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Valerie posted a condolence
I wrote this for my Pomfret Prep application:
“MY GREAT GRANDMA BOO BOO”
Beatrice Danielson, my great-grandmother, made a large impact on my life. Grandma “Boo-Boo” lived from April 21, 1910 to September 10, 2006. She worked, drove, paid bills, and actively lived her life until about four months before she died. She was raised with 10 other children. One was mentally disabled. Her mother wouldn’t put him in an institution. She lived in Pomfret Center, right across the street from the Pomfret School. During her lifetime she saw many things invented that we have today and take for granted. I would like to take this opportunity to tell you more about our relationship, more about her, and about how I felt about her.
Our relationship you would think would never end. It still hasn’t. I talk to her almost every day in my prayers. Everything around me reminds me of her. My family and I went to her Pomfret Center home on many Christmas Eves and New Year’s Eves. We would always sit on the couch and I would just fall asleep in her lap. She would hum my favorite song in my ear. She hummed it just the way I liked it. She always told me never to feel down on myself because to her, I was everything. One of her favorite things to say to me whenever I walked in the door was “Oh dear, it’s Valerie! I hope my little girl hasn’t changed because I like her just the way that she is. But she sure did grow! She’s taller than her old Grandma Boo!” I miss that saying. I always looked forward to hearing those words float into my ears, dancing out of her mouth. I miss her, period.
Because she was born in 1910, she saw most of the things in this period of time being invented. She saw things invented like: the zipper, ball point pen, radio, pace-maker, microwaves, TV, cable, the first transistor radio, copy machines, TV satellite, credit cards (although she never used one), the first nuclear weapon was built and tested, scotch tape, insulin, and so much more. My great-grandmother lived through the depression. She saw the building of the Empire State building in 1931 when she was 21 years old. She had two children at the ages of six and eight when World War II was taking place in 1939. The Woman’s Suffrage movement continued to make gains as women obtained full voting rights in the USA in 1919, and women begin to enter the workplace in larger numbers. She herself worked as a maid for fifty years for two families in Pomfret and Woodstock. She saw the Korean War and the Vietnam War. In her lifetime, she was able to see The Beatles, Elvis, Martin Luther King, John F. Kennedy, and so many famous actors, actresses, musicians and politicians. She lived her life during sixteen of the forty-three presidents of the United States. In addition, her husband had a stroke in 1979 and she took care of him for a year while he stayed in bed and he died a year later. She took care of her oldest son for three years as he lie dying of asthma and emphysema. She also took care of her daughter, my mother’s mother, for seven years while she died from the same illness. She also took care of her brother Philip with the help of her sisters until he died in the 80’s at the age of 63. You might have noticed that she always gives, but never ONCE did I ever state that someone did something for her. That was her only flaw. She would never let you give her something or help her in any way without paying you, or giving you something in return. She never let anyone experience the joy that one gets from doing something for her for a change.
She was like my best friend, like a joyous Christmas card I’d receive every time I saw her. I’d give her hugs so hard that she’d start laughing hysterically and laugh until she would “toot” and we’d all start having a laughing fit. She had such a sense of humor that I would always make sure I didn’t eat because I knew I’d be laughing that day. It was always so cute how she did things her own little way, such as: she sat on a pillow in her car, how she sat down, how she ate, how she wrote backhand, what she watched on TV, the way she loved George W. Bush and Johnny Damon, the things she’d laugh about, and her laugh. When my mother told me that she was ill and wasn’t breathing correctly, I was scared. I was crying because I was afraid to see her sick because in fact she was never sick. She wouldn’t let my parents take her to the hospital. But, one day, it was so bad, that my parents just took her without permission. She probably would’ve died that night if my parents hadn’t saved her. They gave her an extra two months of life. She was at Day Kimball Hospital, then transferred to U-Mass, then she was doing so well that they brought her to Webster Manor. She was almost at the point that she could go home. But, my mom arrived to go visit her one day, and they had reported that she had just died 15 minutes before my mom got to the Manor. Giving her two months of life was the VERY FIRST TIME THAT SOMEONE HAD DONE SOMETHING FOR HER WITHOUT SOMETHING IN RETURN.
As you can see, my great-grandma “Boo-Boo” changed my life. I look at life differently now. When I’m mad or upset, whomever I’m talking to, I picture her standing right there, and I slowly begin to calm down. She made my life smooth, not raspy and bumpy. In my eyes, she’s what made the world go round. She taught me that life is about giving to those you love and never stop. Show the people you care about how much you love them every day and never cease because some day you won’t get the chance. I never thought I’d ever see that day with Grandma Boo Boo because I always thought I would be able to show her I loved her forever.
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Jo Ann posted a condolence
Dear Gram;
Today is 4/15 and on 4/21 we would have shared another birthday together. It's really raining out making it a very dreary Sunday. This is the kind of day where we would come by to visit you as usual. I miss our Sunday visits. It's really hard to get used to you being gone. You were the best Grandmother. Valerie and Marisa miss you so much also. We love and miss you Boo Boo.
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Morgan Mead posted a condolence
Granmda Boo, I love you so much. Im very glad that you are in a happier place now! Even though I miss you very much I know that now you are happier! You lived a great life. Spending those last couple of weeeks with you in the hospital were awesome yet sad kowing what was going on and not knowing what could have happened. I really wish I had something besides memories to remember you. I have your pictures too, so thats awesome! Can you tell my Mimi I say hi? Tell her that I cant crochete without her because I dont know how to close it and that it makes me want to cry because the thing I am in the middle of making was for her. But anyways I LOVE YOU!
Love always,
Your great granddaughter Morgan</b></font><br><br>
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Halie Danielson posted a condolence
grandma boo, i miss you so much. tell my dad i said hi</b></font><br><br>
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Mrs. Newell D.Hale posted a condolence
Beatrice always made everyone feel so welcome to Tyrone Farm, especially
the children! She made a lasting impression on them.
She will be missed.</b></font><br><br>
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Jo Ann Gerardi-Voccio posted a condolence
I will miss Grandma Boo Boo very much and can hardly comprehend the reality of her death. I always thought we’d be celebrating her 100th birthday with Willard Scott on the Today Show! Since my own mother died in 1997 Grandma and I have shared many holidays and moments visiting. She has become for me such a role model as a parent, grandparent and friend. She took care of her husband in the last year of his life and her son in his final years. She stayed with my mother in Danielson and took care of her the last years of her life. She symbolizes for me and my family the sacrifice you make for those you love. Life wasn’t always easy for her and whatever mistakes she may have made in her life I believe she more than made up for it with the way she treated every person in her life. She was the most humble person I have ever known. She had no need for material goods and had exactly what she needed…nothing more and nothing less. She never said a bad thing about anyone but rather would not say anything than say anything negative. She welcomed anyone who wanted to come and visit. She made you feel as though you were so special to her. She made everyone feel as though they were her favorite! She had such energy for a person her age! Valerie and Marisa absolutely adored their great-grandma Boo. She knew how to communicate with them, play with them and laugh together! I am sure God has made a beautiful place for her with Him and all her family who have gone before her. May she live in His everlasting glory! She certainly deserves it! I love you Gram!!</b></font><br><br>
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Janet Shay posted a condolence
My condolances to the entire Danielson Family. Beatrice will be missed very much. In my short time knowing and working with her at Tyrone Farm we became friends and I was very lucky to have known her. Beatrice was always happy and fun to be with. I will miss her.</b></font><br><br>
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Anthony & Christine Gerardi posted a condolence
I am so glad that I got a last time to visit Grandma Boo last March while on a business trip to NJ. The visit was so cute because I was the last person she thought would visit since she knew I lived in FLA. That made it all the more special. My wife Chris loved you Boo like her own Grandmother. She loved your spunkiness and marveled at your energy and youthfulness even at age 90something. It truly was the secret to your long life! I am happy for you now that you are with all your loved ones. Say Hi to my Mom for me! We love you and I will always remember when I was young the pancakes you made for me and Grandpa Gilbert that day we had a pancake eating contest. I don't remember who won but I feel I did because I have the memories! The boys will always remember the Easter Egg Hunts because you never remembered how many eggs you hid which kept them looking for hours in case there was one more to find. We Love You! God Bless!</b></font><br><br>
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Nancy Weiss posted a condolence
I knew Gilbert, Sr. better than Beatrice, but I always appreciated her energy, wit and enthusiasm for life. The obituary didn't mention the many years she wrote a column about Pomfret that everyone read with delight. She worked hard, loved her family and added to our world.
Jim and I extend our sympathy to her family, especially to Jane, who seemed to have the best relationship with a mother-in-law I have ever seen!
Sincerely,
Nancy</b></font><br><br>
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Jim and Anne Milliard posted a condolence
We are happy to join in the celebration of a long and productive life, especially of a baseball fan. May your eternal journey include another win for your favorites from New England.</b></font><br><br>
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Peter Gerardi & Family posted a condolence
TO: Uncle Carl, Aunt Ruth, Aunt Jane and the rest of the Danielson and Shaw family members...Although it is sad that we have lost such a sweet, loving and caring lady we can rejoice in that she lived a full healthy active life for 96 years! Grandma "Boo-Boo" was an extraordinary person that was ALWAYS a joy to be around. Life's best therapy is when I laugh and Grandma made me laugh and brought joy to my life whenever I had the opportunity to be with her. I will always treasure my time with her.
TO: Grandma "Boo-Boo:" I-we will miss you very much. You are in a peaceful paradise now enjoying the company of Grandpa Gilbert, Uncle Sonny, Mom, Paul, Butch, your sisters and the rest of your family. May God bless and keep you always. I will NEVER forget you.
All our Love Always,
Pete, Kathy, Scott, Chris and Matt Gerardi</b></font><br><br>