My Grandmother, A Woman of Valor

Clara Frank 11/10/17- 8/20/10

I haven't been able to dedicate much time to my blog lately as I've been focused on spending every moment with family. My grandmother Clara was an amazing lady, she lived a long and wonderful life and she passed away last week at the age of 92. This is a beautiful picture of her with my son Andrew at her 90th birthday celebration, less than 2 years ago. We celebrated her life at her funeral yesterday, it was sad and bittersweet as we miss her tremendously but treasure the memories that we have of her. She was an amazing lady and one that we are proud to call a Woman of Valor. The scripture from Proverbs 31 describes A Woman of Valor and my grandmother exemplified these traits beautifully:

I spoke during her eulogy yesterday at her funeral and wanted to share some of my thoughts in remembrance and honor of my wonderful Grandmother:

It would be impossible to express the depth of who my grandmother was in just a few words. She was the glue that held the family together, there was nothing more important to her than family. She set the foundation for us all and gave us unconditional love so that we could have strength to find our own ways in life. As a child I felt her warmth and love and as an adult I grew to understand the depth of her love and caring spirit. And when I finally became a mother it was then that I began to understand the many facets of my grandmother‘s character.

She was proud of her family, always there for them in so many ways, she would go out of her way to spend time with everyone. She was there when my son Andrew was born and when he was in the hospital the first week of his life. There was nothing that would take her away from being by our side.

My grandmother showed me the importance of staying strong even in tough times. She shared with us how she grew up through the depression, her mother made her clothes, her brothers showed her how to line her shoes with cardboard so that they would last longer as their parents could not afford new shoes for 7 children. She let us know that her parents showed their children great love even when they didn’t have much financially. My grandmother gave from the heart and with great love. As she got older and moved back from Florida, we spent a lot of time with her as she loved getting out going to lunch, shopping and wanting to know what was going on in our lives. My son Andrew was blessed with a beautiful relationship with his great grandmother or “GG” as the great grandchildren liked to call her.

I will forever treasure the memories I have of growing up with a special grandmother who was always there for me and understanding. Clara was a woman of strength, courage and determination. When she made up her mind she would do something she found a way to accomplish it. She surprised us all over the years as she endured health problems and continued to remain independent. No matter what, she would find a way to get her hair done, her clothes washed and iron even when she was getting around using a walker. Her doctor in the nursing home she lived in referred to her as the Phoenix, she was able to rise above the ashes and persevere. Her strength and tenacity were amazing to all of those who were touched by her life and fortunate to know her. She was an amazing woman and there is no other like Clara Nagel Allenick Frank. I am honored to call her my grandmother and blessed to have had her in my life for so long. I will miss her and treasure the moments that I had with her.

I read this poem in her honor:

You can shed tears that she is gone

or you can smile because she has lived.

You can close your eyes and pray that she’ll come back

or you can open your eyes and see all she’s left.

Your heart can be empty because you can’t see her

or you can be full of the love you shared.

You can turn your back on tomorrow and live yesterday

or you can be happy for tomorrow because of yesterday.

You can remember her and only that she’s gone

or you can cherish her memory and let it live on.

You can cry and close your mind, be empty and turn your back

or you can do what she’d want: smile, open your eyes, love and go on.

~Anonymous

I love you Grandma and will miss you,