On the weekend she would have turned 97, we gathered to celebrate Mor-Mor's life. Family came from New Jersey, California, Georgia, Massachusetts, and Maryland, and local friends joined us as well. We all kept commenting about how delighted she would have been to see us all together in such an unprecedented way!
We had 2 dinners at my parents' house with all the relatives and it was really good to catch up with everyone, and in some cases, introduce some members to others. There were a lot of, "So, are you my second cousin, once-removed, or my third cousin-in-law?" types of conversations.
On the Saturday in between we all met in a large room at a church nearby and had a "service" of sorts. It wasn't your typical memorial service because there was no pastor residing and we were all sitting at tables -- and there was plenty of "audience participation." She would have loved all of that, too. Various family members spoke and emotions ran the gamut. (I cried pretty much entire time, but sometimes the tears were happy and sometimes they were sad) Mom did an amazing job hosting and planning the whole thing.
The final part of the "service" was the singing of "This Little Light of Mine" by all the great-grandchildren with flashlights. Flashlights were the very last gifts Mor-Mor gave them all this past Christmas.
After lunch the family all stayed to share more stories of her life and legacy and we laughed and cried some more. What a full life she led.
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