On June 22nd, 2018, my paternal grandmother passed away. This past weekend my family celebrated her life by crowding into the church she grew up in for a funeral service. Many memories were shared and tears were shed throughout the day. The day started with a dreary, rainy morning. As the seemingly never-ending line of family exited the church, they were greeted with a warm sunny afternoon. It was a beautiful day to sit outside, drink coffee, and admire the blooming flowers; just like grandma would have done.
Through my years as an Origami Owl designer, I have seen many customers create memorial lockets for their loved ones. I have seen beautiful lockets in memory of mothers, husbands, children, and even a few pets. As I wondered what I would put in a locket for my grandma, I realized there was far too much to fit into a regular sized locket. Rather than limit her story, I have squeezed my memories of grandma into a Legacy Locket.
Follow along as I take a look at the little charms of grandma Jilene’s life.
Many remember her as a baker and cook. She sure did enjoy cooking, but I prefer to argue that she really just loved to eat. She favored sweets. Donuts, cake, and ice cream were among her favorites. There was never a shortage of sugar at grandma’s house. And you could always rely on a fresh pot of coffee with your baked goods. Grandma drank coffee like it was oxygen. There was always a mug of black coffee within her arms reach.
She was a nurse for a portion of her life, but the knowledge never left her. She was the person you would go to if you had a question about a rash on your arm or a pain in your side. She always had some sort of remedy (whether it be real medicine or some sort of natural cure).
She enjoyed gardening and was known for her beautiful sunflowers and lush flower beds. She also loved to make wind chimes and garden decorations out of junk. She enjoyed digging through old abandoned houses to find the junk needed for her creations.
The Minion may look a little funny in the locket, but that is exactly why I put it there. Grandma was a big fan of the Minions. She thought they were hilarious and they could always elicit her signature cackle.
Grandma loved her dogs (possibly more than her children, dare I say it?). She had five dogs in her last stage of life and she loved each of them equally. She was always dropping “tidbits” off her plate to whatever dog was underfoot.
Finally, my grandma was a woman of faith who enjoyed Beth Moore studies and watching TV evangelists on Sunday mornings.
These were the charms of Grandma Jilene’s life. These will be the things I remember her by. This is her legacy, held together in a Legacy Locket.
This was Grandma’s collection of Origami Owl. She liked the Sentiments collection. She always had patchouli inside her locket.
In her wrap bracelet she had the cross window plate and a birthstone for each of the four granddaughters.
The faith over fear bar necklace was her birthday gift after she was diagnosed with glioblastoma. It was just a little reminder for her to wear everyday.
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