Dani came into town in December for a visit and one of the first places we went was to Grandma's to visit.  She's so "cute", per Dani.  That's a perfect description of Mom. :)   

Mom had fallen at the beginning of the month and broke her wrist in 2 places quite badly and had to undergo surgery.   She took it all in stride and looking so forward to Christmas.   During our visit, Mom put us to work and Dani hung a lot of her Christmas decorations.  

I drove Dani to Virginia Beach and woke up the next day to a frantic call from Ashleigh saying that Grandma was in the hospital.  After speaking to the Dr., I discovered that she had pneumonia and the situation was 'grave'.  If she did not improve, they did not expect her to live through the night. 

I called Rick and Cheryl to go be with Ashleigh at the hospital and Dani & Connie drove me across the bridge so I could begin the longest (emotionally) and fastest (about 2 hours) trip back from Virginia Beach that I've ever experienced.  We were blessed by God's decision to spare Mom that first night so that a lot of time could be spent together.

Ashleigh's father, Dave came up from Georgia, as did Uncle Don from PA and cousin Lisa from PA and my niece, Susan from West Virginia.   We became a well known group at Mt. Vernon Hospital and surrounding restaurants as we spent the days & evenings by Mom's side and dinners together to decompress. 

Ashleigh & her Grandma had gone out for pedicures just before she became ill and she had a beautiful pedicure with purple nail polish.   Ashleigh wrote "I heart my G-ma .......... the rocking G-ma with the purple toenail polish on the board in her hospital room.  Everyone got such a kick out of it and that was her new nickname ....  "the rocking G-ma with the purple toenails". :)

Well........... sadly, the pneumonia turned out to be necrotizing MRSA pneumonia and it would prove to be unsurvivable. 

Mom went home to be with the Lord on January 8th, 2008.  She fought a gallant fight and allowed the growth of the entire family by us coming together.

At her memorial, Ashleigh gave a magnificent eulogy and the Pastor told the story about Mom's purple toenails and asked where the "purple brigade" was.  The group of us who painted their toenails and fingernails purple in her honor all put our arms up.  Everyone cracked up.  Mom would have loved it.   :)

These are some of the pictures from her memorial.    We love you Mom!!

  My niece, Dottie Mae My neices, Susan & Dottie Mae - Matching hair :)

My nieces, Susan, Goddaughter, Lauren & niece Dottie Mae

Dave & Uncle Don Ashleigh w/her Dad & Great Uncle Don

  With my favorite Uncle :) Uncle Don w/his 3 great nieces - Ashleigh, Dottie & Susan

Cousins Ash, Dottie & Susan

Sisters: Dottie Mae & Susan

  Cousin Lisa going into the Men's room. :)  Cousin Lisa, her husband, Don (who looks a lot like my hubby, Rick:) and their beautiful children. Our Family & Pastor Bruce (who is part of our family now)