February 1, 1912 - August 16, 2000

Introduction

I would like to say a few words of remembrance in honor of my Grandmother, Kathryn Jessen, and will then ask others to share their thoughts as well. It has been very sad to see Grandma Jessen decline over the past few weeks, especially the last month, which she spent in the hospital, as the inevitability of her death became more apparent. Her lymphoma took a great toll on her physically and emotionally, and was unrelenting, as she gradually lost her strength and ability to care for herself. As you all know, she lost her struggle with that illness this week, and is now thankfully at peace.

Warmth and kindness

For those of us whom she left behind, Grandma left a great void where her cheerfulness and many delightful attributes once stood. She was loved by many and shared her love with all of us. I will greatly miss her smile and her kiss on my cheek, which she gave in greeting whenever we would meet or part. Her warm and good-natured personality were constantly present and always made me feel at home. The warmth of her personality shines through very clearly in the many photos we keep of her, and in the letters she wrote me as I was growing up. Grandma always loved children, and always took great care and interest in the events of my life. We had many wonderful times together. Sara, Laura, Peter and I would spend summers with Grandma and Grandpa Jessen, which were always filled with good times. She was always arranging barbecues, games, movies, trips to summer festivals and fairs, to the swimming pool, or to an amusement park, and we all had a great time. She later wrote to me often while I was away at college, on foreign exchange in Europe, and at medical school. Her obvious affection for Ivy, and later Ren were especially touching to me. She also loved her other great-grandchildren very much; Sam and Grant, Anna and Dana, and Skyler. She always remembered everyone's birthday, and there was always a funny card or a gift in the mail. She sent me this one: "Doctors say that celebrating your birthday with friends can positively affect both your physical and mental well-being...personally I always thought it was the beer!"

Grandma was a kind and genuinely caring person, not only with her family, but with others as well, and as a result, she made many friends throughout her life, both here and back home in Wisconsin.

Tenacity and Independence

I was very proud of Grandma Jessen for her courage, tenacity and independence. This really shone through after Grandpa Jack passed away in 1983, as she was left by herself in Milwaukee at the age of 71, with a large household to maintain, and without any immediate relatives there to help. She had relied on Grandpa for many years in various ways, which among other things included the repairs and upkeep of the place on North 68th St. in Wauwatosa, which was a stately but aging brick house. At first, she wrote of selling the house within a few months, but then rallied to keep it, finding tenants to help share the expenses, handymen to tend to the yard and the odd jobs, a mason to fix the falling chimney, and many other challenges. She had to deal with the usual thugs who try to victimize the elderly through fraud, neglect and even outright robbery. Through all this she stayed in Milwaukee for another five years. She moved to Wenatchee in 1988, and after a brief stay in a retirement home here, decided that she was able to do more for herself, so she bought a two-bedroom condominium here on Castlerock St. She spent the next 9 years there and really flourished. She maintained a beautiful home which was a pleasure to visit, always having a snack or a meal for visitors to enjoy, and a smile and a kind word to share. She had an active social life, and really enjoyed driving around town in her old Pontiac, in which she would go visit friends, of whom she made many, or go to the senior center, attend church or community concerts. She also loved to get a Blizzard at the DQ, go out for dinner, or just to go for a Sunday drive around the town or countryside. She maintained this lifestyle well into her 80's, until her arthritis finally began to take its toll. She fought hard to keep active and maintain her independence, even undergoing back surgery in Seattle a few years ago. She did remarkably well for a long time.

Sense of humor

People might not always think of it, but Grandma Jessen really had a great sense of humor. She always had a certain twinkle in her eye, and was ready to poke fun at things and people around her, and even her own problems. In 1983 a few months after grandpa died, she wrote: "It is a beautiful sunny day today, about 70û and the leaves are turning all colors. I suppose it won't be long and they'll all be laying on the ground and needing raking." She enjoyed a good laugh, and would often make jokes in the cards and letters she would send to us. Here are a couple of other examples: "I talked to Marilyn and Peter. They are fine, also busy. Peter got a job working Friday night and Saturday, dishing out ice cream in an ice cream store. He'll really get a strong right arm doing that. Maybe he'll have to go in for arm wrestling. Ha ha?". And finally, sometimes she was downright silly: "Dear grandson Eric,

I'm writing this slow because I know that you can't read very fast. I don't live where we did when you left. I read in the paper that most accidents happen within 20 miles of home, so we moved. This place has a washing machine. The first day I put four shirts in it. I pulled the chain and I haven't seen my shirts since. The coat you want for me to send you - your Aunt Sue said it would be a little too heavy to send in the mail with the big heavy buttons on it, so she cut off the buttons and put them in the pocket.

I'll write more later,

Love and Happy Birthday,

Grandma Kathryn

p.s.- Hope by the time you need it, there'll be a pill to take, so you won't get this goofy."

Closing

I was very lucky and blessed to have had such a kind, gentle, and wonderful person for a grandmother, one who took such a keen interest in me and made me a part of her life, even across great distances and time. I will miss Grandma Jessen dearly, and will always cherish her memory. I only wish she could be here with us today to share this celebration of her life. She will be with me in spirit forever. Good-bye Grandma, I love you.