The Passing of a Grandmother

My friends, this morning I write to you with a sad heart, but an amazing peace. This morning, as we woke, we learned of the passing of Matt’s grandmother, Evelynne Estelle Dodson Bahn. 

The words of Horatio G. Spafford are on repeat in my headphones this morning. 

When sorrows like sea billows roll;

Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say,

It is well, it is well with my soul.

But, Lord, ’tis for Thee, for Thy coming we wait,

The sky, not the grave, is our goal;

Oh, trump of the angel! Oh, voice of the Lord!

Blessed hope, blessed rest of my soul!

This morning our dearly loved Grandma Bahn’s soul has rested, she has reached her goal, she is with our heavenly father. Even though the ugly cry is emerging as I type those words, I know this an amazing day for her. I knew the first thing I wanted to do this morning was read her words that she wrote in a memory book for Matt about fourteen years ago. 

I know that is exactly what she is doing today. As we go about our day, as we sit in tears for some of it, I know that Evelynne Bahn is rejoining the loved ones who have gone before her. Her daughters, her husband, her parents and countless family members that have gone before her. 

I first met Evelynne the Summer before giving birth to Bekah. She had planned to travel to our wedding, but stayed behind to help Aunt Barbara through her cancer treatment. I laugh a bit, at the warnings I was given about her. She was rumored to be a true spitfire, but I was assured that she had “mellowed with age”. I felt the same instant bond with her as I have the other Bahn women.

I feel in love with Evelynne’s stories instantly. When we traveled to Cape Girdereau (in the year after Bekah's birth), the town where she started her family and raised her family, I knew I wanted her to take us on the grand tour. She did not disappoint as we drove her through the roads on this Missouri town, she had a story for just about every corner. I spent the afternoon sitting on the floor of her apartment flipping through albums of her life - her wedding, her homes, her babies. I soaked up as much as I could. 

Even her late eighties, Evelynne was the most elegant hostess. We made it to her home probably was past her bedtime, but when we arrived she had a full spread of food and dessert (blueberry scones she got from cafeteria of her retirement home) laid out for us. She so did not need to be going to all that trouble for us, but the joy just oozed out of her to be able to host us. I love those memories of those days we got to spend with her on her turf. 

While days like this are never easy and there will be morning in the days to come, we sit with the knowledge the Evelynne had a full life, she lived well, she loved her family with the fullness of her heart and she has left our family with an amazing legacy. 

Evelynne believed nothing was more important than, “My faith in God and work to the world to become a better place to live”. I know I am not alone in the feeling, that Evenlynne’s time in my life (though short) made this world a better place. 

Post by my father in-law, about his mother: https://dlbpandp.wordpress.com/2016/05/30/evelynne-bahn-may-30-2016/

Thank for your prayers. Please keep Matt and his family in your prayers as the days progress.