I attended my Nan’s funeral today, a sad time in some ways but also time to see my family and to remember my Nan’s amazing life.
After the funeral and reception, we all returned to Nan & Grandad’s home; a place full of memories. My grandarents lived there from when I was just a couple of years old, and they and their home has been central to my life when growing up. We visited every Sunday, or even more frequently. Family Christmas was always there, and it was a stable environment so very important for a child growing up in a less stable situation.
Now though, the home is under offer and will soon be emptied of all it’s belongings and memories, and sold – and it’s already quite empty, with Nan no longer anywhere but only spaces where she should be …
After Grandad was made redundant many years ago, he set up his own trade mark registration business with a colleague, and my Nan did their accounting – a successful business, though again it’s gone now. Their two office desks remain to remind us of their life:
With these “empty memories” there are also many photographs to fill the void; I’ve kept some, and I’ll post this one from 20 years ago, that includes both Nan and Grandad, and a few of their brothers and sisters – and a lot of smiles!
M&I / GBMINI 
How sweet Ian. I teared up.The end is never easy for the living as we have to carry on.
I remember when my mom died back in 1975. My sister and I went to apartment and had the task of what to keep, what to give away and or dump. I think we acted too hastily as there was some stuff like her hats that I miss to this day. At least she had a long life and you got to enjoy her.
PEACE
Many thanks, Robert. You’re right, we were all lucky to have Nan & Grandad guide us as we grew up.
A sad day, but a long and fruitful life it seems.
I don’t know many people of our generation who still have any grandparents around.
A lovely tribute. I found it quite hard being at Nan’s yesterday but I’ve managed to ‘save’ several albums of photos and will endeavour to get as many scanned as I can. It was also quite sad to think that’s possibly the last time we will all be together