Last month, we said good bye to one to the most amazing, graceful, Godly and beautiful woman I have ever know!
My dearest Grandmama Patty!
Patty with me in 1985
The last time I saw her Summer of last year
With her twin boys in 1955 in Scotland!
A little bit about my grandma...Patricia Hulihan, 86, loving wife, mother, grandmama and great-grandmother, passed away Sunday, Dec. 14, 2014, in Hamilton, Mont., with her loving husband of 34 years, John Robert Hulihan, by her side. She was buried in Gibbonsville, Idaho, on Saturday, Dec. 20, 2014. Patricia Penfold Hulihan was born Dec. 11, 1928, in Spokane, Wash. She leaves behind beloved children, Charlie (Lisa) Smith and Douglas (Sheelah) Smith; children by marriage, Kenny (Linda) Cadwallader, John (Joan) Hulihan, Jimmy Hulihan, Jeffrey Hulihan and Jane (Rick) Ward. She will be dearly missed by 23 grandchildren and 26 great-grandchildren.- See more of her Obituary here
write her Life Sketch/Eulogy and I enjoyed writing special moments of her life.
Unfortunately I ended up missing the funeral due to my plane being diverted (see below) so my sisters Megan and Kelsy gave the Eulogy for me, but I was glad I was able to write in although words barely scratch the surface of what this lady meant to so many!
Briefly, getting to my grandma's funeral was the worse travel experience of my life! My husband and flight attendant friend advised me against going because of weather and snow, but I had to go say goodbye to my Grandma. I guess I should have listened - we had one issue after another which led to us ultimately missing the funeral and all events associated with it - basically everything that could go wrong (short of a crash) did! My cousin, Neil had just arrived for the holidays from Japan (before my grandma passed on) so he hopped on the flight with me to go to the funeral as well.
So at least I had Neil - a very calm positive presence - by my side during the travel adventures. Our flight was diverted from Missoula to Bozemen, Montana due to fog. Basically flight diverted due to fog and only got 3 hour sleep, no rental cars so had to stay night in Bozeman, back on flight which left late again but got us to Missoula, Neil lost luggage, we drove 3 hours to Salmon but missed funeral, missed giving eulogy, then was told wrong place for burial so missed burial by like 5 minutes! I am still glad I went as I was able to visit with family in Salmon and even drive up to Shoup to see my grandpa and to feel the lingering spirit of Grandma in their house. I walked in the door and her smell was there and I felt her and felt at peace knowing she was in Heaven and her pain had ended and her hip was healed (she had broke her hip shortly before passing on) and her mind was intact (she had Alzheimers for a few years)! So I am glad I went but it was a very physically and emotionally exhausting ordeal!
So at least I had Neil - a very calm positive presence - by my side during the travel adventures. Our flight was diverted from Missoula to Bozemen, Montana due to fog. Basically flight diverted due to fog and only got 3 hour sleep, no rental cars so had to stay night in Bozeman, back on flight which left late again but got us to Missoula, Neil lost luggage, we drove 3 hours to Salmon but missed funeral, missed giving eulogy, then was told wrong place for burial so missed burial by like 5 minutes! I am still glad I went as I was able to visit with family in Salmon and even drive up to Shoup to see my grandpa and to feel the lingering spirit of Grandma in their house. I walked in the door and her smell was there and I felt her and felt at peace knowing she was in Heaven and her pain had ended and her hip was healed (she had broke her hip shortly before passing on) and her mind was intact (she had Alzheimers for a few years)! So I am glad I went but it was a very physically and emotionally exhausting ordeal!
Grandmama Patty will be greatly missed!
Just as Grandma cannot remember ever not knowing that she was a child of God, I cannot remember ever not knowing life without my Grandma's love. I am beyond grateful for the love that she has given over the years, in so much abundance that I have a excess of her love to hold me over until we meet again one day! I have a feeling when any of us get to heaven she will be hiding around a corner - just like she did on our Christmas visits - waiting to jump out – giggling and giving me a big hug!
She always closed her letters and postcards with " We love and miss you"
It's my turn to say WE LOVE AND MISS YOU GRANDMA!
And look forward to being reunited with you again one day!
