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Mandy posted a condolence
Wednesday, August 1, 2018
Does anyone here where my grandma got the name “big gram?” she lived on a great big hill in a great big house.... now we had a “little gram” as well who lived smack dab in the middle of cda in a smaller house. There was one time when she was watching the funeral home that we were on a walk together up around Elm loop where-pulling me all the way with words of encouragement we can do this!!! (Ya right!) she asked me the reason we called her big gram and asked if it was because she was bigger than my other grandma? Ummm no big gram that’s not why. As a child I have several of the same memories that my cousins and sister have as we were together at their house, playing with our “horses” mops and brooms- and eating her amazing cookies that were ALWAYS Baked and ready on a plate if she knew we were coming. I remember walking around the loop at her old house and ALWAYS got to walk the “pirate ship plank” which was just a neighbors porch up the road with boat ropes leading in as their railings..... which is still there. When they moved to leisure park I was saddened that home held so many memories of playing the organ and dancing with my papa, playing dress up with her old purses and clothes in the “wine room” sitting on the beautiful white fireplace in the room with the beautiful white fuzzy couch for pictures, ( now that I’m older and have grandkids she was crazy!) hide and seek had nothing on that house because I remember so many bedrooms decorated in so many different ways we had free roam of and we all played with her beautiful treasures she had displayed...... everywhere...... what’s a kid to do? But Years later I did get the Morracass ..... alas I was thoroughly excited to learn she had a swimming pool!!! At leisure park We visited and big gram took us to the rec center( not thoroughly understanding this was a retirement community) I suited up and wagged my tail we got over to there to what reminded me of a pool..... ohhh heck CANNONBALL!!!!!!! I remember our visit was short in the little excercise pool. Oops. When I went to college I’d stop by on breaks some days and yet ANOTHER plate of cookies! Any flavor you would want!!!! We’d sit on her patio with all of the beautiful white yard ornaments and just visit.... when she first moved down to st. Marie’s we had one last walk together it wasn’t long but it was I pulling her along saying we can do this! I love you big gram thank you for all of the memories --
H
Hill posted a condolence
Wednesday, August 1, 2018
From Hillery Eastman
I remember one time dad came home from a manager's meeting in Spokane. He always stayed with Nana and Papa on those trips. Nana would load dad up with goodies and Dad would give Papa the good hooch he wouldn't touch until dad left. This time Nana loaded dad up with tarts she had made from leftover pie scraps. I was privileged to partake of a few of those, and word got back to Nana how much I enjoyed them. Every time Nana and Papa came to visit she would make sure she had tarts made and in the freezer prior to her visit. Every time dad went to a managers meeting, he came home with a little baggie of tarts. When I got older and had to take classes in Spokane, somehow she knew I'd be coming and sure enough, out would come the little baggie of delight. When she knew I was pregnant I got a double dose of tarts. I would eat them for breakfast, second breakfast, levensies, lunch, and dinner. Ty tried to take one from me once, not so sure he doesn't still have a welt on his hand where I kindly rebuffed his advance toward my tart.
I had mini fueds with Papa that were epic. It all started with a certain stuffed horse of mine he hung from a tree while we were all camping at Lake Koocanoosa. Papa and I would try to one-up each other and Nana was our devious double Agent. I would go to her to have her help me put plastic fishing worms in Papa's sandwich that she would make at four in the morning to get the guys ready for fishing (while I blissfully slept). This continued for years, Nana continued to play both sides right up to high school. I do not recall exactly what brought it on, but I remember coming home from school one day just after Nana and Papa had arrived and went to use the bathroom. Sitting on the counter with its nether regions facing me was a stuffed "jackass," and stuck to its posterior was a post it note. On the note, scribed in Nana's handwriting, was the phrase "kiss this honey". If I hadn't already been using the facilities I would have peed myself.
Nana and Papa joined us every Easter. Papa would help dad hide the eggs; sometimes too well. As we got older, mom and dad got really inventive with egg hunts; they would hide plastic eggs with money in them. I'm talking quarters and a few bills that folded, but to college kids you could eat Ramen for a week on what you could find in one egg. There was more pushing and shoving to get to those eggs than there was when we were little. One Easter came and I was the last child at home. Nana and Mom devised a little plan. They would hide the eggs, but I only got to hunt for ten minutes every hour. They hid them hard...like in the freezer, in the bar-b-que, in the dryer. They had a final count, and I had just one I couldn't find after about four hours. It was about that time that Nana started strutting around in front of me doing a little shimmy with her bazoombas. I'm like cool, Nanas getting her groove on. But then it continued on the hour, every hour for the next four hours. Now I'm kinda worried for the old gal's sanity. One last time she walks in front of me and does a little shimmy. I get a dumbfounded look on my face and Nana takes both hands and moved my head about five inched from her breasts. She had hidden an egg in the front pocket of her blouse.
T
Trav posted a condolence
Wednesday, August 1, 2018
Trav’s memories told from Uncle Jim
Trav remembers the Easter mom and dad came and Trav wanted to fool nana so he bought an egg that looked real but was filled with chocolate. He placed it a carton with real hard boiled eggs and waited for her to make deviled eggs and when mom cracked the egg the look on her face was both confused and priceless.
He also wanted to share when he was driving to Portland from Montana state with Brandi on spring break and hitting a deer and being out of superior they got a ride to Coeur d’ Alene and no cells back then so hitched a ride to Coeur d’ Alene leaving the rig in St Regis. When they got to CDA, they called mom and she went down town at 3 in the morning and greeted them with the biggest and warmest smile, and all of a sudden everything was alright.
Trav also remembers at his college graduation when his frat buddies marveled at mom lighting up a cigar to celebrate his success. I was a little surprised but dad said she liked a few puffs as she enjoyed the flavor..who knew.
C
Carrie posted a condolence
Wednesday, August 1, 2018
I most likely have a lot of the same or similar memories of my Gram as my sister and cousins do. Her famous tarts from her left over pie crusts, huckleberry pie, cookies, green olive balls, and all the wonderful food and family celebrations. She loved to prepare food. I can remember my Papa loved Corn Flakes or Shredded Wheat for breakfast. She would mash them all up for him before pouring the milk and serving it to him – I laugh as an adult because who does that? My husband can make his own cereal, but that was my Gram taking care of my Papa as she did all of us. My mother raised me to eat whatever is being served in other people’s homes whether I like it or not and be happy about it. One of our visits, Big Gram made liver and onions. I was a fantastic actress and pretended to like it so much she kept making it whenever I came. I asked her one time if we could have something different than liver and onions. She said sure, but I want to fix your favorite for you. I finally had to tell her I couldn’t stand liver and onions. She laughed so hard and was in complete awe that I had probably consumed 10 meals of liver and onions before saying something. I found out that she wasn’t a big fan of liver and onions either but Papa was and she would eat it. My mother taught me the same thing about gifts. If I receive a gift I should be thankful for it as the person didn’t have to buy it for me. Gram knew I had a collection of stuffed animals specifically bears. Over the years I received several gifts of sweatshirts and night gowns with fuzzy teddy bears on them, which I told her were my favorite. My mom told me I had to wear them when my grandparents would come and stay or she would pack them for me to take when I stayed with them. As a sophomore in high school, I had to finally tell Gram that I grew out of the teddy bears years ago…. She again laughed and couldn’t believe I had her going for so many years. She sure loved all of us grandkids and loved spoiling us.
I could go on and on about my child hood memories with my Big Gram, but we have to conclude her service at some point.
When we first moved her to St. Maries I would visit her several times a week. Her memory faded, but her heart was still so loving. During some of her confusion she would think I was her granddaughter or niece, and then I became just a familiar face. She still loved our visits and always had a smile when I would come to visit, her long-term memory was still pretty sharp and we would often talk about when my cousins would come up and we all would stay at their home on Fairmont Loop, and the shenanigans we would pull at her house – like playing in the wine room, behind the bar, in the little forest outside, dragging every mop and broom out to use as our horses, or the time Mandy and Hillery played beauty shop which is a whole different story in itself. Every time I would walk in and ask her how she was doing she had 2 replies. One was, “I’m doing as good as I can with the tools God gave me”. The other was, “I’m doing ok but I don’t know why the good Lord is making me live this way” as she missed my Papa dearly.
My last trip with her to the eye doctor was about a month or so ago. She was having an “off” day and was so confused. I wasn’t sure she even knew I was a familiar face. As we sat in the waiting room, I thought I could bring her comfort by showing her pictures of my dad and Uncle Jim. I asked her if she knew who they were and she didn’t… In fact she thought a picture of my dad was her. I then pulled up a picture of my Papa from when he served in the Army. I asked her if she knew who that was. She lit completely up with a grin, looked me right in the eye and said, “Yes… I know who that is”. I said “You do?” She put her hand on her heart the other in my hand and with a bigger smile than I had seen in a while she said, “Yes I know who that is”.
Well Gram, as sad as we are to lose you, the good Lord isn’t making you live this way anymore. I couldn’t be happier for the rejoicing you are doing with the lord right this moment, and I find comfort in the fact you are in Papa’s arms dancing with him again.
T
Ty posted a condolence
Wednesday, August 1, 2018
Memories of Nana from Ty…
Through the years I have a lot of memories of and with Nana. Almost too many to mention, however here are a few of the great highlights:
Playing hide in seek in and eventually Nana would end up hiding in this old clothes hamper.. I’m not even sure I could ever get in that thing.. but there she was… with that big got you grin!
Whenever we stayed out at her house she always knew I wanted peanut butter and honey sandwiches with a cream soda!
Travelling back from Lake Koocanusa in the RV to Coeur d’Alene and seeing the beware of falling rocks sign.. and half way convincing Nana that we needed to be on the lookout for Chief Falling Rock. She asked how me how I know we needed to be out for the lookout for this troublesome native. I told her the sign told me.. she asked which sign? Well once we passed the next beware of falling rock sign she knew I had gotten one over her!! I think she laughed for 20 mins solid on that one!
I think there may have been one birthday Nana & Papa missed when I was living at home. Nana would ALWAYS bring YJ Bacon over.. Until they went out of business and then made Papa find a suitable replacement. To this day Uncle Ron remembers my birthday because Nana & Papa was always gone in the beginning of Oct for my birthday!
The last story actually involves my collage fencing team and the day I graduated from the University of Montana. We had my graduation party at my apartment on the north side of Missoula. Anyway, everyone was having fun and as a tradition from the fencing club at the end of every event we smoked cigars and drank scotch. This was a big event so the team and in particular my fencing coach hauled out the cigars. We kinda went into the middle of the court yard so as not to bug the others. About 5 mins after lighting up, here saunters up Nana.. she leans in to the group and asks if she can have a cigar and a glass of scotch and sit with us!! OH MY GOD.. the team was ecstatic and very impressed! My fencing coach lives in Chicago now and still talks about how cool it was that my grandma smoked a cigar and drank with us!
She was one a hell of a woman, a class act and will be very missed!
P
Pam Cromer posted a condolence
Friday, July 27, 2018
Dear Ron, Jim and families,
I am so sorry for you all....when a parent dies, there is really no way to describe that loss. With Virginia's passing, it's the end of the book, not the chapter. She, "Willie", Gilbert and Eileen are all together again.
I will always remember the 4 of them spending time together and laughing. Of course, that lent itself to the 5 of us kids being life-long friends. What a Blessing. Be comforted for their love and trust in each other, and for the 'spirited friendship' of neighbors. Love, Pam
R
Robert and Martha West posted a condolence
Monday, July 23, 2018
To the Hodge Family:
Martha and I send our deepest condolences to your family. Virginia was a dear friend at the Coeur d'Alene Methodist Church. Ron and I met many times during my Coroner years.
While her passing is always sad, it is inspiring to read of her wonderful life and years of service. The community and her many friends will hold you in their thoughts and prayers.
S
Sonja Clyne posted a condolence
Sunday, July 22, 2018
I am so sad that I won’t see that sweet smile again!!
Thank you for allowing us to take care of Ginger, and becoming part of your family. She was a gentle soul that was very loved.
J
Jennifer Lash lit a candle
Sunday, July 22, 2018
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Luci Scott posted a condolence
Sunday, July 22, 2018
I miss this sweet lady. I feel blessed to have known her. My condolences to your family.
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ken zeitz posted a condolence
Saturday, July 21, 2018
We are so sorry for your loss,sincere condolence in this time of sorrow.
S
Susan Trammell posted a condolence
Saturday, July 21, 2018
I was so saddened to learn of Ginger's death - but also rejoicing that she is at home with the Lord! - "Safely Home". She was a special friend, and I will always remember her as gentle and joyful. What a sweetheart! She will be deeply missed. My deepest sympathy to all of her family and friends.
M
Margie and Harvey posted a condolence
Friday, July 20, 2018
We are so sorry for your loss. It is never easy to go thru even tho we know the day is coming. Please know we are keeping all the family in our prayers. Sincerely, Margie
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Angie Derry posted a condolence
Friday, July 20, 2018
My love goes out to you and your family. Lots of love for your Mom as she enters into the Heavens.
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Darcy Brummett posted a condolence
Friday, July 20, 2018
RIP, Aunt Ginger <3 The one thing I remember most, is your fiber optic, color changing flower at your old house, and then the limo picking up Gramma Osbun at your house on the hill....and taking 5 generation picks in the basement there....and Uncle Bill's booze - lol. So many memories....too many to write about. We will miss you, Aunt Ginger <3
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Friday, July 20, 2018
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Denise Layton posted a condolence
Friday, July 20, 2018
Ron and Family , my Thoughts and Prayers are with you today …
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Friday, July 20, 2018
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138 South 8th Street | St. Maries, Idaho | 83861
P (208) 245-2611 | F (208) 245-4221 | www.hodgefuneralhome.com
