from her grandchildren.   She was there when we were sick. She took care of us. I remember many times as a little girl, when I was unwell she was by my side. When I was getting sick, she held my hair back and away from my face.  When Grandma wasn't well I wanted to stay home from school to be with her and stay at her side. 

  She made the most delicious meals. Her soups were always the most delectable. Her secret, the old ham bone and bacon!   I admired how she without any complaint prepared three square meals a day. The table was set, each spot with a placement; and sliced onions, beets, pickles, and hot mustard in a wee dish. She taught me how to set a table and place the utensils. A salad at every lunch with sliced hard boiled eggs on top, homemade dessert, and of course crusty bread. She did this every day and with grace.  

As a little girl, I would do Grandma's make-up with my crayons! She embraced it. I followed her around. Washing the floor, dusting, vacuuming, and cleaning the bathroom was great fun because I did it with Grandma. She made me feel special, telling me I was doing a great job. I was fascinated by her, and wanted to know everything about her. I always fond her to be the most intelligent and remarkable woman. She never thought that of herself. We would cook and bake together. Sometimes I would ask the bus driver to drop me off at the farm just so I could be with her, and I did.  The personality she exhibited was authentically hers. She was a barrel of laughs. Even in her last few weeks when she was struggling, she still made us laugh. Another act of selflessness.  

She had an impact on everyone she met. She even affected Elvis (Gino). Each concert, he had her sing, she danced with him, and he even brought her upstage to sing to her. With her eye loss, she made it on stage and was serenaded by Elvis. "I Can't Help Falling in Love with You" was one of her favorites.   Grandma was also known for her expressions! Some of her most popular and the ones that stuck with me are: " Do you mean funny ha ha or funny particular? The house is Patty's market . Wheesht ( Bill ) ! , There has been enough rigmarole , Sit down for a few minutes and have 40 winks. That's what I used to say to Nanny. Ok, If you say so. No fool like an old fool. The oldies but the goodies. You're going to have a grand time going through this mess when I kick the bucket. I'm fed up. Bloody __. You're not kidding! Anything Patsy! I just love Pop-eyes! - And, I was just crazy about my Grandma. "  

Grandma and I saw ' Patsy Cline ' at the Gallipeau center. Grandma knew every song. She clapped, she did drumming actions with her hands, she danced, and ' Patsy' came right over to her because she could see how much she loved the music, felt the music, and how fabulous she was.  

Grandma was famous for her homemade french fries. Even as a wee girl, I loved food and would gobble them up when they were only half-cooked. Without any complaint, Grandma shaved, washed, and prepared more potatoes to make up the difference.   Being in the kitchen with her was always special. Watching everything she did fascinated me. The radio was always on, she would mention songs she loved and naturally, was very clear about the ones she didn't. - You always knew what she felt ( liked or disliked) . She would tell me stories in the kitchen, sometimes we would dance in the kitchen. I always constantly inquisitive towards her, desiring to know  everything and anything about her, her life, her ways, your recipes, just everything. . She always took the time. She always had patience.  

Every Saturday night the Lawrence Welk show aired. That was when I first learned how to ballroom dance. Grandma and I would dance through the living room and then after the program make our way to the piano where she would play the familiar melodies again . On commercials, I would run up stairs and put on her vintage dresses and heals. Naturallyalways wanting to be just as classy as her.  

There were times when we would go to the Sally Anne or I would see her there. She was picking up blankets and other necessities for her Granddaughter, Jennifer. Grandma always made her self available to Jennifer. Grandma made herself avaible to talk , to listen, to help, and to help her feel safe and warm . They talked everyday and often.    One of Grandma's routines, was making sure she looked nice if going to town. Her eyebrow liner and her lipstick, and a wee bottle of foundation sat in the top right drawer of the dresser,( directly beside the mirror) in the dinning room. She would add a small amount of make-up, and I would gaze at her mesmerized. Everything she did was wonderful. Getting ready in the morning and smelling her hairspray and seeing her bobby pins gave me comfort.    

Grandma had the patience of Job. My brother, David ( who is also a very special person ) at times would call Grandma multiple times a day. He would talk about farming and religion over and over and over again. Grandma would listen, even when she felt fed up and needed a break. Grandma, really loved and cared.   I was constantly amazed what she was remained able to offer to her family even in later years. It was extraordinary. She was committed. It was her presence for her family. No matter what it was, she was present and still cognitively active. She was so sharpe!  

Music was huge. Grandma and I used to watch the Eddy Dutchin story together. She loved the Chopin piece, and Chop Sticks. Grandma would teach me Nocturne ( Chopin ) and the Chop Sticks duet on the piano. One year for my birthday, she went to Shadowfax and bough me a Chopin CD because it had Nocturne. To this day, it's one of my favorite compositions.  

There are so many moments when I hear tunes, and I can remember exactly what I was doing with her and what she was doing. At times I remember what she was wearing, the scents, the warmth, and what we would talk about.   Some of her favorite songs ( which pull at my heart strings because I can feel Grandma through them ) include, Roses are red my Love, Put your head on my shoulder, Everybody Loves somebody sometimes ( Dean Martin), I will play a Rhapsody ( Burton Cummings ), Put your sweet lips closer to the phone, I left my heart in San Francisco and Because of you ( was one her's and Grandpa's songs) , I guess that's why they call it the blues, Snowbird, Can I have this Dance ( Anne Murry ) , Working Man ( Rita McNeil), Lady in Red, Old Rugged Cross ( which she taught me on the piano and I brought to my piano lessons ) , If I knew you were coming I'd baked a cake, Don't sit under the apple Dress ( Andrews Sisters ),If you were the only Boy in the World ( a song she has asked me to add to my repertoire ), The Boogie Woogie ( Liberace ), Wonderful World ( Louis Armstrong) ,Sonny Boy ( which she always thought was about her father), April Showers, Mammy, When you were Sweet Sixteen, and Swanee ( Al Jolson ), Unforgettable, Rambling Rose, Stardust, Mona Lisa, When I fall in Love, Too Young, ( Nat King Cole ), No Matter What ( Boyzone ), Tea for Two ( another piano duet for her and her grandchildren ) , Love Letters in the Sand, Pretty Woman ( a family favorite she played on the piano ), Sentimental Journey, Moonlight Serenade, and You Make me feel so Young, I'll be seeing You ( Frank Sinatra ), Bye the Light of the Silvery Moon, You'll never know, In the Mood ( Glen Miller ), Crying ( Kd Lang and Roy Orbison ) , the music of Elton John ( who I saw with her and my father. Grandma loved it! ) , the Jackson Five, Abba ( Mamma Mia) , The Platters. She also loved Guardian Angels around my bed and I'll walk with God ( Mario Lanza ); Ave Maria, and the voice of Pavarotti. She loved the war tunes as well. Her favorites include, We'll Meet Again, When the Lights go on Again, White Cliffs of Dover, Rule Britannia, and Hang out the Washing on the Siegfried Line). - Her love of music and favorite melodies could compile several pages! Christmas carols and anything Patsy or Elvis were always special to her.  

She loved Danny Kay, Spencer Tracy, and Katherine Hepburn. It was fun to discuss these legendary stars with her. She always described them so perfectly.  

Working in the garden, singing at the piano, teaching me piano, listening to music, telling stories – it was heaven. Her intelligence and remarkable memory for family history and details, and of course her wit was infectious. She was one in a million. She never knew that though. She was modest.

She was so loved by her grandchildren and family. Grandkids, family, and friends visited regularly in the hospital. Bringing her wonton soup (Chinese food was her favourite) and pastries. Doing her hair, giving her massages. She was loved. She was the family. Nurses were affected by her and her doctor found her to be remarkable.   She impacted everyone she met. She was a marvel, and continued to be right to the very end.

Grandma's passing was nearly a planned death because we knew she was going to rest when home. The family was at the farm on Friday, gathering to be present for a exceptional woman.   After she had passed some of the grandchildren sat with her and didn't want to leave. I don't know how many grand kids are this connected to their grandmother, and care so much about being present for her last hours, and caring so much about her and her challenges when life became even harder. I believe our Grandma transferred what Granny McCabe taught her along to us.   I sing and love the "oldies but the goodies" because of her. When her body was being carried down the stairs, the family all gathered at the foot watching her leave. The roles were switched ever so naturally as the family watched her drive way. It was time for us to wave. Grandma was the matriarch, and the heart of the family. We love you Grandma. It was a privilege to be with you always and especially during your final hours. Your passing, and with the family present, is solely a testament to you.