For those of you who attended virtually and were unable to hear the audio, I am posting what Ashley read:
Good afternoon everyone and thank you for coming today or watching from afar. As most of you know I am Ashley and Mary Sever’s granddaughter and last-born grandchild.
All of us have known her in a variety of roles; sister, wife, mother, aunt, cousin, grandmother, mentor, and friend to many. I was privileged to know her as grandmother, although I never called her this. To me and the other grandchildren she was known as “GranMary”. Today I would like to share with you what she meant to me and few of the many memories I have with GranMary.
GranMary mean the world to me and I would like share with all of you a few adjectives that come to mind when I think about her; caring, strong, loving, funny, supporter, best friend and unique. There was never a hello or goodbye without “who loves you baby” and an “I love you more” battle. I could tell GranMary anything and she wouldn’t judge me or tell others. She would support me and give me words of encouragement and always told me she would keep any secrets. I thank her for always telling me this and making me feel comfortable enough to speak to her about anything.
Probably one of my earliest memories with GranMary was driving to her house from church on Sunday’s. The church my family and I attended was across the street from her neighborhood and my dad would place me on his lap and I would get to steer to GranMary’s house where she was waiting with welcoming arms and a Sunday meal. There are so many memories I have with her, I remember spending many nights at her house and having a girl’s day, taking me to Bealls, Publix, shoe carnival, TJ Maxx, and to end it all was always a Steak n Shake visit. We always had to dash home in time for her soap opera shows and once they were over we would continue our day. Many good times were spent talking at Steak n Shake and I remember onetime at Shoe Carnival she found a pair of shoes that she loved, and I loved them as well, so she ended up buying us matching pairs. She taught me what Skip-bo was and we played thousands of skip-bo battles.
Some of you her today know she lived with me in 2019 for most of the year. I am blessed and grateful I got that last year daily with her, from cooking together, to singing Tom Jones or playing cards those are some of my greatest memories which I will forever cherish. Every single day I got to make memories with her and I am grateful I got to take care of her. As some of you may have noticed the music we have playing today is sung by Tom Jones and has GranMary smiling so big as Tom Jones was her favorite. She made me promise that I would play his music at her funeral and that it wasn’t traditional funeral music and I know she is smiling down today as her wish was fulfilled.
My last memory with her outside the hospital was a lunch visit. I brought her a cheeseburger, fries, sundae, Publix white mountain bread, and a Publix raspberry pastry. Yes, she ate every last bite and had me laughing. She sure did love her sweets. During the visit she told me she loved me and missed living with me. I am very thankful I got this last visit with her as her state deteriorated shortly there after this.
Goodbye’s are never easy so during this difficult time lets reflect on the happy memories and the great times we shared together that will forever be in our hearts. Remember she would want to see us happy here today, not sad. GranMary, you will be greatly missed. I know that your presence will always be with me. Thank you for all the amazing years and unconditional love you gave me. I hope I made you proud, I love and miss you GranMary.
