Goodbye Grandmom

My Grandmom Sminkey (Dorothy) passed away peacefully in her sleep last night. She was 101. The last time I visited her was on her 100 birthday in September of 2012 in the nursing home in Rochester New York. Her vision and hearing were going, but she was still the happy go lucky person I'll remember her to be.
I have fond memories as a child visiting Grandmom and Pop at their home in Audabon NJ. Playing ping pong in the basement, seeing Pop's trains and of course watching the slide displays of their many travels. She was a wonderful cook too and feed us well when we visited..
Shortly after Pop retired they spent winters in Florida and would occasionally stop through Bowie for visits on the return trip north. She always looked so healthy and tan on the trip back north.  I imagine I should thank her for my healthy complexion that allows me to tan in the summer months. Everyone on my Mother's side of the family is so fair skinned.
After a number of years of going back and forth they decided to make Jensen Beach, Florida their permanent home. They were involved with the community church and it's Thrift shop and had many happy years there until Pop passed away in 1993. They had been married for 62 years. I was always struck with how happy the two of them seemed together. Not to serious, laughing, having fun. It was like they were meant for one another. There devotion, caring and putting one another first was a great example for all of us. This picture was taken the next year when I took my family to Florida for vacation. After we did Disney we stayed a couple days with Grandmom in Jensen Beach. We'll never forget Grandmom driving us around in Pop's big Oldsmobile showing us the sites in Jensen Beach. She had quite a heavy foot and gave Maureen quite the scare in the passenger seat watching the mailboxes nearly miss the car as we sped on by. She really missed Pop at that time too, talked about him like he was still there. It was really sweet.
A few years later she sold the house and moved into a retirement facility. There she was able to swim everday, which was something else she loved to do. I think that's what kept her so strong for all these years.
I wish a fond farewell to my Grandmom and say a prayer that she finds eternal peace in heaven next to her beloved Loys.