My Grandma Hatch passed away on April 13th. She was my only living grandparent for many many years - she would have been 90 today! It was determined in March that she had an agressive form of cancer and she lived only a few more weeks before she passed away. Several of my aunts were there with her when she died and my mom and the rest of her family were on the phone singing to her in her final moments. Because I had just given birth to Boston a week before her passing, Scott and I were unable to travel to Utah for her funeral. This was such a disappointment for us and we really wanted to be there. I wrote down some of my memories of Grandma for a family record. I love you Grandma!
This is my Grandma at Thanksgiving. This was the last time we saw her.
Guinivere Hale Hatch passed away April 13, 2009 at River Meadows Senior Living Center in Alpine, Utah. She was born May 7, 1919 in Groveland, Idaho to Eugene and Sylvia Hale. In 1939 she was married to Wilder Allen Hatch. Their seven children were born and raised in Madera, California.Guinivere was predeceased by her husband Allen in 1988 and eldest son, Robert Allen Hatch in 1970. She is survived by her children: Jack and Teresa Wood of Grass Valley, California; Darlene and Robert Noel of Orem, Utah; Sherryl and Carleton Glassford of Highland, Utah; Jeanne and Kent Dastrup of Altamont, Utah; Bradford and Patricia Hatch of San Diego, California; Deanne and James Moore of Madera, California; Deborah and Homer Quist of Gilbert, Arizona; thirty grandchildren and sixty-six great-grandchildren. She has one living sister, Kleta and Irvin Crosbie, of River Heights, Utah.Guinivere and Allen had numerous friends, throughout their married years, who touched and influenced their lives and the lives of their children. Friends may live near or far away, but their love is felt in the heart forever.She lived her life with refinement, grace and dignity. She was able to do so even through the last painful month of illness, struggling with the reoccurrence of cancer.Interment was held April 18, 2009 at the Logan City Cemetery, Logan, Utah.
Memories of Grandma
I remember Grandma’s hands. They were always so soft – just like her cheek whenever I would give her a kiss. Grandma was so refined and lady-like. She always used proper grammar and avoided slang. I remember one time she said “yeah,” and then apologized and corrected herself, “excuse me, I should say ‘yes’.” I can hear her voice saying “m’am?” when she didn’t hear what you said, and “yes, m’am,” in response to a question. She made me want to be like that – so classy.
Once, when Grandma came for an extended stay, I got to share my room with her. I remember her suitcase covers that kept her luggage clean when she flew. She had me help her put on her stockings in the morning – she wore them every day! I remember being shocked that she snored. I can picture her saying her prayers while sitting on the edge of her bed.
I remember her making brownies from scratch at our house. She gave me the recipe because she knew how much I liked them. She also made my other favorite cookie – pecan frosties. I remember spending a lot of time in the kitchen when we would visit her house. Grandma and Mom were either baking or we were snitching slices of sausage out of the refrigerator, or eating some other tasty item. One of my favorite things about Grandma’s house was the pink bathroom. It was so fun taking a bath in that pink tub. I also loved looking at the things in her china cabinet.
In my mind I can see Grandma sitting at a little card table at mom’s house, writing letters and cards. I can see her sitting at the sewing machine, hemming fleece blankets. I can see Grandma sitting on her red stool, eating breakfast at Darlene’s house. Grandma was always cutting out articles from the newspaper and saving them for me because she thought they might be interesting to me. Grandma liked to tell us how she could say the alphabet backwards – she got such a kick out of it.
I am pretty sure that when I married Scott, Grandma decided she liked him better than me! She and Scott were always joking and even when Scott would tease her, she was enjoying herself with a twinkle in her eye and a quick retort. When playing Rumikub with her, I am pretty sure the competition was just between her and Scott.
Grandma was so sweet and thoughtful – she gave at least one fleece blanket to each person in our home – each was a specially chosen print for that person. While I was attending BYU Grandma found some fabric that was ballerina print. She thought of me and had to get it and went to special effort to have it made into a beautiful quilt for me. She also gave me a beautiful crocheted afghan. We will always have something warm and cozy to snuggle up under and remember Grandma.
When we went to visit Grandma at the nursing home, the last time I saw her, she was so glad to have us there. We sat around the piano and sang hymn after hymn with her. She wanted us to keep singing as her friends came into the room so that she could show them how talented her grandkids were. Chery and Celsea sang a duet for all of the residents when they came in for lunch. Grandma made sure they announced that these were Guinevere’s Grandchildren.
I can remember giving her a hug at Grandpa’s funeral when I was so little. I remember the special way she talked about him after he died. I could tell that she loved and missed him so much. I am sad that she is gone, but so happy that she can be with Grandpa now.
**This post should have been about a month ago but it was too overwhelming with Boston's arrival to work on it. **
My little Boston has some of the sweetest rolls and dimples! He continues to pack on the pounds and yes, those rolls are as soft and squishy as you are imagining! I get the privilige of holding this sweet little guy all day long!
