My Great-Grandma Clifton died December 28th. She would have turned 102 on January 14th! Grandma was taken to the hospital on the 23rd to be treated for pneumonia. The doctor said there was a chance of recovery, but if she wasn't going to recover she would start going down hill quickly. Fortunately Mark and I had plans to be in Utah for Christmas this year so I was able to see her on Christmas Eve. She was frail looking and drifted in and out of alertness. She told us she didn't like just sitting around and would rather be moving. My Great-Aunt Tamera was there and we talked about how long Grandma had been asking about her mother & father.
Aunt Tamera even told a story about how only a few weeks ago her daughter had walked in the room as Grandma Clifton was "talking to George." Grandma was pleading with George (her husband) to "just come get" her. She would often talk to or about her mother, father, or my grandpa. She even told someone that she was worried about George while he was on a business trip, but knew would come back to her soon. Some people may see that statement as the ramblings of an woman who was losing her mind do due to age, but I feel like she truly was being comforted by her loved ones and the veil was rather thin for Grandma during the last few months.
Grandma Clifton will always be remembered as a sweet and loving lady. She was always positive. Nobody can remember a time when she had something bad to say about someone else. She always found a reason to compliment the people around her. She may tell you that your eyes were beautiful, your sweater was nice, or she loved the way you did something. Grandma was a life long learner and embodied the saying "Endure to the End." She taught her children and grandchildren the importance of education. She continued to read until she was 98 and could no longer see the print. Often times when I visited her house you could hear a biography or history show blaring from the TV all the way from the front door because she was losing her hearing but thought hearing aids were only for "old people." When I was a young girl I asked her what she thought was an important part of living a happy life and she smiled and said "I try to learn something every day."
I am sure Grandma had many secrets to living a full and happy life. I wish I had lived closer so I could have asked the right questions and found out what they were. She is truly a woman with a great legacy. She leaves behind her 4 daughters, 22 grandchildren, 81 great-grandchildren, and 34 great-great-grandchildren, who she all new personally. She was met on the other side of the veil by her parents, 12 of her 13 siblings, 2 sons-in-law, and the love of her long life George Clarence Clifton.
I love my Grandma Clifton and I will miss her dearly (I so had hoped to have a 5 generation picture), but I know she's happy to be back with Grandpa Clifton and the rest of her family!
4 comments:
So sad to hear about your loss. She sounds like she was an amazing person!
Beautiful tribute, Jill.
So sweet, Jill. No wonder you are the good person you are.
How sweet! I love that you shared how she was waiting for George to come get her. My sweet Grandma told my mom and her sisters that she had a date a few days before she died.
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