Cindy and Greg

This morning, I had the opportunity to share my memories of Grandma at her memorial service…

To paraphrase Tennyson, “God’s finger touched her, and she slept.” We have all been touched by the life of Molly Shanley. We come here today bonded together forever by her love and compassion. She was a devoted wife, friend, mother, grandmother, and great grandmother.

We all have special memories of grandma and what she has done for us. I especially remember those Sunday afternoons spent shopping at the mall, followed by Sunday dinners with seemingly bottomless bowls of linguine and meatballs. Or those special, though hot Christmas afternoons in Grandma’s apartment as we opened gifts and shared the holidays together. And recently how each time you came to her apartment, you needed to watch all of the pictures on her picture frame or how the definition of the perfect day would be to go walk around the mall and stop at ShopRite.

As we each mourn in our own way, we should remember the lessons Molly has taught us over the years. I have always been struck by her unconditional love and support for each of us. I remember clearly a conversation that she had with my mother; It happened many years ago during a difficult time for one of the cousins…grandma said with her signature shoulder shrug, “what are you going to do, he needs to be happy.” No matter what we did, at her very soul she wanted for each of us was to be happy. She has and will always be a pillar of our family, supporting us, and guiding us. For this we must celebrate her life, remembering these lessons and the time we were lucky enough to spend with her.

While these days and nights are difficult for us, we should take comfort in knowing that Molly is once again together with Alexander, her loving husband. We should take comfort in the 96 years that she has given the world and the difference she has made in it and in all of us; for without her, we would not be.

My father was fond of saying, that our children are the messengers to a time we shall not see. Today we are all grandma’s children, we have heard her message, and are better people for it.

So while we will shed many tears in the coming days, share many hugs in the coming weeks, and remember with longing our time with grandma in the years to come, the stars in the heavens will twinkle that much brighter with her watching over us.

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