She was a mother, a grandmother, a great grandmother, and a woman of God. She was a spiritual person, a loving woman and cared for nothing more than her wonderful family who always surrounded her. My mother and I visited her very often these last few months, and it has been a hard road. Caring for her almost 24/7 and making sure her every second was a happy one. My Nana loved when we came to visit the 3+ times every week, she called those the "normal days," and loved every second we were there.

My Nana was an Italian woman who did not like Italian food that much, because she got sick of it growing up. She was a woman who never learned to drive, because she liked to walk out and about the city instead. She was a woman who loved watching the morning Church Masses on her T.V, and prayed almost a hundred times a day. She loved to send and receive hand written letters, and when she sent one it would be covered with stickers and prayers. I remember visiting her apartment from when I was younger and still today, and she would always write down the passages of every Church Mass she watched, and then read them to me right when I came to visit. She would tell me the meaning, and talk about this little passage for an hour. As a 7-year-old I sat there almost falling asleep, but as I think about it now I see my Nana as a woman of faith, who had passion for her beliefs and the will of God. That is a beautiful thing.

I have had a pair of her rosary beads by my bedside for years, she had tons of them, but this was a special one. Not only that, but a necklace with a Mother Mary medal on the end, she loved that one the most and gave it to me a year or so ago. I have kept it safe in my possession ever since, I felt honored to be chosen to have this special token my Nana loved so much — she trusted me with it.

My Nana was about to turn 90, on July 7, 2016. I saw her two days before her passing and I reminded her of this special occasion coming up, her birthday. Not only that, but the last day seeing her was the first day she met her great granddaughter, my niece Scarlett — in addition to my mom as always and Kristen, my sister and mother of Scarlett. My Nana met her for the first time, this little 3-month-old baby, and the first thing she said was, "I love you, I am your great Nana, I love you!" She was overjoyed and so happy to have met this little bundle of joy, and as always, Scarlett showed her beautiful smile for her wonderful great Nana. That was the thing about my Nana, she had a space in her heart for anyone, and after only seconds of encountering this family member for the first time, the first words that came out of her mouth were, "I love you."

My Nana had so much love in her heart. She loved my Mom and I saw her light up every time we came to visit. We always snuck her ice cream cups from the nurses fridges, because Nana always loved her sweets. She loved watching the daily news, because she thought the upcoming election was a funny thing. Most of all, she loved her family and we loved her. It will be weird when I no longer see her favorite nightgowns in the laundry, it will be weird not hearing her laugh, it will be weird not getting a birthday card this August with the words "Love Nana", and it will be weird not having her here right next to me. But, I know my Nana earned her spot in the gates of Heaven. She is there with her sisters Mary, Serena and Mattina, her brother Joseph, her husband James, her daughter Mary and even her favorite Cat Catherine. Surrounded by family wherever she is, and I know she is watching down on me right now as I write. Because, if she could ask one thing of God, it would be to have her favorite pair of reading glasses so she could see us more clearly down here, the ones with the string on the ends.

I will always love you Nana, and remember you in my heart always and forever.

Love,

Lauren