My grandma was one of the most caring, thoughtful, people I know. When I was little, a trip to grandma’s house always meant delicious cookies, pies, and the most thoughtful gifts. There were more than enough cookies - chocolate chip, oatmeal raisin, peanut butter - for me and all of my siblings. It wasn’t until I was older and baked myself, that I realized how long it would take to bake that many cookies!


I remember when I was a child, walking down the stairs one Christmas morning and seeing the most beautiful dollhouse. It was a gift to me and my sister. Full of miniature furniture and dolls to represent each family member. The wood detailing was incredible. I still have it today. Some of the furniture is broken from silly little brothers climbing into the dollhouse with their monster trucks, but the house is still perfect.

All of my favourite outfits came from Grandma. There was so much thought put into choosing each one. My favourite necklace is from Grandma too. Grandma had a pair of diamond earrings, she said she wasn’t wearing them anymore, so, she had them made into two necklaces - one for me and one for my sister. I’m wearing my necklace as I think about her and write this. Whenever I’m gift shopping, I think about her and all the time and thought she put into every gift she bought.

My grandma always used to say, “Wouldn’t it be fun, if you woke up one Christmas morning and there was a puppy waiting for you?” She didn’t get to give me a puppy as a gift, but when I was older and my family got our first dog, Molly, they became fast friends. When she got older and started to get dementia, Molly would follow her around our house when she visited, to make sure she was okay. Later when we got Sabrina and Cosmo, we brought both of them to visit Grandma. She always loved dogs. She’d smile at them and say how beautiful they were, even when she couldn’t quite remember the word for dog, she knew the word for beautiful.

My dad visited my grandma almost every day when my grandparents moved to Toronto. He would always bring flowers, leaves, the dogs, his bike, everything to show her. She loved seeing all the different colours. She loved seeing my dad’s bike and bike helmet too. The teddy bear that she got my dad when he was a little boy, now stayed at her bedside. Seeing my dad and grandma together, it was easy to picture my dad as a little boy, showing his mom all of the treasures that he collected on his adventures.

Grandma’s days in Toronto were brightened by regular visits by her caring friend and PSW Myrlin. Myrlin cared for her like she was her own grandmother. Without her wonderful care and dedication, grandma would never have lived as long and as well as she did. 

Grandma was 96.5 years old when she passed away. The same age as my grandpa when he passed away a year and half earlier. Grandma’s and grandpa’s relationship was a beautiful portrayal of true love. As they got older and grandma was sometimes confused, grandpa’s priority was always to make sure she was happy. A week and a half ago, I had a dream, I was stressed with a million things to do, then I went through a door and I saw Grandma and Grandpa, they were sitting together, they were happy and calm, I immediately forgot all of my stress and felt calm too. I know that now that grandma has passed, they’re together again just like in life and in my dream.

I miss you grandma, but I know you’re in a beautiful place with grandpa.