Birth date: Mar 30, 1919 Death date: Oct 16, 2014
Pavese, Sara A., 95, of Clearwater, passed Thursday, October 16, 2014. Preceded in death by her husband Joseph, she is survived by daughters Ange Samson (husband Don) and Jo Ann Dobbs (husband Cleve), grandchildren Alan, Vicki, Pa Read Obituary
My grandmother had three favorite sayings: "Laugh and the world laughs with you, weep and you weep alone. For this great Earth must borrow its mirth, it has troubles enough of its own." Another was, "Did you move your bowels today?" And the best advice for all of us: "Be nice."
Grama had a few favorite jokes, too, many of which could be considered risqué--which was exactly why she liked them so much and exactly why I won’t repeat them here. One ended with, “Ginsburg rides tonight!” Those of you who know the joke can probably recall the way my gram would howl with laughter, eyes sparkling, when she could barely make it through that punch line.
And anyone who has ever eaten just one meal with her knows about the legendary safety pin that would keep her rings safe while she was cooking and then keep her silk blouse safe with a napkin while she ate.
Almost any time, but especially after meals, Grama loved to play games, particularly Rummikub and poker. Who bets like crazy and then wins a poker hand with nothing more than a lousy straight? Sally Pavese, that’s who. She would throw her hands in the air and laugh that laugh of hers, and then rake in the coins. That’s how she got the nickname “Diamond Sal.”
It’s curious to think of my Grama as the “sun” of our family since she spent her whole life staying out of what she liked to call “the hot sun.” She didn’t want to damage the skin she so faithfully creamed in her nightly regimen.
But she was the sun. She provided light and warmth to everyone who came into her path-- loved ones, strangers, neighbors, and people whom she recognized as in need of something, whether it was companionship or a meal--and she kept our family in orbit even when we were all spread out in different directions.
And she was also a sparkly diamond--tough, brilliant, priceless, unique, and precious.
