My Memorial Speech for Grandma Arlene...WE LOVE YOU GMA

Let me begin by saying Thank You for all of you being here at my Grandmother's Service Today. It means a lot to me and my family especially my Grandfather. I had a chance to spend some of my best years of my life with my Grandparents. For the first 3 years of my life I spent my days being pampered by my Grandma. She always would make me the Special Roman Meal toast with butter, a slice of cheese and maybe some fruit while I watch my morning shows like the Brady Bunch and Reading Rainbow. Those were the days. So many lil snacks and meals I owe all to my Grandma. From her famous Wheatena & Cream of Wheat to the All meat Spaghetti sauce and to die for Hamburgers. I can't help but remember her as an excellent chef. She would tell me, "Tee, Do you want some Ovaltine almost as if plucked from the commercial. We would have done the commercial better of course. She always made our Favorite Cape Verdean meals like Machupa, Kanche and Gufong. What I miss about her the most is her uncanny giving and servant heart. You couldn't leave her house without getting something. She would say You Guys take some fruit, Have a banana, you know Tee likes his bananas. Here's some soup for Camille and the kids. Then there was Christmas. From the pecans and various nuts, to the tangerines and Deodorant stuffed inside our stockings. To the countless pairs of socks and Boxers. Grandma always had something up her sleeve. She even waited 2 years to give us a doll she bought for Baby Meara after finding out Eli was a boy. So thoughtful and caring mixed with a soft, kindhearted soul she always displayed. We sat and discussed the other day about how none of us have any bad memories of her. Almost solidifying her presence with us after life. I can remember all of her old country Portuguese sayings such as I creda and confiad quoytad and Meeum. My sons Tre and Eli always raided the cracker bins and always asked for her Peanut Butter & Jelly with marshmallow creme sandwiches. She always had time to watch cartoons with the boys in the back room. She loved solving jigsaw puzzles and buying her newest puzzle with great landscapes on them. Grandma loved the simple things in life Like sending people letters with news clippings of articles she thought interesting. I remember her brewing Iced Tea or making hand squeezed lemonade on Hot summer days. Did I mention she made the best Banana Bread. Back to Grandma. When grandpa got sick she immediately took over not letting life get her down. She was a feisty lady that made up her mind and stuck to it. She told me about the olden days on the cranberry bogs and how she was smitten with grandpa while they were dating. The funniest thing I remember about them dating was that my grandpa would always bring her chocolates and maybe some flowers when they would go out. He'd always bring her almond joy, but she never told him until after they got married that she didn't like almonds. No other person in this world could love like Grandma. She was the sweetest lil lady to set foot on this earth. I've cried tears of sadness and tears of joy for this woman and wouldn't take anyone back. She will be kept in our hearts 'til we meet again and will always be loved forever by her family. I love you grandma. We love you grandma, Arlene Baptiste and we will celebrate your life until we too shall pass. In her last days she told me this, and I hope we all can remember this. She said " Tee always try and do the right thing, keep doing right". Arlene Baptiste awoke April 13th, 1934 and went to rest with her father on my brother's birthday September 21, 2009. Rest in Paradise "Mommy"