Farewell To Miss Winnie

I am sad to report my wonderful mother-in-law, Winnie, passed away on October 21st.  She was 97 years old!!!   Way back when, maybe eight years ago when I started my blog, I often talked about my mother-in-law and her health concerns.  Winnie was struggling with dementia or Alzheimer's and had reached the point in her life where she couldn't live by herself.  Winnie moved to Milwaukee to live with her daughter, so my husband and I didn't get to see her often.  Over the years I saw the dementia take over and change the woman I once knew so well.  When Winnie didn't recognize me or her grandchildren any longer, that was very sad for all of us.

So, my daughter Becca and I were talking about her grandma Winnie at the funeral.  We both agreed that since the dementia or Alzhemier's had taken over about ten years ago, we realized we hadn't had a regular conversation with Winnie in years, and we both felt very sad about that fact.  Both Becca and I remember the good years of fun activities with grandma Winnie and the wonderful conversations we had with her.  So basically, we were mourning those years that we most remembered Winnie.....her good years.

Yes, we were sad at Winnie's funeral, but we also felt like we lost her ten years ago, so the sadness went way back.  Emotionally, it was a hard week, but now the work begins of cleaning out her house and preparing to sell her beautiful home.  It will be a very sad day for our family when the keys are handed over to a new owner of her home on the river.  There are many, many good memories of family gatherings at my mother-in-law's home. 

Rest in peace Winnie.