Many family members asked if I could share what I had written a Grammy O's services, I would like to share all of the fond memories I keep in my heart. -Jessica
I want to thank you all for coming, your attendance speaks volumes about the impact this wonderful women had on all of us.
Some of you knew her as Wife, Mom, Grammy O, Grammy Didi, Aunt Diane, Sister in- law, Mrs. O and best friend.
To me and her six other grandchildren she was simply Grammy O and to all of us, she was one amazing lady.
To highlight this I reached out to my mother Denise, Uncle Tommy, my brothers and cousins. I asked them “What three words would you use to describe Grammy?” and it was simple. She is amazing, kind, strong, compassionate, caring, proud, big-hearted, one in a million, hostess with the mostess, gardener, snow white, best cook in the world, feisty, problem solver and best friend.
She was the greatest friend, she would listen when you were having a bad day, give you advice, be a shoulder to lean on, and she always told you how she felt, no matter the situation. She would go shopping with you, work in the garden with you, make you a drink or fix you something to eat. She loved the annual “girls day out”. They would start out with lunch and venture all over Saratoga County. Having a few drinks, flirting with waiters, pretending to be a bachelorette, and tickling people with a feathered pen.
Gram was also Mom’s best friend. One time they dressed up in disguises to follow someone, wearing wigs and bright lipstick so no one would recognized them. They went into the garage all ready to leave and the neighbor caught them, so they aborted their mission.
She loved to plant flowers and make the outside of her home look beautiful. She liked to sit on her deck and watch the hummingbirds, stroll threw her garden, yell at the squirrels, but also make sure they were well feed in the winter. Meg referred to her as “Snow White” and us grandkids we were her seven dwarfs.
She always had a special way of caring for others, she helped raised all seven of her grandchildren, especially my brother, Daniel. When my Uncle Tommy was in a motorcycle accident, she stayed by his side and took care of him. Even putting all his food and an occasional adult beverage in the blender so he food in his stomach. She always took care of my grandfather, making sure he had clean clothes to wear and a hot meal to eat. They were married 60 wonderful years.
She loved all of my great aunts and uncles, spending holidays with them, hanging out at “the house”, going to the track and taking yearly trips to Foxwoods and the beach. They always had a fun time together.
Over the years we had hundreds of Sunday Dinners and Birthdays at her house. Sunday was always her day. Anyone that walked threw the door always was welcome at her table. My nephew Tory and son Cameron enjoyed having lunch at Didi’s house.
Christmas Eve was always a big deal at the “O” household. Gram and I every year would make all the food and listen to Christmas Music. We would dance and sing and snack on all the food we were making for that evening. Later, family, neighbors and friends would gather and party the night away, in her younger years they would stay up all hours of the night, I’m sure many of you here have fantastic stories to tell about those nights. She was the hostess with the mostess.
She was a problem solver, on a rainy day coming home from price chopper with my mom Denise and family friend Billy Cobb. They started the car and the windshield wipers wouldn’t work. So they problem solved and tied strings to the wipers and they yelled “one, two, three” one would pull one side and other would pull the other side, and they drove home with there make shift wipers on that rainy day.
Many comments were posted on social media about Grammy O’s laugh, it was one like no other and you hear it all the way down Usher’s Road. Her smile, it was beautiful and contagious and would always light up the room.
My daughter Jordyn feel in love with Grammy the moment she met her, and Gram fell in love with her too. I think it was her high pitched voice and her laugh. Jordyn reminds me so much of her. I always said since she was born “she has a little Grammy O in her”.
I know we are all sad and miss her so much and we think, “What are we going to do with out her”? But remember this, she is your heart. When you are driving down Ushers rd, she is there. When you see a beautiful flower in a garden, she is there. On a Sunday afternoon, she is there. When your enjoying a beer or mixed drink, cheers her, she is there.
