To many people, she was a nurse
A hardworking laborer completing the night shift at a local hospital
Arriving at work long after most people were asleep
Kindheartedly devoting her evenings to benefit the public
Because that’s the woman she was: a devoted nurse.

The sun peeked its head out of the clouds, greeting a new day
Returning home to her family
Children and husband rolling out of bed after a restful sleep mandating breakfast be served
An exhausted cook serving the meals
Meeting her family’s needs with a smile on her face
Sending her kids off to school, her husband off to work
No time dispensed for her own needs—solely for others
Dusting, cleaning, laundry, cooking, gardening—all demanding completion throughout the day
For days and years, a long list of chores awaited completion
Growing older, frailer, yet ever will-powered, tasks were finished
Because that’s the woman she was: a devoted mother and wife.

Kids graduating college, retirement drawing near
Routine ever existent and ever draining
Selfless attitude leaving her motivated
Family still remaining a priority
Grandchildren flock to her house, longing to spend time with Grandma
Cooking with Grandma, taking knitting lessons from Grandma, simply sitting with Grandma—all time


spent with her was cherished
Years passed, some grandkids grew older, others still arriving
She loved them all, expanding her schedule to make more and more time for them
Because that’s the woman she was: a devoted grandmother.

Although aging, she was still young at heart—not set out on retirement quite yet
Main focus was helping others, her needs secondary
Yet her needs were demanding attention
Type 1 diabetes had been eating away at her
Routine tasks drew on, causing physical strife and disdain
She uncharacteristically grew fatigued around family, her top priority
Health slowly drawing out of control, she continued to dismiss her own needs
Maintaining a job, cooking, cleaning, and devoting time to grandchildren
Her clock was running out, time was expiring
Her health sadly deteriorating
Finally surrendering to a hospital bed, she gave up the fight to live
I was barely a year old…never acquainted with her
Yet I felt as if I knew her, as her spirit lived on through stories and family
Through qualities of strength, selflessness, and compassion
She was a hero
She was a fighter
She was a saint
She is my grandmother.