My grandpa Baior died yesterday morning. He was 90.

My grandparents were my two favorite people. They were young at heart, very laid back, and easy going. My grandma died a couple of years ago, and now my grandpa has gone home to her.

My mom's mom and dad. The name is pronounced "byer", but everyone always pronounced it "bear". It was a name that was even longer, and got shortened when they reached Ellis Island.

His parents came over on the boat from Lithuania, barely speaking english. He was born here not long after. He met my grandma and they got married when they were in their early 20's. They were married for 66 years, until grandma died. He fought in WWII, and was wounded. And he never talked about the war.

We'd go to their house and my parents would play cards, when I was young, and I'd fall asleep to the sound of his voice. He had a deep voice, and a slow chuckle, which I'll always remember.

We helped them pack up and move to Tennessee when he retired, to be near my grandma's sister. We got them t-shirts that said Ma Baior and Pa Baior (kind of like ma & pa Kettle ;) ). Kind of a joke, since they'd be living in the country (or, back in the hills, as my aunt would say).

For their 50th wedding anniversary, we planned a surprise party in Tennessee. I went down for the weekend, and the rest of the family stayed at hotels in town. I took them out for dinner. I told them I reserved a room, since it was their anniversary. We opened the door, and there was the whole family, all lined up. Their mouths fell to the floor when they saw everyone. :) :) We all sat down and had a great time. Then we headed back to their house, and took pics, talked, and when it got dark, played poker and shot off fireworks. It was the best party.

After about 10 years in Tennessee, they decided to move back to Illinois, to be near family. A few years after that, I quit my job, and didn't work for about a year and a half, so I'd go over there almost daily, and drive them wherever they needed to go. Grandma quit driving when they moved back, and grandpa started having trouble and made the decision to stop driving. This was a very hard decision for him to make, it's like taking away your independence, although he made the decision himself. To him, the other driver was more important. I took care of them while I was off work.

They were in the hospital on and off for short periods of time. So, I'd take one to see the other. I'd drop them at the door, then get a wheel chair (neither could walk very far by then), and wheel them through this huge hospital, to see the other one. Once, they were both in the hospital at the same time, so the nurses put them in the same room! They thought it was great. :)

We had great conversations, and we would talk about everything. They were more like great friends, rather than grandparents. Although they were still grandpa and grandma. I'd take my golden retriever over to visit them. They had always had a dog, and missed them terribly. Murphy was such a gentle dog, and they loved him.

They were happy with the simplest things. Once I got them matching soft fleece blankets for their beds. By that time, they needed the type of beds that were similar to a hospital bed. He thought the blankets were the coolest (warmest) things. It was hard on them, having to sleep apart for the first time since they got married.

When my grandma passed, grandpa was in the hospital, very ill,  and he could not come to the funeral. What a terrible thing. He never said anything, but I know he was upset about that. He missed her terribly.

He never complained about anything. I only saw them argue once in my whole life, and it was about whether a storm they'd had in Tennessee was a "gully washer". It only lasted a couple of minutes. I never saw them angry with each other, although I'm sure they had their moments when they were young. He was happy to have her, and she him. They loved each other in a quiet way, but you knew it when you saw them. He taught me a lot about life, without even knowing it. I learned so much from them both. My grandpa was a kind, gentle, compassionate, intelligent man, with a lot of common sense. And he loved dogs. He cried when he told me about how he found their last dog, injured from a larger dog's attack. Such a good man. Definitely the end of an era.

I will miss him terribly.  :'(

You have my sympathies, and you have some great memories. Hang on to them and laugh... that's what they'd want you to do.

Hugs BD

I'm so sorry, Chris.   :'(

Yes, I'm sure you'll miss him terribly.  Such beautiful memories will keep him alive in your heart forever.

Sincere condolences.

Much Love,
Jackie

Chris - sorry for your loss.  Hold tight to those wonderful memories.

Carol

Sorry for your loss, Chris.  

With him go the times of an era we find so full of family values and wisdom from strife, the determined making of what has come before us for our comfort.


Quote:

We'd go to their house and my parents would play cards, when I was young, and I'd fall asleep to the sound of his voice.

:)

So sorry for the loss of your grandpa Chris, your grandparents are back together once again. Cherish all those memories of them.

 Barry :'(

What a lovely story Chris, a loving and living tribute to them. You painted a picture I could see in my head and I so enjoyed sharing that story.

I'm sorry they're out of your sight but I know you aren't out of theirs. I also know without doubt they will always be with you, right where you need them and without any form of notice at all.

Your memories of them are your own fleecy blanket, they're the coolest thing that will warm your heart every time you pull them out. I know you won't think of them without smiling

With much love
Helen

Oh Chris, what wonderful memories you have!  I know you will keep them close to your heart forever, just like the love you have for the both of them.

I am so very sorry they are gone, but am so grateful that you had such wonderful experiences and love from them.

[smiley=heart.gif]mel

Aw, Chris... So sorry to hear it. Please accept my condolences. ((HUG))

Please accept my condolences

Aw Chris, I'm so very sorry for your loss.

Brew and I send prayers and offer condolences.  It's always hard to lose someone you love.

Thank you for sharing some beautiful memories with us, Chris.

Sorry they're gone, but they're waiting just a little bit up the road.

Hugs,
Donna

Again, please know that my heart goes out to you and yours Chris.  Memories are the paths that our loved ones continue to travel upon that keeps them with us for all time.

Love you Sis, and please let me know if there is anything I can do.

What a great tribute to their lives. I really enjoyed reading that and could relate to most of it. Thanks for sharing and condolences for your loss.

Chris, that was a wonderful memory-picture, and a moving tribute to a remarkable man and woman.  

I'm sorry for your loss.

All the best,

George

wrote on Dec 16^th, 2008 at 8:14am:

What a lovely story Chris, a loving and living tribute to them. You painted a picture I could see in my head and I so enjoyed sharing that story. I'm sorry they're out of your sight but I know you aren't out of theirs. I also know without doubt they will always be with you, right where you need them and without any form of notice at all. Your memories of them are your own fleecy blanket, they're the coolest thing that will warm your heart every time you pull them out. I know you won't think of them without smiling With much love Helen

I second what Helen said.  I am so very sorry for your loss.

Carolyn

As others have said, it is a wonderful eulogy for your grandparents.  Your words have truly painted a picture.  I offer my deep condolences for your loss.  I too will now miss them.

With best wishes,

Ray

Sorry for your loss, Chris. :-[

Love,

Jeannie

Wonderful tribute Chris!!

Sending our thoughts and prayers your way.  So sorry for you loss.


My deep condolences

You were very lucky to have them in your life.  You're even luckier to have recognized it and made the most of it when they were here.

I'm sorry you had to say goodbye to them.

-Dennis-

I am sorry for your loss.

I am very sorry for your loss.  You and your family with be in my thoughts and prayers.

Love,

Jen

Those are such warm memories, the kind grandparents are good at making. I am so sorry for your loss but happy that you were able to have such a rich, full life with them. With this mobile society, so often families are too far apart to really get to know our extended families.

Charlotte

Sorry to hear of your loss. My thoughts are with you.

Some great memories and story too.

Charlie

I'm sorry for your loss, but I loved reading of all the happy memories.  Thanks for the sharing it with us Chris.  I loved reading it.  I never knew my grand-parents.  You were also a wonderful grand-daughter.  So many of the elderly are so alone with no one to care for them.  

Many hugs, my friend.

Langa

Thank you all for your well wishes. I just got back from the funeral service, and the luncheon afterwards.

There were several frames of pictures of my grandpa, with my grandma, their kids, grandkids and friends. Pictures of him in his uniform, and his discharge document from the army, along with some mementos from Europe.

This is one of those times you get to see all of those relatives you know you have, but haven't seen in a long long time. The service was beautiful. There was an honor guard at the graveside service, and they folded the American flag that covered his casket, and presented it to his youngest son, who was very touched, to say the least. We all were.

We went to a restaurant for lunch after. When my grandpa used to come home from work, the first thing he would do was to get a shot of whiskey from this half gallon sized whiskey bottle, with a squeeze top, you'd push down on it, and it would dispense a shot. We'd always joke about the size of that bottle. Well, my uncle Gary got a bottle of the same brand of whiskey, and some plastic shot glasses, and we all had a toast to my grandpa.  :D  It was a nice lunch, with lot's of good memories.  :)  My mom sent me home with a few mementos.

Thanks again everyone. Your kind words really mean a lot.