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There are people in this lifetime of mine who I could write
a book about. As we all know there are some good people and there are some bad
ones, all seem interesting and worthy of a glance or two. Then there are the
exceptional, the people you admire from afar, the good, quiet dignity; the
grace that surrounds them transcends the universe they center.
One such person is a lady that I have had the privilege to
know since 1974. Her name is Mrs. Elizabeth Garrity. I first met her in a large
house on the shores of New Jersey. She sat in a large dining room surrounded by
her large family. The occasion was a vacation for a few days for TLW (The
Little Woman) and my two small children. To this day I call her Mrs. Garrity
out of honest and deep respect.
I got to meet the lady first-hand. An Irishman through and
through, she sparkled with her smile and calming welcome. By then all her
children were grown and had children of their own. They gathered as a family,
and it was certainly a vivid feeling that I still carry to this day. What
impressed me was that all her children were so alive and friendly, giving and
into each other. It reminded me of my own family and made me homesick for my
sisters.
Mrs. Garrity’s husband Frank, was a special man, and had to
be to be married to this lovely lady. He was devout and lived his religion
without fanfare, and you just loved to talk to him. I remember one day, years
later, after the ravages of old age caught him, he was suffering from dementia,
sitting by himself on a porch one sunny day. It saddened me to see him in that
condition, so I sat with him for a while and we tried to make conversation. He
still held onto his dignity, his calmness and his classy manner, and I think
that he was the corner stone of that family. The many children (10) all seemed
to center around him and his lovely wife.
An educated and intelligent woman, Mrs. Garrity was the mason of that family: she was what
epitomizes the concept of motherhood. She raised all these children, and brick
by brick put them all together and made this wonderful family.
A few days ago we got the sad news that Mrs. Garrity had
passed away. It is so final, so sad and yet we expected it. She lived to almost
95, falling short by about 20 days. Her children are in their 60’s and are
grandparents themselves!
Mrs. Garrity lived a tough life, having lost a son Frank to
cancer and has a daughter Annie who like my daughter suffers from developmental
disabilities. She raised all these children, molded them if you will, and in
turn they will impart some goodness on the world because of it.
I hope someday I can meet her again. I would love to sit
next to her and let her tell me the story of her life: the many things that
make humble, ordinary people rise to great heights and accomplish great things,
without fanfare, without noise just humble quiet dignity, and class.
Tuesday, June 03, 2008, http://delbloggolo.blogspot.com/search?q=GRANDMA+REMINDS+US I wrote a blogue about her, that will give you
a sense of the lovely lady that is no more on earth, but in many hearts: lucky
hearts to have known her. Rest in peace Mrs. Garrity, you deserve to.
Here is what her Grand-daughter wrote about her:
Here is what her Grand-daughter wrote about her:
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