Tribute to my Gram, Emma (Eulogy in description)

A tribute to my kind, sweet & positive Gram. My Eulogy below wrote from the heart:

101.... One hundred and one years of life.
Where do I begin?
Mrs Emma Holmstrom....
We knew her as... Aunt Emma, GeeGee... and even Mom. For me.... she was Gram.

My name is Debi, and I'm Emma's granddaughter. No matter which one of those names you would have used to reach out to her. You were greeted with open arms.
She gave you all of her attention as if you were the only person in the room.

My Gram was extraordinary.
She really was one of a kind. It didn't matter if you knew her for years or you just met her. She treated everyone with respect & kindness. She excepted my friends and everyone I knew... as if they were her own extended family.

7 years ago while she was recovering from breaking her hip... my husband expressed to me how much he loves her like his own grandmother, & that a lot of people don't get the opportunity to enjoy grandparents this late in life.
I needed to appreciate and make every moment count on this borrowed time.... So I did just that.
At 96 years old, she moved into my parents home. I watched my parents home come to life like never before. Her outlook on everything was always positive, and it was undeniable.

We watched movies together..
She always loved the weird ones about ghosts & aliens. We'd do crafts together, making wreaths , painting glass or painting pumpkins.
Her hands weren't as steady as they used to be so I spent hours investigating what crafts seniors can do. Which led me to sprucing up a bird house with her.
to my surprise... She ended up painting the bird house with the most intricate of flowers & designs!
We would have tea parties where we'd dress up in fancy shmancy hats. And on every Halloween, my mom, Gram & I would dress up & she'd give candy out to children.
She loved seeing the kids in their creative costumes.
We played scrabble which she often would say how she didn't want to keep track of points. I still recall one time when I left the table she said to my husband that she was winning, & told him to "shh" with that big giddy smile. She didn't want me to feel bad.
I should've known the Crossword puzzle queen would be such a challenge. She did a cross word every morning for as long as I can remember.
We laughed a lot. I realized we were starting to do so much together, not just because she was my grandmother and I was valuing every bit of this "borrowed time".... but that it was because she was my best friend.
She was an incredible woman.
As her mobility was becoming challenged, she'd say "I'm sorry I wasn't that great of a host" & I'd always explain that I didn't care if she slept or just wanted to sit, I didn't come to be entertained, I just wanted to be around her.
She wore her heart on her sleeve. Her smile was genuine, and her laugh was infectious. She was an incredibly positive person, even in her last days while talking to me about her love for us all.

Although 101 years of life is amazing.
To me, her achievement will always be, how she positively impacted people in that time.
As I look around and see the amount of love and support that is here for my gram...I know she did just that.

She told me at a young age that she won't say good bye, only so-long because goodbye is too permanent.

Gram, I'm going to miss your big smile, our funny conversations, your immeasurable compassion, your adorable personality, your hugs & kisses & the energy
that you brought by just entering the room. Because of you, I strive to be a better person. Gram, so-long. I love you & I have faith that we'll meet again.