Originally published at National Catholic Register
Until the end, Grandma delighted in the little things in her own sweet way.
My grandma Mary Pat Anderson lived into her 98th year and returned to her Lord on the great feast of All Souls’ Day.
Her life was punctuated by a long, fruitful marriage, a lively home, a legacy of children and grandchildren, and a remarkable devotion to prayer, service, philanthropy and joy.
Married to my grandpa for 54 years, their union reflected their love and self-sacrifice. During their years of wedded bliss, the couple raised 14 children together. Later, their love multiplied even more, welcoming 55 grandchildren into the fold — one to bless each year of marriage they’d come to share, and another on top of that, because God is never outdone in generosity!
Though she was a “stay-at-home-mom” committed to lovingly raising her children, Grandma was hardly confined to the home. Her social calendar was bursting, and she often participated in community and parish events and spent time reading great literature and seeing live shows. Each morning, she made her way to Mass, and each evening, dinner was on the table promptly at 6 p.m. There was nary a moment wasted!
Full of
