What Are Words For? (7/14)

[Railyn]

Sadly, we lost Jean Tischler on Friday, about a half hour after her being removed from life support (which was her final wish). We've been told that it was an anurysm (I prob spelled that wrong) that took her, and that it was quick and painless. A person who lived life on her own terms, she left this world in her garden that she was so proud of, doing what she loved to do up until the very end. She left the physical world on Friday, surrounded by her husband of 50+ years, all her children and their spouses, her grandchildren and spouses, and great-grandchildren, who received my greatest wish for them - that they made a decision they felt at peace with.

She had a beautiful service today. She looked lovely, and at peace. A lot of people turned out to say goodbye. One of her daughters eulogized her very well, by listing her mothers "life to do" list, leaving only 2 things undone. We cried, we smiled, we laughed at hearing some memories that truly captured her spirit. A very spiritual woman who gave of herself greatly, freely, and without hesitation, I have no doubts whatsoever as to where she is right now - in fact, I'm sure she had a wing named after her years ago. As she'll have no need for her nursing skills anymore, I'm sure she's head of the social committee, and is probably entertaining new arrivals, and making them a fabulous dinner. I'm also sure that she's been reunited with her son, who passed away in a tragic accident at the age of 12. I pretty much considered her a foster grandmother, as she just had that wonderful grandma quality that it's just impossible to put you finger on.

With that in mind, I dedicate this one to Jean Tischler (1925 - 2003), a person we were all better for knowing, and one I'll never forget.

IN MY LIFE
By: The Beatles
Album: Rubber Soul
Author: J. Lennon/P. McCartney

There are places I'll remember
All my life though some have changed
Some forever not for better
Some have gone and some remain
All these places have their moments
With lovers and friends I still can recall
Some are dead and some are living
In my life I've loved them all

But of all these friends and lovers
There is no one compares with you
And these memories lose their meaning
When I think of love as something new
Though I know I'll never lose affection
For people and things that went before
I know I'll often stop and think about them
In my life I love you more

Though I know I'll never lose affection
For people and things that went before
I know I'll often stop and think about them
In my life I love you more
In my life I love you more

My Opinion In A Nutshell: Although it may be a bit obligatory, I truly enjoyed knowing her, and will be thinking of her always.

Favorite Line: "Though I know I'll never lose affection for people and things that went before, I know I'll often stop and think about them"

[jpkansas]

Very nice tribute, Railyn.

[H2IZCOOL]

Hi Railyn.

Sorry to hear about your friend Jean. Although I know you expected it, it can't make it easier.

You have chosen a wonderful song for her tribute. It is maybe the most beautiful that Lennon/McCartney ever wrote, and it's my favorite of all Beatles songs.

My sincere condolences.

Ed

[m c dornan]

What a lovely dedication! Requiescant in pace.

[Railyn]

jpkansas said:

Very nice tribute, Railyn.

Thanks, JP. I'm still pulling for your niece. I hope all is well.

[Railyn]

H2IZCOOL said:

Hi Railyn.

Sorry to hear about your friend Jean. Although I know you expected it, it can't make it easier.

You have chosen a wonderful song for her tribute. It is maybe the most beautiful that Lennon/McCartney ever wrote, and it's my favorite of all Beatles songs.

My sincere condolences.

Ed

Thanks, Ed. We felt relief on Friday, that things were over, and she could rest, but you're right, it still didn't make it any easier.

They had a lovely photo tribute to her at the church. A nice reminder of the vibrant person she was.

I will miss her weekly visits to the office. Her clockwork stop at my desk to chat for a few minutes.

We had an annual fish fry at her home, and she worked so hard to make a nice evening. My favorite memory of her happened at one of those. She seemed on the surface if you didn't know her to be this proper, ultra ladylike woman. We were out on the patio, next to the pool, and there was a tower with a red light blinking on top not too far away. I can't remember who asked what the red light was for, and without hesitation, she replied "Because this is a red light district". Everyone got dead quiet and looked at her. Then she said "Oops, gave the secret away". We laughed so hard!

[Railyn]

m said:

What a lovely dedication! Requiescant in pace.

Thanks so much, MC. It fits her quite well.

[Laura--I wuv u all :)]

Railyn said:

We had an annual fish fry at her home, and she worked so hard to make a nice evening. My favorite memory of her happened at one of those...


What a cute story. She sounds like a wonderful person. I lost my dear mom last year, and she was almost the same age (1924-2002) and had an equally mischievous sense of humor at times.

[Dawn]

What a wonderful tribute to your friend! I've always liked this song a lot, because I think John really captured how we all feel about the people and places that have meant so much to us in our lives. I'm planning to make a scrapbook of photos and mementos, and I'd like to put the lyrics of this song in the front, as sort of an introduction.

I'm so sorry to hear of your loss. It sounds like Jean was a very special lady.

[Railyn]

Laura said:

Railyn said:

We had an annual fish fry at her home, and she worked so hard to make a nice evening. My favorite memory of her happened at one of those...


What a cute story. She sounds like a wonderful person. I lost my dear mom last year, and she was almost the same age (1924-2002) and had an equally mischievous sense of humor at times.

I'm sorry to hear about your mom, Laura. I've known quite a few people who are in that age bracket (my parents are very active in the Legion and VFW) and they seem to have that knack of zinging you when you least expect it. A WWII vet we all called Smokey was at my wedding almost 10 years ago. My husband's slightly crazy great-aunt was roaming around. He walked up to my mom, and asked if he could give the mother of the bride a kiss. She said sure, and he pecked her on the cheek. Aunt Cassie ran right up next to him, and said "Well, where's mine?". He's a bit of a codger (but a real softie inside) and looked right at her and said "Do I know you?". Without blinking, she said "Does it matter?". I don't think he knew what to say.

[Railyn]

Dawn said:

What a wonderful tribute to your friend! I've always liked this song a lot, because I think John really captured how we all feel about the people and places that have meant so much to us in our lives. I'm planning to make a scrapbook of photos and mementos, and I'd like to put the lyrics of this song in the front, as sort of an introduction.

I'm so sorry to hear of your loss. It sounds like Jean was a very special lady.

That's a cool idea, Dawn. I used to enjoy making scrapbooks, but I made so many that I kind of burned out. I have 2 unfinished in bags here somewhere.....

I made one for my friend's daughter. She was born in the late 80's, and I started her with "Welcome to your life, there's no turning back".

Yes, Jean was one of those once-in-a-lifetime people. One who just gave and gave without ever thinking of herself. Cards and flowers and gift baskets are pouring in at work, and it's still hard to believe. One thing that was joked about was her thriftiness. I'm sure it was the times that she grew up in, but her motto was "if there's no sale rack, then what's the point of going inside?". When I graduated high school, she showed up at my parents home one day. She handed me my card (with a generous check inside) and said that she just couldn't believe that the post office wanted extra money to mail it because it was a larger envelope, so she decided she'd just bring it over in person. Nevermind she probably spent more in gas driving it over. She came in and we chatted for awhile. It was very nice. She could have sent that in with Warren, who was still at the plant every day at that time who would have given it to my mother, but she took the time to run it over.

When we got married, she gave us a lovely bedding set for my shower, and a juicer. She went on and on about how she made sure everything was color coordinated (she had such an eye for decorating), and the juicer was an added bonus. It was such a great price, she couldn't pass it up, and she bought several more, for when she needed other gifts. So proud of the buy she had made. I use that bedding to this day, and dig the juicer out on occasion. It's a pain to clean, but my husband thinks the action of juicing is way cool, so we usually juice a ton of things all at once.