Grandma Goes to Jesus- Jaunary 23rd, 2016

On Sunday, January 17th, I knew Grandma was back in the hospital.  They put her in a hospice room and were unsure if she would go back to Brookline nursing home or stay in the hospital.  I knew she had some rough days that weekend.  On Sundays, she often had a lot of visitors after church since everyone was off work that day.  I saw a call come up on Face Time from my dad.  I was so delighted to be able to see and talk to Grandma "face to face"!  I was surprised how alert she seemed.  But that's my Grandma.  She musters all of her energy to give her best to the ones she loves.  Mom even said she wasn't really connecting with anyone and then all of the sudden heard my voice and focused.  In fact, dad wasn't even putting her on camera at first, he was having me say hi to Uncle Bill and Aunt Sandy and others in her room.  Then in the distance I heard a voice say, "Hi Sonya."  "Hi Sonya." I can still hear her saying it. The thought of it brings tears to my eyes even now.  She repeated it until dad put his phone camera on her.  We chatted with her briefly.  The boys got to talk to her as well.  I'm not even sure exactly what we talked about. Probably "how are you", and did you get our cards, etc.  We all told her how much we loved her and then said goodbye.  I will treasure that interaction until I see her again.  That time was a gift and I'm grateful dad thought to do that for me.

January 23rd was a Saturday.  Matt had plans to go with the small group guys snowmobiling in the mountains.  I had encouraged that trip.  In fact, I think it was my idea!  I was excited for him to go. The night before he left was sleepless for me at times.  And when I would wake, I would pray for Grandma.  I distinctly remember around 2 am our time, I felt like I saw a light.  It seemed Jesus was welcoming Grandma in to his arms.  I continued to pray for her not understanding why I was awake.  I woke up that Saturday morning and took Nathan and Josh to Nathan's swimming lessons over at Villa Sport.

As we were in the locker room getting Nathan dressed after his lesson, I received this text from my mom around 10am:

"Jesus picked up Mom,  She's talking with her mom and looking up her brothers and sisters.  Another Grandma to hold Jacob. Love you!"

I gasped a bit in the changing room which lead my boys to inquire what was the matter.  I told them I had good news and bad news.  I said that the good news was that Grandma Berry is with Jesus!  She's in Heaven for eternity and we will join her there someday if we choose Jesus.  I told them the bad news was that we would miss her so very much for our remainder of time on earth.  I asked them if we should celebrate her going home to Jesus with donuts.  They, of course, were up for that and we visited Dunkin Donuts on the way home.  Nathan said he wanted a donut with blue icing since Grandma Berry was in Heaven.  So Josh did too.  Mommy wasn't very hungry.

He told quite a few people later that mommy's grandma died and we celebrated with donuts.  I'm not sure everyone knew how to take that!

In fact, my very dear friend Sarena met us at the park that day after swimming.  Nathan ran over to her and told her that very thing when they arrived!  I had not gotten to tell her yet and it was pure chance that we met up.  Actually, I'm sure it was Jesus taking care of me.  He really held me that entire day where I was able to handle the news, connect with friends and family, and experience peace.   I really felt like my experience while praying the in the wee hours of the morning added to my peace.  She didn't pass until many hours later, but it still gave me peace.  I was able to get through the day with my boys and hold it together with Matt gone for the day.  We caught up on things later that night.  Again, Nathan shared the news!  Matt was shocked and felt terrible for being away all day but I assured him that it was fine and that Jesus took care of me.  I was so glad he had a great time snowmobiling with the guys!







That evening we talked and researched plane tickets and wrestled with who should go home for the funeral as well as if anyone should go.  I prayed for God's wisdom in the matter,  He again came through as He ALWAYS does and made it clear that me going home alone was His plan.  My cousin who lives in South Dakota, William, and I booked our tickets to where we would fly the last leg together into Harrisburg.   It was difficult to think of leaving my family for so long but between Matt taking a day off to get Nathan to and from preschool, and Jen and Sarena being AWESOME and offering to watch our boys the following Thursday and Friday, I felt at peace with the decision.

Grandma passed in a snowstorm.  Mom was actually shoveling at my grandparents house (right beside the nursing home) when she got the text from her sister, Deb, to come right away.  Aunt Deb was their with Grandma when she passed, thankfully.  Mom, Deb, John and Pap all got to say goodbye to Grandma shortly after she passed.  This was a blessing as well for them.  So due to this snowstorm travel was really backed up.  People were stuck in airports.  The funeral was scheduled for Wednesday, so William and I booked our flights for Tuesday so we'd have enough time to make it to Gram's viewing that evening.

Saying goodbye to the boys at the airport was hard! Especially because Nathan didn't want me to go.






Once I got on the plane and Matt took them to Amy's Donuts, I think they were okay!


Matt took them to get the oil changed at the Toyota dealership too. Looked like a fancy place to wait! My husband takes care of our boys so well, I knew I didn't have to worry about them. He's a great dad.  I love him so much!





So God had different plans, which I will ALWAYS take over my own and our flight was delayed for many hours in Detroit.  We actually boarded the first plane out of Detroit and were on it for a long time as they attempted to start the engine with no luck!  By the time Dad & Colin picked us up when we finally got into Harrisburg it was too late to make the viewing at all. I had such a sweet special time with my cousin William in the airport that I will always treasure.

Grandma played a huge role in developing our friendships with our cousins growing up.  We ALL stayed with them for a week every summer and played and laughed (and fought!) and had a grand old time.  I see the fruits of that labor of love from her and pap now more than ever.  Going home for her funeral and being with my cousins in shared grief was a special time in and of itself.

So after stopping at a Sheetz gas station and getting ice cream with Dad and Colin, we drove William home and then headed to my parents home.  We got up the next morning ready to attend Gram's funeral and mourn our loss.  I'll share about her funeral in the following post.

Here's the obituary Pap wrote for Grandma:


Marilyn (Minor) Berry went to the arms of the Lord at 11:30 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 23, 2016, in Mifflintown, at the age of 76, after a short, five week battle with cancer. She was a member of the Evangelical Methodist Church. She gave her life to the Lord at the age of 9 and faithfully followed the Lord throughout her life.Marilyn was born March 9, 1939, in Stevensville, Ontario, Canada. She was preceded in death by her parents, Calvary and Alma Minor; her siblings, Adrian, Leroy, Harold, Leo, and Olive, all of Ontario, Canada and a great-grandchild, Jacob Melhorn, of Selinsgrove. Marilyn is survived by her husband, William Berry; children, Elizabeth Melhorn and her husband, Verlyn, of Selinsgrove, William Berry II and his wife, Sandra, of Middleburg, John Berry and his wife, Michelle, of Mifflintown, Deborah Royer, of Selinsgrove; nine grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren. Marilyn and William (whom she lovingly called Bill) were married for 56½ years, they were inseparable. Her children remember her as a strong, loving mother and friend, the glue that held the family together. Her generosity, love, ambition, and drive were endless. She provided the illuminance and balance that gave cause for her family to revere her and call her Blessed. Marilyn came to the United States at the age of 17 on a work visa and was sponsored by the Rev. William Rosenberry (who was founder of the radio ministry “Gospel Words and Music”) of Philadelphia. Marilyn finished school in the U.S., graduated from nursing school as a licensed practical nurse and become a Pennsylvania licensed nursing home administrator, all the while finishing her college education with an MBA, PhD. She taught classes in nutrition, embroidery, sewing machine operation, trained in and practiced as a school principal, was married to a minister of the gospel, and raised her close-knit family. Marilyn was a deeply devoted Christian, as each decision she made was weighted against whether the Lord would be pleased. Her conviction of life in Christ never faltered. She was stable, reliable, creative, supportive, promising, and fulfilling in every task trusted to her judgement. Her life was dependent upon the Lord’s leadership and fellowship. She was outgoing, friendly, exciting, cheerful, and a pleasure to be around. Wherever she went, she made an impression of integrity and fruitfulness, making herself a friend of all who would receive her. If you knew Marilyn, you knew you could trust her; she was very careful not to betray any confidence placed in her. Marilyn carried life and vitality to others in her fragile vessel. She will be sadly missed by all who knew her but her vitality of life testifies to the power of God beyond herself. Now her spirit is with God who gave it, she is no longer vulnerable, she is complete in Him. A viewing will be held from 4 to 8 p.m. with family present from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, at the Brown Funeral Homes Inc., 111 Westfall St., McAlisterville, and from 10 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at the Oakland Mills Evangelical Methodist Church, 148 Leonard Lane, Oakland Mills, followed by the funeral at 10:30, with the Rev. Dennis L. Ritchey officiating. Interment will be in the Blair Memorial Park, Altoona. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorial donations be made in Mrs. Berry’s memory to the Oakland Mills Evangelical Methodist Church, 148 Leonard Lane, Oakland Mills, PA 17076. Condolences may be sent to the family at www.brownfuneralhomesinc.com.