Ruthie Charter
Dear Gressak Family;
I just saw the announcement of your mother's passing and want to send my condolences to all of you. I have thought of your family often since we moved over here to Kailua Kona on the Big Island. I thought about how lucky your mom was to be living such a long, long time. You are lucky to have your mother for such a long time, too, although I know that the later years can be really difficult.
I had intended to come over to say goodbye before we moved in March, 2012, but time just got away from me, selling the house, buying the house over here, taking care of my sick ex-husband who shared the house with me and our kids. Finally I had to take him to Kaiser Hospital and he ended up passing away there a month after the rest of us moved here. So in all the madhouse rush I just never got over there.
I remember how much fun my mother and I had at your mother's 90th birthday party!! We sat with your auntie's/cousins and they were so, so funny! It was an absolutely lovely, elegant party! Your mother obviously had a grand time..so cute to watch her dancing!
I remember my mother telling me a funny story about you kids when we were young. You, Maryanne, were over at my house and maybe Katherine, too. Anyway, you were telling my mother about something you kids wanted to do but your mother would not let you. So you told my mom that you would ask her every day and she would always say "no". My mom then asked you why, if she always said "No" ,you would keep on asking her every day. You said with great hope, "But she might say yes!" So optimistic!! We enjoyed that little story for years and used it now and then when a situation came up where that answer would apply!
I will not be able to attend the ceremony, but I will hold you in my heart that day. It's awful to lose your mother, no matter that you know it will happen. I miss mine every day.
Aloha nui loa,
Ruthie Charter