The Ultimate Gaidies Lady

I read of a friend who stood to speak
at the funeral of his friend.
He referred to the date
on her tombstone
from the beginning... to the end.

He noted that first came the date of her birth
and spoke of the 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 she spent alive on earth, and
now only those who loved her know
what that little line is worth.

It was a real challenge to try and decide what to write and share with you all today. How does one begin to share about the life of an 88 year old Mother, Grandmother and Great Grandmother?
The relationship that we each had was a personal one. Each one of us here has our own special connection with Nanny. For Grandpa, who was married to her for over 60 years, My Dad, Rolf, My Mom, Cecile, Vanessa, Matthew, Christopher, Brenda, Blair and myself, and each one of her friends, some who are here today and others who aren’t here, we each know one thing for sure. We know in our hearts that we were deeply loved. This love and connection will continue in our stories and in our hearts. This is the wonderful beauty of love. They say that love has no boundaries.

As we celebrate her life and we share our stories and the great impact she had on our life, mostly we are reminded of one thing, our love.
Yesterday Brenda and I shared stories and pictures. And she shared with me a story that whenever she was with Nanny, they would always say I love you and then after they would say but I know that you know that and you know that I know. Brenda said, this love that she had with Nanny was unspoken. Nanny I want to thank you for your unspoken love.

Nanny and Grandpa came here to Canada with very little money and two children and made a life and a family. I remember how when I said I was 1/2 German she corrected me by saying, actually I was 3/4 German and then she proceeded to tell me how that was so. One thing when we think of the ultimate Gaidies Lady we think of her! She taught us how being a Gaidies Lady was setting the example of love and remembering where you came from and where you could go. Your history is the compost in the garden of your life. You Nanny are my history and I will always remember you.

A few years back we recorded Nanny showing us two girls how to make the famous family loved potato salad and it was serious business. Nanny was meticulously showing us each dash of homemade mayonnaise and salt and mustard and oh if you want the recipe, you’ll have to call Brenda. It seems she’s sealed it in a computer hard drive somewhere in California and is holding it for ransom.

We remember Nanny taking a “Shluk” and how everyone would teeze her as the “Shluk” ended up becoming a guzzle.
We remember being at the cottage, how during the summer Nanny and Grandpa became our parents away from home. Brenda, Blair and I hold in our hearts “a second mother and father” when we think of those times.
We remember Geranium’s and a Beautiful Garden.
While we were swimming, she was pulling weeds
While we were playing, she was tirelessly working.
She was a selfless giver, but she liked to play too.
When it rained she was always in the cottage with us playing a game called “sorry or Rumoli.” Refereeing mostly, but still along side us playing.
She loved playing so much, Nanny and Grampa took each one of us to Florida’s Disneyland after we each turned 5. I will always remember that twinkle in her eye as whenever we would arrive for a visit. She’d see me and say “Oh Tina” Some days she’d be feeling good and other days not so good, but still I always remember she was happy to see me. I told to her while she was in the hospital, that we all loved her very much, and she very thoughtfully said, “ I love all my children.”

Even though yesterday as Brenda and I talked, the stories were very different, we realized we shared the same mutual feeling. We felt with Nanny that this connection was unspoken and that we always felt loved and accepted in her presence. After Brenda told me her stories, I thought about a Birthday card Nanny sent me. She put in the card a cut out insert. I still have it today. It meant more to me than all the money she put in all the cards she ever gave me. It said, “ The greatest thing you will ever learn is to love and be loved in return.” She always set the example of strength, (which some of us called Stubborn but oh well) She had a quiet wisdom about her, and she showed courage when she faced her pain and most of all the twinkle in her eye that beamed such unspoken love.

And just at that moment, when someone says she is gone, there are others who are watching her coming over their horizon and other voices take up a glad shout - There she comes!

I hope this will inspire you all to share the memories you have and your connection with her. I encourage you to tell your stories as we all benefit when a life is remembered, honoured, and shared.
We will miss you Nanny.