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Monday, June 1, 2015

Goodbye Grandma Beans

Hey Everyone! 

You may be wondering where I've been for the past week...

On Monday, my Grandma, Mary Rose Beans, had a heart attack while gardening and fell and cracked her skull open. They rushed her to the hospital but there was not much they could do. Because of the heart attack they couldn't treat the bleeding in her head and because of her head injury they couldn't operate on her heart. A classic and devastating catch 22. 


My mom and I arrived at the hospital in Canton, Ohio  (2 hours away) on Wednesday morning and by that afternoon they transferred her to a hospice in New Philadelphia where her and her husband Charlie live. We sat by her side for 3 days. We held her hand, talked to her, and wet her mouth with a sponge. 

On Wednesday night and Thursday she had several moments of great clarity that almost gave us hope that she might pull through. She made jokes and was her normal sassy self. Also in true form, she ate about 4 containers of chocolate ice cream they told us that it pays to be under the weather!

By Saturday she was completely unresponsive and by Sunday they had to put her on a breathing machine. Late Sunday night she went to be with Jesus. 

 The whole thing was so sudden. She was 83 and had always been in great health. I'm just glad that she didn't have to suffer for a long time because she made it very clear to all of us that she never wanted to be in a nursing home.








She was an amazing lady! I know everyone says that about their beloved grandma but she was truly one of a kind! Growing up I can remember trying to describe her to my friends. I would say things like she's just not your typical grandma. She doesn't knit or bake or sit around. She's sassy, she's funny, she eats her dessert before her dinner because life is short, you know. She rode a motorcycle until she was into her 70's! She was on her 3rd husband and always said she was working on him too! She ran a thrift Store called Second Hand Rose for many years in New Philadelphia, Ohio which is where my love of thrift shopping began! She also dedicated many years of her retired life to volunteering at a local cat shelter. Cats were her life!
 

She had a rough life at times but always knew she had much to be grateful for. For some, being adopted might evoke feelings of abandonment but for her it was something that set her apart and made her special. For some, getting pregnant at 16 and having a baby would feel like the end but she did her best to be a good mama and provide for her growing family. For some, having a not so great first husband and then meeting the love of your life only to loose him to death would make you give up on love but she opened up her heart once again to a handsome neighbor named Charles Austin Beans. And for some burying your son at the age of 60 would be too much to handle but she lived on to keep his memory alive.



I am just so grateful for all the wonderful times we had together! I have always been acutely aware 
that she wouldn't be with us forever so I tried to spend as much time together as the distance between us would allow. My mom and I took 7 annual trips down to Florida to visit her and made some really great memories that I will cherish forever! Some of my favorite memories of my grandma are of us shopping together at Bealls and The Exchange, the amazing grilled cheese sandwiches she made me when I was sick, drinking margaritas and tequila rose, happy hour at Camp N' Aire, the time we took her to Disney's Animal Kingdom and she thought the Lion King show was pretty awesome,  her helping me check people out in her thrift store, but my favorite times were the nights we would crawl in bed together and watch Days of our Lives or Family Feud and I would ask her questions about her past and secretly record it all in my cell phone so I wouldn't forget a single precious memory...

and I won't


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28 comments:

  1. Hi Lindsey,
    I am sorry for your loss. I always looked forward to your Florida vacation pics with Grandma Beans. She always seemed to happy, and I'm sure she still is.

    I wish you and your family peace and happiness.

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  2. I'm very sorry for your loss, Lindsey. You and your family seemed to enjoy your time with your grandmother over the years. So hopefully those lovely memories will get you through this grieving process. My thoughts are with you. <3 Jackie @ Let's Go Thrifting

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  3. I'm so very sorry for your loss. I have lost both of my grandmothers and I know how devastating it is. I am glad you have so many lovely memories with her. My thoughts are with you and your family.

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  4. Lindsey dear, I'm sorry the reason for this post. The death of a beloved grandmother is really sad and hard. But his memory and his example will last a lifetime. My cordial greetings and encouragement whole world.

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  5. I am so incredibly sorry for your loss, Lindsey. Grandma Beans sounds like an amazing woman and you were blessed to have such an incredible bond with her. May the memories that you have of your time together bring you comfort during this time. She will forever live on in your heart and always be with you. Take care, Carla from California

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  6. I'm so sorry to hear this, but what a lovely tribute to her. I love the last picture the most. :)
    Sending well wishes to you and your family. xx

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  7. I am so sorry to hear about your loss. With the way you described her spirit and passion for life, she seemed to be a strong woman that enjoyed her life and contributed so much to yours. There are few woman today like Grandma Beans. Prayers to you and your family. You honored her with this great post!

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  8. This is such a lovely homage to your grandmother! So happy that you've collected all these details about her amazing life and what spirit and great attitudes she possessed; this is an inspiring entry. My thoughts are with you during this time.

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  9. Mis mas sentido pesame Que Dios te de las fuerfuerzas necesarias en estos dificiles momentos.

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  10. Mis mas sentido pesame Que Dios te de las fuerfuerzas necesarias en estos dificiles momentos.

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  11. So sorry to hear of you Grand ma's passing. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family during this difficult time. May her soul rest in peace. God bless

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  12. Praying for you and your family Lindsey-
    Jamie

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  13. I am so sorry for your loss. Your grandma sounded like a wonderful lady and you were blessed to have her in your life.

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  14. Sorry to hear about your grandma*prayers to you and your family

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  15. Lindsey, I'm so sorry to hear about Grandma Beans passing, but thankful that it was not a long ordeal...although I'm sure the days seemed endless. Thankful to hear you had the couple of amazing days at the end when she showed that spunk and spirit. Thank you for sharing her with us in your words and picture, in this post and over the years in your Florida adventures. She sounds like an amazing woman, but you've captured the memories in pix, recorded and most importantly in your heart. I will keep you and your family in prayer in the days and weeks to come. Laura from Columbus.

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  16. So sorry to hear about your grandmother.

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  17. I am so sorry for your loss.

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  18. I'm so sorry for your loss! She was a beautiful lady!
    Peace and love to you and your family.
    ~ella

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  19. I always enjoyed hearing about your Florida trips on the blog. I am so very sorry to hear about the loss of your grandma. She sounds like such an inspirational woman and you were very blessed to have her in your life.

    Sending good thoughts to you and your family.

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  20. My serious condolences! I kept checking back all week to see if you had updated, and this sad news is not how I hoped you'd return. Your post was lovely, though - thank you for sharing your memories of her!
    What a great smile she had.

    Keeping you and your family in my heart.

    Brittany

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  21. Condolences from an Ohio/Florida thrift shop girl. I loved reading about your times together; thank you for sharing them, as well as the great pics!

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  22. My heart and thoughts are with you and your loved ones. Thank you for sharing an insight of such a beautiful soul.

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  23. I am so sorry to hear you lost your grandma Lindsey. It sounds like she was dearly loved and will be dearly missed as well.

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  24. your grandma really does sound like she was an amazing person. Condolences to you and your family.

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  25. I am so terribly sorry to hear about the loss of your beloved Grandma. She sounds like a wonderful, sassy, and spunky lady! <3 Hugs from California, Alyssa

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  26. What a touching tribute to an amazing woman! Her legacy will live on! Very sorry for your loss and will lift you and your family up in my prayers. I have loved your blog for years. It is such a blessing that you have been so close to her.

    Doris

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  27. I'm so sorry for your loss. I remember your instagram pictures from your most recent trip. She definitely did seem like an amazing lady.

    Amy Ann
    Straight A Style

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