PICTORIAL PAGES In the hospital At Margery's house Group at Sally's Dotty's 70th B-day ARTICLES Obituary TRIBUTES Randy's eulogy |
When Penny was born the doctors said she wouldn't survive. She had no ability to fight infection. She spent the early part of her life in hospitals and doctors' offices. Every time my folks took her to the specialist in Boston they'd tell them that she probably wouldn't live much longer. But my mom never gave up hope. She tells me about taking Penny on 4 mile hikes in the middle of winter from our farm on Twin Hill Road to my grandparent's house on Brigham Pond, my mom pulling Penny on a sled. Her idea was to toughen her up and it seemed to have worked. After several years when Penny was still alive and showing signs of building white blood cells, Penny's doctor told my folks, "I don't know what you're doing, but keep it up!" I hope that one day I'll have my mom's strength and wisdom. But Penny still was frail and had many bouts of pneumonia. It was amazing that she made it through high school, got married and was able to live a fairly normal life. Penny loved simple pleasures like sitting in the sun, listening to music, or just listening to the breeze and the birds. She loved birds. She loved to sing. One night Gloria and I took her out to the South Gardner Hotel. She was having a great time, chatting with almost every person in the bar. Then when the band started playing, she jumped up onstage and sang along! Over the last few days I've had time to reflect on the past and I remember a lot of great times we had as kids: climbing trees, riding bikes, swimming at Comet Pond, fishing with Grampy in the rowboat with our bamboo poles, sliding on Flag Hill or down the lane across from our house. Happy times. I still can't believe she's gone. I know I'll miss her but I'm sure we'll all always remember her smile and her laugh and the good times we had.These memories will always be with us and will allow Penny to live on in our hearts. Penny was the youngest of six kids. My dad affectionately called her Puppy. He was the only one allowed to call her that. It was great having a younger sister to care for and to blame when anything went wrong. One time when I was about 7 and she was 5, we decided to surprise my dad by cleaning the barn.There was a large main room in the barn and a small chicken coop in the back. So our idea of cleaning the barn was to take everything from the big room and throw it in a giant pile in the smaller room in the back. I don't recall getting in trouble for that but I know if I did, I said it was all Penny's idea. Penny began showing signs of dementia over the last several years and was finally diagnosed with Hydrochephalus, commonly referred to as water on the brain. She began to struggle to remember things and to be able to handle anything that was slightly complex like balancing her checkbook. She would get understandably frustrated. Penny needed a lot of help as she got sick in the last few years of her life but the incredible love and devotion of my mom, my sisters, and my wife helped to provide her with comfort and happiness through it all. At times like these we have to stop and realize how fortunate we are. We have to be thankful for our family, thankful for our friends, and thankful that Penny was a part of our lives. |
| Penny's home page / Muse Home |