It’s been a week since we said goodbye to Grandma Katie last weekend. It was one of those bittersweet moments where you have to say goodbye to someone you love, but also you are at peace because you know your loved one is no longer suffering and has lived a long, full life. Grandma Katie was ninety years old when she passed away – she leaves behind her husband of sixty-nine years, three sons, seven grandchildren, and eleven great-grandchildren. Truly a life well lived, in every way possible.
In preparing my thoughts for speaking at Grandma’s funeral and even as think back on her life today, I keep thinking – how many people in this world waste so much of their life doing things they think are important but in the end aren’t?
In terms of Grandma, she really didn’t do anything significant in terms of her name. There weren’t any awards given in her honor. She wasn’t famous by any means. She didn’t travel and see the world. But she made an impact on every single person that she was friends with, talked to, went to church with, was involved with in any way, shape, and form. She lived, for the most part, a simple life. Yet she lived every part of that life the best she possibly could.
She was a stunning example of a life of faith, a hard working wife who knew the meaning of sacrificing for her family, a loving grandmother who found such joy in all of her grandchildren, and a faithful and loving wife whose dedication to her husband is one that you don’t find often. I could share so much about her life – she lived an amazing life, full of many memories and many stories. But here are a few of my favorites and the things that stand out to me the most about her life.
It wasn’t long after Mark and I I got together that the phone calls began and the voice on the other line would always say “how’s my Jenny doing?” I quickly began to look forward to the weekly calls and it never failed, every time before we got off the phone she would say, “I’ve been praying for you”. And it wasn’t one of those things she just said, when Grandma said it, she meant it. I look back on her life, and I can’t help but think how all of our lives have been shaped and impacted by the many, many prayers grandma has said over the course of her life. Thinking about grandma’s dedication to her prayer life has inspired me to improve mine. And I can only hope that someday when I am no longer here that I’ll be remembered by the many prayers I said, too.
On Sunday afternoons, we usually made it a point to stop in at Grandma and Grandpa’s house while we were out checking crops. We would come in and sit down and it never failed grandma would offer us some lemon drops and shortly after she would get the pretzels out of the closet. Whenever we would go to visit I’ll always remember grandma reaching out her hand and taking mine in embrace. It was very apparent when you held her hand that those hands had done a lot of work. Even though I was not there for those days, her body was a testament that Grandma was one of the most hard-working people you’ve ever met. She knew the meaning of sacrificing for her family and she did it without complaint. It is very clear through knowing each of her three boys that her work ethic was instilled in all of them. The Rohrichs work hard – and we have Grandma (and Grandpa) to thank for those virtues.
When we welcomed Levi into this world last September, he was number ten of grandma’s eleven great grandchildren, but she loved him like he was her first. After having Levi, those weekly calls became every couple of days. She loved to check in and see how Levi was doing. Her concern for when he was sick or when he wasn’t sleeping well was apparent. Even in her final days, she delighted in seeing his smiles and his “pedals” as. Even someone from the outside could see the joy and happiness her grandchildren and great grandchildren brought to her life. Her face literally lit up whenever she saw any one of them. Family was truly one of her greatest blessings and without a word spoken, you could understand that.
But of all these things, one of the characteristics of Grandma that stood out to me the most was her love and dedication to her husband Claude. One of the most vivid memories I have of their love is when Grandma told our priest, Father Katanga, that she didn’t need a walker or a cane to help her as she could no longer get around in her later days – Grandpa’s hand was all the security she needed. And watching Grandpa come over to her side of the car and hold her hand to wherever she needed to go is such a beautiful picture of love even after nearly 70 years. It has taught me that love isn’t found in the big, grandiose gestures that we see in the movies, it is found in the small, everyday acts of service we give to those we love. Grandma and Grandpa’s marriage was a testament to that. Even though she made jokes about “putting up with Grandpa Claude for this long”, she clung to him, literally, and loved him to the very end. Till death do us part – their marriage was a living, breathing example of that commitment they made nearly 70 years ago.
It seems like every time after we lose someone, I am inspired to take a look at my own life, I re-evaluate my priorities and I spend some time reflecting on how I have or haven’t been living my life with intention. I realize more and more I don’t want life to just pass by and when I get to the end, realize I spent time and energy worrying about the things that don’t matter. And I think what “matters” may be different for all of us. I share my thoughts and memories about Grandma Katie because I hope to inspire YOU through her example. I want her example to live on not only in her family and friends, but through her family and friends. You may not have known Grandma Katie, but it doesn’t mean that you can’t take away anything from her life. I hope that just by reading through this it gives you conviction to examine your life, re-evaluate your priorities, and that you pull something from it.
Your life may not be famous or prestigious, but it doesn’t mean you can’t have a life that is intentional, beautiful, and well-lived. You can – Grandma Katie is a shining example of that. And I hope that through reflecting on Grandma Katie’s life and through reflecting on our own lives, we can make the adjustments needed so we can all become more like her. But most importantly, we can all become shining examples in a world that so desperately needs it. I know Grandma Katie is still praying about that, for all of us.
Rest in peace Grandma. We love you and we will miss you. And I hope someday we will all be reunited.
What a great tribute to your grandma and a great testament to the power of love.
What a sweet tribute! It sounds like she was an amazing lady. I’m sorry for your family’s loss. Even when it’s time for those we love to pass, it still doesn’t make it easy. I am glad you have so many happy memories with her to hold onto!