In memory of my grandmother

Elsie June Byers-Aleo

March 20, 1923 - March 19, 2005

I am very thankful that I had the opportunity to be with my Grandmother in her last moments of her journey here on earth. I was blessed to have had the experience to watch my feisty, bold, and adventurous Grandmother progress through the stages of brain and lung cancer.

My grandmother is one of the main reasons that my life has drastically changed. Since the moment that she has left my earthly life, I know that she has been looking down and watching over me and observing the progression that I have made in my life. I was a hurt, self centered, wounded, bitter individual and now I have compassion, selflessness, understanding and the urge to do what ever I can to make a difference to others.

A month before my grandmother passed, we were talking and I was sitting on her bed, I said to her, Grandma when you finally get to meet Jesus, can you please do me a favor? Will you please ask him what it is that I need to do to change my life? She said yes, I would ask him for you. She said to me that she would find a way to tell me and since the moment she has left me, my life started on a very intense emotional and spiritual journey of change and I have not been the same since.

I remember the day that she went home to be with Jesus. A nurse named Paula called me at 12:10 in the afternoon and told me, I would suggest that you get down to the home; she does not have much time left. When I got to the home, you could see that she was declining and that it would not be much time until she would pass.

This was my first real experience with someone that I loved leaving me and dying in front of me. For the last two hours of her life, I laid next to her, holding her, I cried harder than I ever have in my life. I thought of all the pain and hurt that I had encountered in my life and also the people that I have hurt. I thought about one day the role would be switched and I would be lying in a bed and someone would be grieving over me. I knew that it was not only a defining moment in my life but it was time to revaluate my journey.

When I went to my grandmothers calling hours I was truly blessed. My pastor during this time Raymond E. Allen Sr. his wife Jeannie Allen and my friend Kathy Pierce showed up to the calling hours and I come to find out that my friend Kathy was actually my cousin. Her husband was related to my grandmother.

I would like to thank the following for all that they had done, not only to help me, but also to help my Grandmother. She asked me to continue to leave a legacy for her. I have kept my promise. To this day I still visit the nursing home in which she lived her last days. I go back week after week doing what I can to make a difference for any individual who is currently residing in the home that is in need of companionship.

Special thanks to:

• My cousin Cheryl Kay: Thank you for all that you have done for our Grandparents. I appreciate you. I know hard you worked for our family. I would also like to thank you for following through and keeping your promises to Grandma. I admire you for staying strong when obstacles were against you.
• Aunt Patty, Jane, Debbie: I appreciate the time that you took out our of your schedule to help my grandmother.
• For my father and other family members and friends thank you for taking your time to do what you could to make grandmas last days her best.
• Paula: Thank you for remembering me on grandma's last day and keeping your promise.
• Melissa: I am glad it was you who was there to tell me that she was gone.
• Rebecca: the hospice nurse that was honest with me and helped me to make the decision not to leave and for giving me the courage to lay next to her and not leave her side and tell my Grandmother goodbye.
• My mother: Thank you for taking time out of her life to help, I am glad that you were there.
• Pastor Raymond E. Allen Sr and his beautiful wife Jeanne: Thank you for giving of your time and for encouraging me. You blessed me so much with your presence at my grandmother’s calling hours and during this time you barely knew me.
• Kathy Pierce: Thank you for giving of your time and blessing me at my grandmothers calling hours, I am so blessed that we now know that we are family.
• Cousin Jessica: Thank you for coming and helping your mom and I have the burial for Grandma that she deserved.
• My very special thanks to all the employees and volunteers from October 2004 - Present at Washington Square Nursing Home - Warren, Ohio. Your hard work does not go unnoticed.
• And finally to all the wonderful residents and their families that I have met since 2004 at Washington Square Nursing home. I am so thankful that God had placed you in my path. You have become a part of my life and I am grateful to have had the privilege to spend time with you. You have blessed me beyond measure. Thank you.