RIP Grandma Johnson

We went to a funeral today. Hubbs' grandmother, Melba Hinemoa Johnson aged 91.

I never met this grand lady, but listening to her family talk about her, I loved her just a little bit. Her granddaughter said she wanted to thank her grandmother for teaching everyone how to Knit and crochet. Another spoke of her cooking and her endless love for everyone. They spoke of how she used to work for Dame Nelly Melba too. She was definately well loved.

Apparently the name Hinemoa was a legacy of her beginnings as a New Zealand trival princess. All of which became meaningless in Australia -( Her heritage wasn't mentioned at the service but Hubbs remembered being told this many years ago. )

I regret we never had the opportunity to meet. I think we would have been great friends. I hope you are looking down on us and seeing what Hubbs has made of himself. I hope you approve of me and our marriage. I wish we could have knitted together and you could have taught me how to crochet which I would have dearly loved.

Of course, I cried at the funeral. It wasn't just because it was the same chapel I went to just over a year ago for my friend's mother's funeral. It wasn't because my father's funeral was held in the chapel next door. It wasn't just because only metres away my parents ashes lay together for eternity. It wasn't just memories. It was love. I felt the love for this lady lying silently up the front. I felt how much she will be missed and what an impact her life made on this earth, these people.

I cried for each of them. I felt their sorrow deeply. I cried also because I never got to know her that way, and I cried because Hubbs hadn't had the opportunity to see her for 17 years.

But I felt better when Hubbs said "See that picture of her on the casket? I remember when it was taken. She was in her 70's and looks so vibrant. That is exactly how I remember her".

RIP Grandma Johnson, blessed be your journey.