On the 19th May, 2007, Jean Preston at the age of eighty-six years passed away. But I did not know her as the eighty-six year old Jean Preston. I knew her by only one name. Only one name truly fitting to describe her, and who she was, and what she was all about.
I knew her as ‘Grandma’, and I will really, really miss her.
Growing up nearby her, I’ve always seen my Grandma. Over the last little while she was in and out of hospital, but one thing that always grabbed my attention was the fact that, even when she was scared and suffering, she just kept on smiling. She had this amazing smile that could make you forget your troubles in an instant. The fact that she could keep smiling, even when she didn’t feel much like it, just shows us how really incredible she was and how much of an inspiration she could be to everyone here today.
When I think of my Grandma, the first few thoughts that gather in my head was her reaction to presents. She didn’t like to receive – Grandma just loved to give things to people. She put other people before herself all the time. She didn’t want to receive anything in return except for a ‘thank you’ and a hug, in which she got from nearly everyone she gave gifts to. Grandma was a generous person – I guess that’s why she kept smiling. Her smile was a gift far greater than anything the world could offer.
The second thought that comes into my head, is how she loved my sister’s shoes. My sister always has really nice shoes, and Grandma adored her ‘pretty, little shoes’. She liked to try on my sister’s shoes too. It was a love they both shared – a love of shoes in which I could never understand, but I do respect. It makes me laugh when I think of the smile on Grandma’s face when she was trying on my sister’s shoes. She just looked so happy and cheery.
And that’s how Grandma was. She was a bright, sunny person, who just didn’t let anything keep her down. Family was the most important thing to her, and from seeing how she acted towards my Auntie Pauline and my Dad I know she loved them both dearly. They were her pride and joy, I think. She would always tell us stories about their childhood, and about the pets they had that my Dad said he never had (but I’m sure he only said this so we’d stop asking for pets!).
My Grandma… was amazing. There’s no one on the planet that could replace her. She’s one of these people that you just couldn’t find a substitute for. She really will be greatly missed by us all, I know. But, she’s gone to a better place now. A place where she’ll never have to suffer again. And she’ll be watching us from up there… along with all the other relatives we know that have passed on to the next life. And I’m sure she’ll guard us and look out for us, even in the after life. But I just want to say… goodbye Grandma. You’ll really be missed by everyone, me especially. We all loved you, and still do, even though you’re not here with us any more. So… this is goodbye from all of us here.
Bye Grandma. Take care. We know you’ll be watching us all from Heaven.