Grandma Cappy

On December 15, 2010 we lost our dear Grandma Cappy. Life won't be the same without her. She was an amazing wife, mother, grandmother, and great grandmother who celebrated family every day.

When I think of Grandma Cappy, I think of sweet celebration. Grandma had two kitchens in her house that she kept busy for her friends and family. She always had something homemade and special "just prepared" no matter when you dropped in on her.

At Thanksgiving, we had to celebrate for days because there were too many side dishes to have at one meal - even if you unbuttoned your pants. Christmas was the same. It wasn't done until it was almost overdone. Grandma ordered from catalogues, shopped the local sales, baked for weeks, and had all the girls get together to make the dozens of different Christmas candies we enjoyed. And, on Christmas Day, from her chair, with Grandpa Alden snapping Polaroids and playing pranks, Grandma would sit happily watching her brood unwrap, giggle, unwrap some more, and eat pistachios.

Easter meant dozens of candy filled eggs hidden over the acres of land that surrounded her home. The wind break made the best hiding spots. When we grew tired of searching, we would head inside to eat decorated sugar cookies, colored boiled eggs, and ham. Our family would crowd around the dining room table while the little kids ate on a card table. We'd already be full from the sweets and appetizers, but dig in with a new gusto when Grandpa Alden carved the Easter ham.

Halloween was no different. Grandma's candy bowl was endless. It was always filled with the good stuff. Snickers, milky ways, and Hershey bars were never hidden under hard candy or those weird peanut butter chews. But on Halloween Grandma went even further. She'd make carmeled popcorn balls and other special goodies. Grandma loved seeing the children dressed in their costumes. One year she made me a spider costume. I treasure a photo of me posing all gangly and goofy in my silly spider costume with Miles dressed as a cowboy staring up at me. Grandma was just always a part of every celebration.

Grandma didn't just celebrate the holidays, she celebrated life. Cappy loved to travel as much as she enjoyed being at home. She was a great listener and knew how to tell a story. Grandma and I exchanged letters after I moved away. Her arthritis made it difficult, but we still exchanged notes until her final days. She told me about the weather, described the birds and squirrels outside her windows, and recounted what the family in Western Kansas was up to. I told her about our day to day trials and tribulations and tried to include a photo or two since she didn't use a computer to see our snapshots.

Grandma loved her family. She adored Grandpa Alden. And, she had a special place in her heart for each of her grandchildren. She clipped every newspaper article that mentioned one of us by name for a sports accomplishment, scholarship win, or special note. She'd show those articles off to any visitor and explain what the recipient of praise had done to garner such attention. I swear I heard her boast about Miles and Rena so much I began to wonder if they were paying her just to bug me. {grin} She loved that my mom visited her often, sometimes daily, and always brought something special for her. She'd tell me often how lucky she felt that her Gene married so well.

Grandma raised two amazing and creative sons. She was so proud of her boys. Stan is an artist and the walls of Grandma's home were just a hint of her pride for him. His art made her home a happy and interesting place to relax. Gene, my Papa, is a soil conservation engineer and a musician. He doted on his mom and dad and they loved him even more for it. Grandma and Grandpa supported their sons in every endeavor they pursued. Whether it was joining the Navy, creating a stained glass window, moving to California, or joining a band, they knew their parents were proud and behind them every step. Grandma led a long and loving life surrounded by family. We will miss her deeply and remember her fondly.