She is Strong.

She's a stronger person than you think she is.
That was my thought when I got the call that my papa passed away, about my grandma. For years, I had listened to family and family friends say how it would be awful if Papa passed away before Grandma. She would "not survive," she would not "know what to do." Well, news flash folks, she is alive and kicking and doing alright.
Now, don't let me downplay the extreme loss of my amazing Papa. He was our rock. He basically held together two generations that were adament to go separate ways. And out of respect, we still manage to find time together today. But deep down, blood is blood right? And some of us even like each other.

Grams basically built her world around my Papa, which is okay. That is what women do, like it or not, yestrday or today, that is what we do. She did not sacrifice, but she postponed her growth academically and professionally to support her family. And that was okay. But she built a world-her world -their world- around Papa and his work.

When he got sick a few years ago, she was by his side every single day. To the point where she wanted to deny nursing staff and later on, hospice care, but evenutally she could not. When he died, she explains to this day she saw a light leave his body, of which awoke her from sleep. I am amazed by her love and dedication. His, too, but especailly hers. It was true until death do them part for sure.

Today, her sister, Aunt Nedda, passed away at 96 years. Brief history, Nedda gave up her later teen years to raise the nine children my great-grandmother Anna and great-Grandfather Mike left behind. And Nedda also managed to marry and create her own family while raising the kiddos in the family house - maybe 3-4 bedrooms?- in Pittsburgh. Can you imagine? No, you cannot. No one does that anymore.

Nedda lived a good life. Raising her siblings, her children, taking care of her husband. She has absolutely experienced loss, burying her husband and a child...burying a couple brothers and sisters that she raised. But in the end, I never saw my aunt Nedda NOT smiling.

So this blog is dedicated to the strong women in my life. My mom, my grandma, my grandmother, my stephmother, her mother...her sister, her daughter...there are so many. We are all strong because of where we came from, which is easy to forget. But in moments like these, when someone leaves the earth, you are grateful for those that contributed to your upbringing and even your future.

Rest in Peace Aunt Nedda.
Thank you for your stregth that has resonated and impressed us through the years .