Grandmother Kraftson
Memorial Service Speech
September 5th, 2009
by Donald W. Kraftson (oldest grandson)
Most of my memories of my dear Grandmother come from the times that I spent with her at my Grandparent’s home on Malin Road in Newtown Square. Since we lived close to their home I was often over for special events such as Christmas and weddings but I was especially fortunate to spend a lot of time there when my parents traveled.
I remember Grandmother in the kitchen where she was much of time sustaining her family with delicious food – she baked the best cakes and she would let me lick the spoons and the mixer beaters, a very special treat. When she baked bread, the house would fill with a wonderful smell of yeast, and I remember that she would tell me to be quiet so the bread would not collapse. I remember that she peeled oranges with a sharp knife and could complete one without breaking a perfect swirl of skin. She would leave part of the white pulp on the outside, as that was good for digestion, and then cut them into slices so that they looked like a wagon wheel. I still eat my oranges the same way. She made me the best scrambled eggs and wheat toast for breakfast. And when I sat at the breakfast table we would work on memorizing the books of the Bible – one time when my parents were away for a long time, I finished memorizing them all and she gave me a Bible as a reward.
I remember Grandmother outside working in the garden with Grandfather planting and weeding caring for the tomatoes and squash which we would eventually eat. I remember her hanging the clothes on the clothesline, with wooden clips, to dry in the sun and wind – she would not use the clothes dryer unless it was raining. I remember her pushing me on the tree swing by the driveway and riding bikes with her.
I remember her reading with me every night before bed. The books we read filled my minds eye with pictures that could not be matched by the television. One of my most favorite books was The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe and I could not wait to read the next chapter with her.
I remember cutting up old rubber gloves with her and making them into rubber bands. When it was winter time we would always wear sweaters as the thermostat was set at 63. At 7pm when the phone rang, I remember her telling us not to answer it until it rang twice, as it was most likely Claudia signaling that she was ready to be picked up at the bus stop, and that would save a dime. I remember when I left a few drops of milk at the bottom of glass that she would make me drink them and I always obeyed, even though I didn’t like to drink those warm drops. Grandmother was very rarely upset with me but when I did do something that she didn’t approve of she would look at me with a frown but then she would smile telling me without words how much she loved me. She knew that I loved and respected her so much that punishment was not necessary only just a brief moment of unspoken understanding.
I remember that when I told her that I wanted to play on the football team at school that she said “well wouldn’t you rather play soccer, it’s much safer” and when I told her that football was the only game for me she would say “Ohhhh Donald”. One time when Claudia was in the front hallway getting ready to go out on a date, Grandmother lectured her about having too much blue eye shadow and mascara. “Poor Claudia”, I thought to myself.
I remember on holidays when the whole family would fill the living room’s furniture and floor to hear Grandmother and Grandfather narrate a slide show of their vacations. It was a very special and comforting time for me - sitting closely with family members in the dark and listening to their voices describe the scenery and people on the bright screen. I anticipated the next picture and as Grandfather pressed the remote and the carousel clicked to the next slide a whole new story would come to life in their words.
I remember climbing Mount Washington with my Grandparents and Aunts and Uncles and I remember stopping for lunch on a rock ledge. Grandmother had packed sandwiches and tomatoes. We ate the tomatoes, whole, like apples and I’ve never had a better one.
I remember after my sister Beth was born in February 1980, Grandmother was taking care of my sister, Meg, and me at our house. We both followed the Winter Olympics in Lake Placid closely - especially the Men’s hockey team. The day they played the Russian team, they game was not televised live, but we heard on the radio that the US team had won and we heartily rejoiced, not totally believing it until later on that evening when we got to watch it together on TV in a collective state of joy.
Once Grandmother took me to a toy store in Havertown where she was buying a present for another child’s birthday party. For some reason, despite being mesmerized by some of the toys, I knew not to ask Grandmother for one. After she had purchased the present and we were walking towards the door she looked at me perplexed. She said that she thought that for sure I would have asked for a toy and that if I had she would not have granted my request, but she then said that because I didn’t ask that I was allowed to pick one out and she would buy it for me. I picked a scuba diver and submarine and I loved her because she was so thoughtful.
While my Grandmother was very prudent and thrifty with material things she was lavish in her love and care for her family and the Lord.
Grandmother and Grandfather were truly the Salt of the Earth.
Memorial Service Speech
September 5th, 2009
by Donald W. Kraftson (oldest grandson)
Most of my memories of my dear Grandmother come from the times that I spent with her at my Grandparent’s home on Malin Road in Newtown Square. Since we lived close to their home I was often over for special events such as Christmas and weddings but I was especially fortunate to spend a lot of time there when my parents traveled.
I remember Grandmother in the kitchen where she was much of time sustaining her family with delicious food – she baked the best cakes and she would let me lick the spoons and the mixer beaters, a very special treat. When she baked bread, the house would fill with a wonderful smell of yeast, and I remember that she would tell me to be quiet so the bread would not collapse. I remember that she peeled oranges with a sharp knife and could complete one without breaking a perfect swirl of skin. She would leave part of the white pulp on the outside, as that was good for digestion, and then cut them into slices so that they looked like a wagon wheel. I still eat my oranges the same way. She made me the best scrambled eggs and wheat toast for breakfast. And when I sat at the breakfast table we would work on memorizing the books of the Bible – one time when my parents were away for a long time, I finished memorizing them all and she gave me a Bible as a reward.
I remember Grandmother outside working in the garden with Grandfather planting and weeding caring for the tomatoes and squash which we would eventually eat. I remember her hanging the clothes on the clothesline, with wooden clips, to dry in the sun and wind – she would not use the clothes dryer unless it was raining. I remember her pushing me on the tree swing by the driveway and riding bikes with her.
I remember her reading with me every night before bed. The books we read filled my minds eye with pictures that could not be matched by the television. One of my most favorite books was The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe and I could not wait to read the next chapter with her.
I remember cutting up old rubber gloves with her and making them into rubber bands. When it was winter time we would always wear sweaters as the thermostat was set at 63. At 7pm when the phone rang, I remember her telling us not to answer it until it rang twice, as it was most likely Claudia signaling that she was ready to be picked up at the bus stop, and that would save a dime. I remember when I left a few drops of milk at the bottom of glass that she would make me drink them and I always obeyed, even though I didn’t like to drink those warm drops. Grandmother was very rarely upset with me but when I did do something that she didn’t approve of she would look at me with a frown but then she would smile telling me without words how much she loved me. She knew that I loved and respected her so much that punishment was not necessary only just a brief moment of unspoken understanding.
I remember that when I told her that I wanted to play on the football team at school that she said “well wouldn’t you rather play soccer, it’s much safer” and when I told her that football was the only game for me she would say “Ohhhh Donald”. One time when Claudia was in the front hallway getting ready to go out on a date, Grandmother lectured her about having too much blue eye shadow and mascara. “Poor Claudia”, I thought to myself.
I remember on holidays when the whole family would fill the living room’s furniture and floor to hear Grandmother and Grandfather narrate a slide show of their vacations. It was a very special and comforting time for me - sitting closely with family members in the dark and listening to their voices describe the scenery and people on the bright screen. I anticipated the next picture and as Grandfather pressed the remote and the carousel clicked to the next slide a whole new story would come to life in their words.
I remember climbing Mount Washington with my Grandparents and Aunts and Uncles and I remember stopping for lunch on a rock ledge. Grandmother had packed sandwiches and tomatoes. We ate the tomatoes, whole, like apples and I’ve never had a better one.
I remember after my sister Beth was born in February 1980, Grandmother was taking care of my sister, Meg, and me at our house. We both followed the Winter Olympics in Lake Placid closely - especially the Men’s hockey team. The day they played the Russian team, they game was not televised live, but we heard on the radio that the US team had won and we heartily rejoiced, not totally believing it until later on that evening when we got to watch it together on TV in a collective state of joy.
Once Grandmother took me to a toy store in Havertown where she was buying a present for another child’s birthday party. For some reason, despite being mesmerized by some of the toys, I knew not to ask Grandmother for one. After she had purchased the present and we were walking towards the door she looked at me perplexed. She said that she thought that for sure I would have asked for a toy and that if I had she would not have granted my request, but she then said that because I didn’t ask that I was allowed to pick one out and she would buy it for me. I picked a scuba diver and submarine and I loved her because she was so thoughtful.
While my Grandmother was very prudent and thrifty with material things she was lavish in her love and care for her family and the Lord.
Grandmother and Grandfather were truly the Salt of the Earth.
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