Wednesday, January 25, 2023
Ready To Go
To all who showed-up, provided comfort, shared stories…. I would like to extend a sincere and heartfelt thanks on behalf of Thelma’s family:
- [ ] Sons (Mark & Alan)
- [ ] DIL (Teri)
- [ ] Grandchildren: (Michael, Amanda, Sean, Benjamin, Lindsay, Daniel)
- [ ] Grandchildren Spouses/Significant Others: (Rachel, Casey, Kelly, Tristan, Rachel)
- [ ] Great-grandchildren: (Evan, Madyson, David, Penelope, Emersyn, Colton, Reese, Aoefa)
We all saw the beautiful Facebook posts about her life, her timeline, and what she meant to so many of you. Thank you!
As many of you know, I am not on Facebook or any social media. So I’m going to do this the old fashion way. As long as my voice holds up!
I came to this family nearly 40 years ago. It was apparent who was in charge. She was always fast on her feet, with a quick wit, moving around constantly to get things done. Today we would call it multitasking!
My dad would often tell her “no grass grows under your feet Thelma”! He was right. I think that may be how the paths in the cemetery were first created.
She was always ready to go!
From the looks of her pictures at high school, activities at work… (Did you know she was actually on a float in the JL Hudson Thanksgiving day parade?)… to her involvement with her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and her Seniors. She was always at the ready, wanting to be there.
After Mark & Al’s dad (Fred) passed away and my mom (Marion) passed away in 2011… Mark and I took Thelma and my father (John) on annual vacations.
One year Thelma ended up in the hospital just days before we were heading Up North. She was actually in the ICU for her ❤️. That was, in fact, a short hospitalization, and she was discharged home.
REPEAT: She was discharged home from the ICU, not to a regular clinical floor. Home. (This doesn’t typically happen, ever.). Within hours, she drove from her home to our home (an hour drive) with her suitcase is packed saying “I’m ready to go “!
Just this past summer, she came out to our new home in South Haven, Michigan. A 3 hour drive. By herself. (She actually did this many times!).
She stayed with us a few days and on the last day, she came out to the kitchen with a Michigan map. Proceeded to open it up on the counter and said, “two turns, get me to Soaring Eagle Casino”. “I have to use my comps!” We ended up, driving her most of the way so she could get to her destination in 2 turns, just like she wanted. Again, always “ready to go”!
Now, over this past month… she didn’t seem really “ready to go” anywhere.
On her birthday, (December 11th) she shooed-away her family because she didn’t feel very good. At Christmas she ended up in the hospital. On New Year’s, she was home recovering from the hospital. And then, this past week, back in the hospital, struggling and weak.
Retrospectively, I see this more clearly…she was getting “ready to go”for something bigger, something better, something promise to all of us.
She was getting ready to go to her heavenly home! Her final destination that life had prepared her for!
You finally made it, Mom; you’re finally there!
Save a place for all of us!
And when it’s our time, Hopefully, we will be ready to go!
