My grandma Shirley passed away when I was five years old.  I have a lot of memories of her, and think of her often.  My grandma Jo always lived at a great distance from us, so we saw her maybe once a year.  She's still hanging in there at 94 years old. 

When I married Brendan, I married into a huge, loving family.  They did great things like having family reunions and showing up to graduations, baptisms, missions, and all the marriages.  His grandma Mary and grandpa Howard became mine.  They treated me instantly as one of their own. 

The past fourteen years have been filled with great memories and many touching moments.  My children feel like they belong to something big and wonderful.  They have family to look up to, to pattern their lives after, and to seek out for comfort and inspiration. 

All of this because Howard and Mary decided to make  family a priority.  My memories don't go back with them as far as my husbands.  But what I have, I cherish.  I owe so much to these two wonderful people.

Howard went home to heaven a few years ago.  And yesterday, Mary joined him.  I imagine the reunion to be sweet, as she will also be with her son, Tim for the first time in over thirty years.

Our family has shed many tears, and I know more will come.  We want you to know, Mary and Howard, that you accomplished a great work with my family.

Thank you, for everything.