This is a long-ish post. Bear with me here – and if you’re not in the mood for a story, that’s ok. :)
Scroll down to the end for a sneak peak at tomorrow’s tutorial.
If you’re ready for a story, I want to introduce you to someone.
I’d like you to meet my grandmother, Lena Ruth.
She was born in 1925 on February 2 or 3, depending on her mood.
She grew up thinking her birthday was on February 2, but several years ago she needed a copy of her birth certificate and couldn’t find one. She had a new one sent to her and it listed her birthday as February 3. She had no idea why they always celebrated on the 2nd.
From then on she claimed both dates. Two birthdays are better than one.
She married my grandpa at 17. She said that it was ok to be that young because she’d already had a year of college by then.
Seemed like a flimsy excuse to me. ;)
They had my dad when she was 19 – My grandpa was fighting in WWII at the time.
She was a teacher for over 30 years – and not just in schools.
She loved children so much she taught elementary school during the week and Sunday School every sunday.
Children were her heart.
We would go spend weeks at a time with her and my Grandpa when we were young. Some of my favorite memories are playing dress up in her clothes and jewelry.
She would sit at her vanity and get ready every morning and we would watch her and help her pick out jewelry.
She really loved her jewelry. ;) And Shoes. Can’t forget about all the shoes.
When I was little, I tried calling her Grandma. She didn’t like that very much.
Somehow we settled on “Mamoo” – and the name stuck. As weird as it was – she loved that.
She adored her grandkids and her “greats” she called them.
She was so proud of all of us – always wanting to know what we were involved in and telling her friends about us.
Mamoo passed away from a massive stroke on February 12. Three weeks ago today.
Hubby and I had planned a trip that week – so I had posts all set up and ready to go.
Instead we went to Arizona.
We packed up her house, looked through thousands of pictures, watched videos, laughed and cried.
We had a beautiful service on Saturday the 19th that she would have loved.
It was a hard week.
It was hard to say goodbye – and it felt like saying goodbye to my Grandpa again too.
Despite a sometimes rocky relationship I loved her very much.
Do you think that grief is harder or easier to deal with when things are like that?
It probably doesn’t matter.
Ok.
So I appreciate you reading along if you made it this far. This post was probably more for me than for you. ;)
I was fortunate to receive some of Mamoo’s jewelry after we packed up her things, including several pieces that she had saved that were broken.
Tomorrow I’m going to share a bit of therapeutic crafting with you and show you the necklace I made from some of the jewelry pieces.
Thanks for reading along. :)
Update: You can view the finished necklace here.
Oh Bev, read the whole thing and I am giving you a great big virtual hug. Tearing up. What a wonderful way to honor and remember your Grandmother.
This is such a sweet story, Bev. My grandmother loved her jewelry, too… all big, loud costume jewelry:) I loved to try on her things, especially her clip-on earrings. It’s so hard to say goodbye to cherished childhood memories. I’m sorry for your loss, and I’m sending good thoughts your way.
Oh, Bev! Your grandmother seemed like an amazing woman! I wish I could give you an in-real-life hug right now. So sorry for your loss. ♥
What a sweet story. I have some of my Grandma’s funky jewelry from the 70s and I cherish it. I am sending prayers your way.
Your mamoo was a beautiful woman…inside and out! SO sorry for your loss…life is so difficult to understand at times. But I just know she is smiling down on you. I am VERY excited to see what you create using mamoo’s vintage jewelry!!!
xoxo
I’m sorry to hear it was time to say goodbye. What a character your Mamoo turned out to be! And what a FANTASTIC idea to transform her jewlery into a new piece. I can’t wait to see what you came up with! I bet it is glorious.
Hugs to you Bev
A lovely post in tribute to your grandmother. My own grandmother passed away late last summer at the age of 91. Her birthday was May 23 or May 26, depending on which ID you looked at. She celebrated the whole week.
I love this post, Bev! It makes me remember my Nana who passed a year a half ago. I cannot get over those pictures…just stunning! :) She was certainly a beaut! I can’t wait to see what you make to honor her! :)
Such a sweet story, Bev. Your mamoo sounds like a very special lady indeed. There is something about grandmothers and granddaughters. I lost mine the week before we found out our first child would be a boy. Still sending you happy thoughts. I can’t wait to see what you create!
You are in my prayers. It is wonderful that you have good memories and pictures.
Sorry to read about your loss Bev. I am sure you handled the loss with such grace. Those older pictures were so great to look at. Thank you for sharing them.
Grandmothers are special people. So sorry to hear of your loss.
My Grandpa had 2 birthdays too. He told me it was because when he was born (1918) they didn’t have birth certificates and it was a couple of years later that they came about (or maybe that’s when his family just got around to applying for them?). When his family applied for them there were mistakes on almost all of them. So my Grandpa celebrated his real birthday and had a fun “unbirthday” on his legal birthday.
My Great-Grandpa (his father) had the funniest mistake in that his birthday was Dec 1, but his birth certificate listed it as November 31. Could you imagine if that happened today and you had to fill out forms with drop down/automated menus etc? It wouldn’t let you put that in!
I know this pain. I lost my grandmother the day after mother’s day last year. I was not able to make the transatlantic trip to say my final goodbye. It tore me apart and still pains me to think about it. I am looking forward to pay my respect on her final resting place in France this summer. I hope it will bring me some closure. I know it must have been heart wrenching to sort her belongings. But you were able to say goodbye. You also have something she loved to remember her by and the part of person you are today is also her gift to you. I know I carry my grandmother in me in the way I make the same things she did for my sisters and me when we were children for my daughter today. And I know she watches over me like your Mamoo is now watching over you.
Sending warm thoughts, hugs and prayers
Caroline
Caroline
So sorry, grandmas are so special. Can hardly wait to see the keepsake you create.
I’m so sorry about your Grandmother. I really loved reading some of your memories of her and I love that photo of her as 17 year old.
Can’t wait to see what you did with her jewelry. :-)
So sorry to hear about your grandmother! My own grandmother is 90, and now in a nursing home for about a year. I’m so proud of her and love her so much, but she is not doing well. Please accept my sympathy for your loss, she was a beautiful woman (inside and out, no doubt). Can’t wait to see what you’ve made. Take care!
Oh Bev, I’m so sorry for the loss of your “Mamoo” she sounded like an amazing woman! My grandma past away when I was pregnant with my second son who is now 14 and I still think of her often. I treasure the memories I have of her now. Thanks for sharing, I can’t wait to see what you make from the jewelry. You will be in our thoughts and prayers!
Bless your heart… Grandmas are special, even when it’s a sometimes rocky relationship…I know because I’ve had that kind of relationship, too. Not only is this post a special tribute to her, but the fact that you’re using her jewelry to create another something lovely and beautiful is honoring to her name and influence in your life.
PS Glad you were here in AZ when it was lovely outside. Better February than August. (shudder)
I’m so sorry for your loss, Bev. I can’t wait to see the jewelry creations. You’re in my prayers.
Beautiful story! :) I can’t wait to see what you do with her jewelry! I’m in the process of re-fashioning some of my Paw-Paw’s shirts into shirts I can wear, and some of his wife’s dresses to fit me. I was very close to my Paw-Paw, he passed away a little over two years ago. I never knew my dad’s mom though because she passed away when Dad was 16, but I feel like she would love for me to alter the dresses she made for herself to fit me. :)
such a beautiful tribute to your gran. i am sorry for your loss, but happy for you that you have such amazing memories. i can hardly wait to see what beauty you made.
I’m so sorry for your loss, it sounds like her tribute was fitting :) I bet she’d love that you’re making something with her saved jewellery pieces, will be great to see what you created. *hugs* xx
What a wonderful idea to use some of the piece of her jewellery to create something for you to wear and treasure with the most wonderful story behind it :)
My heart goes out to you in your time of sadness. I lost my “Nanny” 26 years ago and it broke my heart, I kept going to telephone her to chat for years afterwards, before remembering she’d gone to heaven. My deepest sympathies to you. I’m so glad you had such a wonderful Mamoo in your life, Grand mothers are so precious aren’t they. It sounds like you inherited your love of beautiful jewellery from your Mamoo, I think the new piece you make from Mamoo’s jewellery will be lovely and wil remind you of her every time you see it or wear it. Your story was touching, thank you for sharing it. Take care and remember Mamoo is always with you, in your heart.
I’m sorry for your loss. This was a great tribute to your grandmother.
My grandmother passed 10 years ago and I still think of her every day.
awwww, you made me cry this early in the morning. i’m very sorry you lost your mamoo
My sincerest condolences to you on the death of your grandmother. Your tribute was wonderful. I’m sure she would have loved it.
Be Encouraged…
Loved your post…read the entire thing. It wasn’t too long at all and I’m sure it was as much for me as it was for you. I too miss my grandmother even though she has been gone for many years, in fact, the older I get, the more I miss her. I lost my mother a year ago and that has been difficult too, but God has been so good. Thank you for sharing your heart.
Have a God Filled Day
Shirley
I am truly sorry for you’re pain,I grew without having grandparents so I dont know the bond that you shared,just know that I am praying for you and that God would help you through this time.Can’t wait to see what you have made from her jewelry.
A very touching post. I enjoyed reading it and I also am sending prayers and a hug your way. I am very sorry for your loss. It is wonderful that you have such happy memories and great pictures. You will remember her forever. It will be exciting to see what you make with her treasures. I am sure it will be beautiful. Thank you for sharing, it reminds me of my mom and my grandma :)
Very nice. Look forward to seeing final product!
That’s fantastic that you can honour your grandma like that, and i wish you happy memory crafting! Best Wishes!
So sorry for your loss, Bev. Your “Mamoo” sounds like a wonderful woman.
When my great-grandmother passed away, my mom got some old jewelry of hers & made bracelets for all the women in the family. It’s a great honor, and I can’t wait to see what you’ve made. I’m sure it will be something you will cherish forever.
What a beautiful tribute to your grandmother. I’m very sorry for your loss. Grandmothers are so very special ; my grandmother partially raised me and I have several things to this day of hers. My favorite is her eye glasses .
The jewelry pieces of your grandmothers are beautiful, and fitting (a jewel) who she is will always live for you carry not only what she taught you , you carry and honor her heart.
Sincerely,
Elise
{hugs}
What a sweet story. Your “Mamoo” sounds like a lovely woman. I can see where you get your love of jewelry from! :)
That almost made me cry! My grandma died almost a month and a year ago today. Me and my sister would visit her every Sunday, go to church with her and then play “Shoe Store” by trying on all her shoes and we’d always watch her get ready with all her extensive jewelry. Thanks for sharing the story! She sounded so sweet!
So sorry for your loss. Your Mamoo sounds totally amazing, a real character! I lost one of my grandmas almost ten years ago and even as a teenager it was pretty hard, watching my parents have to sort everything out.
I’m curious about what you’re making with some of the jewellery pieces you received, it’s such a good idea to use them–makes a nice new memory piece. :)
Virtual hugs to you!
So sorry for your loss. I never knew my grandmother, but when my mom passed I received her jewelry box. It is full of memories for me, I know that it will be very theraputic for you to do something with her jewelry. My mom kept a lot of pins or as she called them brooches. Most had something missing from them, some clip on earrings without the backs. I have now made some of these I remember her wearing into ornaments to hang on our Christmas tree, as her birthday was in December and she died right before Christmas. I see them sparkling on the tree, and now they are hanging with fishing line in front of windows sparkling in the sunlight. Your Mamoo sounds like she was someone anyone would want as a grandma. Treasure her memory. Many hugs and prayers for you and family.
So very sorry for your loss.
Oh Bev, I have tears in my eyes. You r story just simply tales me back to all of the times I have had to go through a house of a dear loved one (and I was very young, but it is ingrained in me and still touches me). What a sweet tribute.
Bev, what a beautiful post. She sounds like a wonderful grandma or Mamoo :-) I too loved playing with my grandma’s jewelry. She was born Feb 11th and was also married at 17 and my grandfather was in WW11. I’m sincerely sorry for your loss.
SO sorry for your loss! I know how it is when you lose someone that has made so many memories with. My grandmother also had a love for jewelry and I have a bunch and just like your grandmother a lot of it was broken. I have kept it thinking I would make it into something new. You have re-sparked my interest in doing something like this! Thank you SO much for sharing your story with us and I hope that your heart heals quickly!
Oh my gosh Bev! I am so sorry. I hadn’t seen this post yet although I had good reason for not doing so. I’m kinda playing catchup from my ‘exciting’ week end of last week. (NOT) Friday I woke up unable to walk in the middle of the night without holding onto anything and everything and even then I had problems. I had vertigo to the max for the first time in my life and I’m tellin’ ya, I would not wish that on anyone. Off to the ER we went and from there I was admitted to the hospital for about a million tests. I was released very late Saturday afternoon but wasn’t feeling like myself until sometime on Monday and still today I’m not quite ‘back’ yet.
Anyway, I’m sorry about your Grandma. I know the feeling of losing a loved one and especially one you were so close to. I’ve lost more than I care to think about now from my own family including all grandparents and both parents. It’s very hard and something that takes awhile to get past. I won’t say you will get over it because no one ever just ‘gets over’ losing a loved one. The best you can hope for is to lesson the pain until that time comes when the pain of the loss turns to the happy memories you will remember more than the pain of not being able to pick up the phone to call and say hi. Very strange to me but your Grandma died on my Mom’s birthday. Maybe it’s a sign they are destined to meet in the great beyond. ? Big hugs. Sorry I never saw your post until just now.
What a sweet story, thanks for sharing. And I love the necklace – what a beautiful way to remember your grandmother.:) ~B