A True Matriarch

Sorry for my delay in posts... as most of you know my Great Grandma Noble passed away last week. I went back to Wacousta, Michigan, for the viewings and the funeral. I drove up on Sunday morning, was supposed to drive back to Cincinnati on Monday afternoon but the weather wouldn't allow it. So after a stop over in Ft. Wayne (thanks to my Step Aunt Linda and Step Uncle Bob) I made it home safe and sound on Tuesday afternoon.

In any case, my Great Grandma was an amazing woman. The first thing I think of is how she was a true Matriarch of the Noble family. Her husband, Rollin, passed away before I was born and she carried the torch for the family. She is survived by 4 children, 13 grandchildren, 30 great grandchildren and three great great grandchildren!

I want to share some of my favorite memories of my Great Grandma Noble here.

• She always made pistachio pudding and I learned to like it.
• I remember braiding the tassels that acted as a skirt around the bottom of her couch.
• I remember making forts inside her living room with sheets and whatever else she had around.
• I also remember making a fort outside in the bushes near the side door.
• She had such a big appetite! I took her and Grandma Noble to Wendy's for dinner when I lived in Michigan in 2003. I had raved about the chicken ranch sandwich and so they suggested I take them there to try it. Great Grandma ate the entire thing - no crumbs remained - and her order of fries! I couldn't believe it. She was 91 at the time. :)
• She used to send me flattened flowers from her garden. It wouldn't be surprising to get a violet in the mail... or the leaves off the big pine tree in her yard when the leaves were turning colors.
• I remember playing "telephone" using the two pipes on the cement block just off her side door/deck.
• She was the nicest lady you'll ever meet, and very selfless. At her funeral the pastor mentioned how many people had made comments over her lifetime that she's as close to a saint as anyone has known. Then my dad shared a story about how Great Grandma walked out onto the ice over Brevort Lake one winter... and the pastor said "Wow! She truly walked on water."

Five people spoke at the funeral, and it was great to learn more and more about my Great Grandma through all the stories. They ranged from how adventurous she was, how she lived to serve Christ, and funny stories from friends. Overall, it was much more a celebration of this wonderful woman we were so blessed to know. God bless you, Great Grandma Noble. And thank you.