Heaven Gained an Angel
August 5, 2012 heaven gained the most special angel. My grandmother passed away 13 years ago today and there isn’t a day that goes by that I don’t miss her. Because it’s the anniversary of her death, allow me to introduce you to her.
My grandmother’s name is Donna Kay Leonard. She was the most amazing woman I have ever known (aside from my mom of course). She and my mom taught me to cook and bake and fostered my love for being in the kitchen. Yes that is very stereotypical, but I had a knack for creating delicious dishes. No one can top my grandmother’s cooking and baking. She was so creative and would make my sister’s and I seasonal and holiday dishes. She could make the most simple foods or desserts the best thing you ever tasted. I named my bakery business after her because she is the reason why I continued to do what I loved. I’ll never be even a morsel as good as her, but am blessed to say I had the best teacher.
My grandmother also loved making things. She could crochet, knit, sew, and quilt. She made the flower dresses that my sisters and I wore in my uncle’s wedding. She would crochet and sew doll and barbie clothes. She also crocheted hair scrunchies that I still have to this day. Granted, I can’t wear them now, but if I need some extra comfort, then I’ll break them out and reminisce about how great she was. Her favorite saying was “it just jumped into my cart”.
She absolutely loved being a grandmother and was by far the best. We would have sleepovers at her house all the time and she would make them so special each time. When we came over she was able to make us the foods that she loved that my grandfather was not a huge fan of. In the summer, we would spend all summer with my grandparents (my parents were working and they were cheap day care). My sisters and I would spend weeks at a time staying the night at their house (always getting homesick and wanting to end it early). My grandmother worked at the library at SUNY Oneonta and would bring home books for me that the library weeded. I have always shared a love for reading with my grandmother and she did what she could to foster that as well.
My grandmother was diagnosed with ovarian cancer when I was in high school. She went through chemo and fought so valiantly. She is the reason why I was able to muster up the strength to endure chemo and fight cancer as hard as I did. She will forever be my hero. She hit remission and we thought everything was going to be okay. After a couple years the cancer came back with a vengence and she unfortunately lost the fight. I am so blessed that I was able to spend the last couple months she had with her. I am so glad that I was able to be with her on some of the bad days and have the chance to say my goodbye. I remember the day she passed away. I worked at the drive in and there was the threat of a thunderstorm so I was one of the people sent home. I was driving home and my dad passed me on the road and called me to tell me to pull over. On the shoulder of the road I found out that my grandmother had just passed. My mom was with her when it happened and I know that meant the world to my mom to be there at the end. I can’t imagine what it is like to lose a parent or spouse. I remember being so angry at God for taking her. I screamed and cried and refused to go to church (petty yes). But he took her away and I couldn’t forgive that. It took me a few years to realize that she was needed elsewhere.
I do whole heartedly believe my grandmother has been watching over my family and I. I believe she helped me gain the strength to leave bad situations. I will forever miss her but I know she’ll be waiting for me in heaven to give me the strongest hugs and funniest jokes. I look forward to being with her again (just not too soon)
Until we meet again!
