My Dear Great Grandma Hess...

Back in November, many of you read that my Grandpa passed away. Unfortunately again, I am posting as a tribute to someone we have lost. My Great Grandmother, Mary Estella Hess died peacefully on Friday night. She was about to turn 101 in a couple weeks, so her passing was one of joy as she was finally released from this life. My Grandma was the last one of her siblings, and friends and has been without her sweetheart for 26 years. Sadly, Great Grandpa died when I was about 6 months old, so I never got to meet him.

Great Grandma was a true lady, but she had a lot of spunk and a great sense of humor. One of my favorite memories of her happened just a few years ago. My mom would go over to the nursing home and paint grandma's nails. Well, those of you who know my mom know she always has painted nails and they are usually a shade of red. So, on this visit my mom was trying to get Grandma to have her toenails painted red. Grandma wouldn't hear of it. Then my mom teased her saying that she would paint her toenails red for her funeral and a look of horror passed over grandma's face. "No you will certainly not!" she kept saying, telling us over and over how vain it is to have red nails. Understandably, Grandma was born in 1907 and I'm sure then, red nails were considered vain! As long as I can remember, Grandma has wanted to join her family on the other side of the veil. It was hard to see her casket and realize she is no longer here with us, but I know she is happy and is finally where she wanted to be. Grandma has always had a very strong testimony of the gospel. While I was finding pictures for this post, I came across her autobiography. At the end of it, she wrote her testimony:

"I wanted to be a mother so badly and the Lord has blessed me. As of now (1990) I have 3 children, 15 grandchildren and 17 great grandchildren. They are all good children. I love them all so very much and am interested in the welfare of every one of them. I want all of them to know that I have a firm testimony of the Gospel. I have had it all my life. I can't remember back far enough when I wasn't proud to be a Latter Day Saint. Could I not be so complacent in my beliefs if it wasn't true? I know he hears and answers prayers, I have lived by it. I know."

I count myself fortunate to have been able to get to know my Great Grandma, I know not many people have met their great grandparents. Mine was truly a choice lady and someone that I have always looked up to as a mother. She told me once that she never raised her voice to her children and as a mother I remember her example and try to do the same. I love my Great Grandma and can't wait to see her again!

It has been a treat to have "5 generational" pictures taken with both of my boys, just after they were born. These pictures above were taken when Sam was just a few months old back in 2005. They are special because they also have my Grandpa in them, who has also passed on a few months ago. He had just started chemo for his cancer and had lost his hair. Because of Grandpa's and Great Grandma's health, I did not get a 5 generation picture with Emmi and so these are the last ones that I have.