Marian Oosse
Mar 11th 1922 - Nov 17th 2009
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Casey W. Koopmans
November 22nd 2009
From a time of reflection at Grandma's Funderal:
I’ve always felt a special bond with Grandma. This bond was ever present whether I was in the same room with her, or on the other side of the country. I could always feel her love and care, and I know that it will continue to transcend the boundary between heaven and Earth.
While this bond seemed unique to me, I don’t think that it was necessarily unique to Grandma. She was such an extraordinary person that she probably made numerous people in her life feel this way, as many of you know exactly what I am talking about.
Particularly during my childhood, I had the opportunity to spend lots of time with Grandma. I was lucky enough to spend time with her almost daily for the first decade of my life. There must have been hundreds of times that I’d sit in the den with her before or after school where she’d help me with my school work and we’d sit and watch Sportscenter & Gillian’s Island. Like the Skipper called Gillian, she always made me feel like her little buddy.
I happened to be in the hospital room, along with many other family members, on July 17th when Grandma was told she would only have a few more months left here on Earth. While it was difficult to see Grandma’s condition deteriorate, I savored every moment I spent with her and was thankful for the opportunity to let her know how much I loved her and how much she meant to me in my life.
Here are some of the things that I was able to share with her:
Grandma, in a lot of ways, I am who I am because of you – at least my redeeming qualities.
You helped with my upbringing right from day one. Although I don’t remember this, I know you taught me how to walk and would care for me when I was sick– you were a part of my physical upbringing.
You were a part of my educational upbringing – I remember countless mornings at your house studying spelling words and doing math with you, helping to sharpen my developing mind.
You were a part of my spiritual upbringing - you and Grandpa provided a tremendous example of how to go about living life and having a relationship with God. You guys set the bar high when it came to morals, ethics, financial responsibility, generosity, humility, servant hood, loving Christ, and loving others.
While I’ll miss you dearly, there are so many memories I’ll never forget:
Eating all those popsicles in your driveway
Countless games of Rummikub & Skipbo
Pistons & Tigers games
Calvin & Hope games
All the sporting events in which you came to support me
The one extra scoop you would give to people when you were dishing out food.
The countless times of thoughtfulness & generosity you directed my way
How you’ve welcomed Laura into the family
The Thanksgivings, Easters, & Christmases
The ice cream sandwiches, lemon drops, and Wilhelmina peppermints
The ground bologna & pickle sandwiches, biscuits & gravy, and potato salad
Your sharp mind and wit
Your laugh and your smile
Your constant comforting voice any time I wanted to call to talk.
In many ways you shaped me, and continue to shape the person who I am. You’ve been a role model, someone I’ve always admired, and especially now that I am an adult, strive to be like. I hope to be a grandparent to my grandkids someday the way that you were a grandparent to me.
Now some of you may think that Grandma loved basketball and baseball, but I would argue otherwise. She may have liked those sports, but she didn’t have much interest in watching the Lakers play the Celtics or the Yankees play the Red Sox. While she may have liked basketball, it wasn’t basketball, but the Detroit Pistons that she loved. Similarly she may have liked baseball, but it was the Detroit Tigers that she loved. Apparently Grandma knew the Lions would never be good and gave up on them a long time ago.
I think this speaks a lot about the person Grandma was. While she liked people, she LOVED her family. In the game of life, WE were her team – always involved, always thinking about us, always rooting for us. The priority of family is a lesson Grandma has passed down to her children, grandchildren, great grandchildren, and many others.
While I am sad to see Grandma leave this Earth, and will miss her dearly. I take comfort in knowing that she is in the arms of Jesus. She was ready to go. She had lived an abundant life, full of faith, full of family. We celebrate her life today knowing that she lives on in heaven, but her legacy will continue to live here on Earth because of the influence she has had on all our lives.
Diane Maring , one of Grandma’s wonderful caregivers at Trillium Woods, left this quote on her care page that really resonates with this idea.
“Our death is not an end if we can live on in our children and the younger generation. For they are us, our bodies are only wilted leaves on the tree of life”. I know she lives on in me and of many of you. We love you Grandma
Diane Maring
November 19th 2009
Our death is not an end if we can live on in our children and the younger generation. For they are us, our bodies are only wilted leaves on the tree of life. ~Albert Einstein
I feel honored to be one of the Caregivers God chose to help bring comfort to your precious Mother and Grandmother during her final days.
I pray Gods precious Holy Spirit bring you peace and comfort during the days ahead. God Bless You All
Casey W. Koopmans
November 22nd 2009
From a time of reflection at Grandma's Funderal:
I’ve always felt a special bond with Grandma. This bond was ever present whether I was in the same room with her, or on the other side of the country. I could always feel her love and care, and I know that it will continue to transcend the boundary between heaven and Earth.
While this bond seemed unique to me, I don’t think that it was necessarily unique to Grandma. She was such an extraordinary person that she probably made numerous people in her life feel this way, as many of you know exactly what I am talking about.
Particularly during my childhood, I had the opportunity to spend lots of time with Grandma. I was lucky enough to spend time with her almost daily for the first decade of my life. There must have been hundreds of times that I’d sit in the den with her before or after school where she’d help me with my school work and we’d sit and watch Sportscenter & Gillian’s Island. Like the Skipper called Gillian, she always made me feel like her little buddy.
I happened to be in the hospital room, along with many other family members, on July 17th when Grandma was told she would only have a few more months left here on Earth. While it was difficult to see Grandma’s condition deteriorate, I savored every moment I spent with her and was thankful for the opportunity to let her know how much I loved her and how much she meant to me in my life.
Here are some of the things that I was able to share with her:
Grandma, in a lot of ways, I am who I am because of you – at least my redeeming qualities.
You helped with my upbringing right from day one. Although I don’t remember this, I know you taught me how to walk and would care for me when I was sick– you were a part of my physical upbringing.
You were a part of my educational upbringing – I remember countless mornings at your house studying spelling words and doing math with you, helping to sharpen my developing mind.
You were a part of my spiritual upbringing - you and Grandpa provided a tremendous example of how to go about living life and having a relationship with God. You guys set the bar high when it came to morals, ethics, financial responsibility, generosity, humility, servant hood, loving Christ, and loving others.
While I’ll miss you dearly, there are so many memories I’ll never forget:
Eating all those popsicles in your driveway
Countless games of Rummikub & Skipbo
Pistons & Tigers games
Calvin & Hope games
All the sporting events in which you came to support me
The one extra scoop you would give to people when you were dishing out food.
The countless times of thoughtfulness & generosity you directed my way
How you’ve welcomed Laura into the family
The Thanksgivings, Easters, & Christmases
The ice cream sandwiches, lemon drops, and Wilhelmina peppermints
The ground bologna & pickle sandwiches, biscuits & gravy, and potato salad
Your sharp mind and wit
Your laugh and your smile
Your constant comforting voice any time I wanted to call to talk.
In many ways you shaped me, and continue to shape the person who I am. You’ve been a role model, someone I’ve always admired, and especially now that I am an adult, strive to be like. I hope to be a grandparent to my grandkids someday the way that you were a grandparent to me.
Now some of you may think that Grandma loved basketball and baseball, but I would argue otherwise. She may have liked those sports, but she didn’t have much interest in watching the Lakers play the Celtics or the Yankees play the Red Sox. While she may have liked basketball, it wasn’t basketball, but the Detroit Pistons that she loved. Similarly she may have liked baseball, but it was the Detroit Tigers that she loved. Apparently Grandma knew the Lions would never be good and gave up on them a long time ago.
I think this speaks a lot about the person Grandma was. While she liked people, she LOVED her family. In the game of life, WE were her team – always involved, always thinking about us, always rooting for us. The priority of family is a lesson Grandma has passed down to her children, grandchildren, great grandchildren, and many others.
While I am sad to see Grandma leave this Earth, and will miss her dearly. I take comfort in knowing that she is in the arms of Jesus. She was ready to go. She had lived an abundant life, full of faith, full of family. We celebrate her life today knowing that she lives on in heaven, but her legacy will continue to live here on Earth because of the influence she has had on all our lives.
Diane Maring , one of Grandma’s wonderful caregivers at Trillium Woods, left this quote on her care page that really resonates with this idea.
“Our death is not an end if we can live on in our children and the younger generation. For they are us, our bodies are only wilted leaves on the tree of life”. I know she lives on in me and of many of you. We love you Grandma
Diane Maring
November 19th 2009
Our death is not an end if we can live on in our children and the younger generation. For they are us, our bodies are only wilted leaves on the tree of life. ~Albert Einstein
I feel honored to be one of the Caregivers God chose to help bring comfort to your precious Mother and Grandmother during her final days.
I pray Gods precious Holy Spirit bring you peace and comfort during the days ahead. God Bless You All
