Remembering Nana

We lost Pete's Nana on Dec. 18th, Following is the Tribute Pete gave at her funeral.

Margaret Theresa was my grandmother, but to me she was always Nana. It was hard the last couple of years to see her confined to a wheel chair. My childhood memories were of a woman who loved to sing and who especially loved to dance. She LOVED to dance. Did you know because of her dancing the South Side Journal once did a write-up on her? They called her “The Polka Queen of South St. Louis”? (There was a photo!) She also loved to go to the Cardinal games, and she would always let you know that her favorite player was Ducky Medwick. For many years, when I would see her she would ask “When are we going to a game”. She loved going places, and it didn’t matter if it was a dance or a ball-game, it was impossible to keep her at home. She loved life and being out in the world.

Unfortunately this wasn’t the case later in her life. Sadly, she no longer seemed willing or able to go out into the world and as time passed it was easier to just leave her be. I can only imagine how frustrating this must have been for her.I know everyone here must have a wonderful story of Nana from earlier days, at a church picnic or homecoming, but I would like to share a story with you from later in her life when things maybe weren’t so easy for her.

One holiday I was asked to pick up the Grandmas. I had Nana in the car and was off to pick up Grandma Ruth when Nana started to tell a story. Having no idea what she was talking about the radio probably had much of my attention. From the time I picked her up she had been very scattered, asking the same questions over and over. But once she started telling this story her demeanor changed. She seemed clearer telling her story with great detail. It took a minute but I realized she was telling a story about the time Grandpa Pete was very sick and in the hospital. She would always stay with him until the visiting hours ended but one night as she started to leave, he asked her not to go, he wanted her to stay with him through the night. She agreed and eventually fell asleep holding his hand. Later a nurse woke her saying “Miss Theresa, you need to leave now” My Nana objected saying that her Pete wanted her to stay. The nurse explained that she needed to leave because he was gone. And now she is gone.

But this is not a sad story because it has a happy ending. My Grandpa Pete has got his dance partner back and I’m sure they will be the first couple on Heaven’s dance floor dance floor tonight. (Can you imagine what that orchestra must be like?)

Good luck St. Peter when you try to track her down to give her wings!

We love you Nana and we will miss you.