Nana Banana

Right before Thanksgiving, my grandmother, Mildred Gangeri, passed away at home surrounded by her family. Thanks to the amazing people at Hospice, she was able to be comfortable in her own home and spend time with her family. When she realized she was in her final days, she said "I want my grandchildren." We had a family dinner like you've never seen! 28 people in a two bedroom apartment with easily 20 trays of food! We crammed into my grandparents home to celebrate Nana's journey and to share some laughs. What a day it was! We took a picture of the whole family that now sits in a frame on the coffee table. My grandfather proudly showed that picture to all who came to share their condolences upon her passing.

I've taken some time off from writing to get my thoughts together and in that time, I've reflected on who my grandmother was and how she shaped our family. I'll be sharing some thoughts on the impact she has had on my life. I hope you find something in my posts that strengthens your relationship with your family because, at the end of the day, these are the people who will lift you up, dust you off, and fill you with love. A strong, supportive, healthy family is the key to raising successful children. Though I enjoy my work as an educator, I've been drawn to supporting families in the home setting for this reason. My hope is my work and my writing will help others reap the benefits I've been blessed to have by being Mildred's granddaughter and a member of my family.