In Memory of my Grandma, Leah Stern

[Aaron Stern]

When I came home from school last Tuesday, the tea kettle was whistling. As always, I got naked at the front door and threw my polo shirt and my jeans into the hamper and shouted, "Grandma, I'm home and the tea kettle is whistling!". Nothing. She couldn't have turned the stove on and left our apartment? She never would. And all of a sudden I just knew something was very wrong. Hoping against hope, I shouted again, "Grandma, I'm home!" Nothing. I looked into the guest room where she stayed and then stepped into the kitchen, and there she was, on the floor, very, very pale and not breathing, her eyes wide open. I turned around to get her pulse when I noticed blood leaking out of the left side of her mouth. My dear grandma was dead!
I lit a candle and said Kaddish (the Jewish Prayer for the Dead), and I was scared; I was scared because I was alone with her and didn't really know what to do, and I was scared because I would be the one to tell my dad that his mom had died, and he would be home any minute. I started crying just before he walked in, and he asked me, "Aaron, why are you crying?", and I said, "Dad, Grandma died", and he just turned pale and said, "No, Aaron, no!", but there she was, on the kitchen floor. Aaron

[Brandon]

My deepest condolences, Aaron.

It's sad she died alone, but maybe that's how she would have chosen to leave.

[kensington25]

Hello Aaron, I am so sorry about you grandma and that you had to find her. I am sure she appreciated the fact she had people in her lives such as your self who clearly loved her dearly. If you need to talk I am , and I am sure others are, here for you. I hope it all goes well.  William

[Justin]

That's sad Aaron. My condolences to you and your family!
Justin

[wes]

I am very sorry for your loss.

 

[Aaron Stern]

Thank's, Brandon, William, Justin and Wes, for your kind words!  It's two weeks ago today that I found my
grandma dead on the kitchen floor, and to be honest, I'm still somewhat in shock, and very sad. We
had a memorial service for her last Sunday, and I played the cello the best I could, but I was still crying.
Except for the announcement here on October 21, I did not post, I'm just not able to concentrate on anything else. I don't want to lament much, but I'm still dreaming about her, dead on the kitchen
floor, and about finding my mom and dad there dead, as well, it's just sad. So thank you again for your
words; even though we never met, it feels like you're good old friends of mine, thank you! Aaron

[slapshot513]

Aaron:
 

You and your family are in my prayers.

[bare.romanian]

I feel deeply sympathetic to your loss.

[Aaron Stern]

Thank's, slapshot513 and bare.romanian, for your kind word, as well. Since last night I feel a little better,
after I had another long talk with my mom and dad. I was under the impression that if only I had come home somewhat earlier I could have saved my grandma, and she wouldn't have died alone. But they re-
assured me that they didn't hold me responsible since I really didn't do anything wrong, and thinking if
only I had been home earlier doesn't make grandma alive again. But I think of her all the time, and we all
miss her very much. She was only 63 years old, and, as far as I know, very healthy; all of a sudden she
had a stroke, it must have happened out of the blue, just so. The day before she died she and my mom
made plans for our Thanksgiving dinner, and after that she wanted to visit friends in Edmonton, Canada,
and then her sister in New York. It's all so sad. Aaron

[Aaron Stern]

I can't believe it's been a year now that my grandma Leah died;  each time I come home knowing that nobody's there I get somewhat nervous when I step into
the kitchen;  I had hoped it would go away as time passes, but it doesn't, it just doesn't.  We had a service in her honor yesterday, and I played the same piece of
music I had played at her memorial, a year ago, and it felt like time was standing still.  Aaron

[papabare]

When my gran passed I was so sad because I was not able to tell her she was going to be a great gran again, first time from me (And I was her favorite ). I had just found out a few days before but she had fallen into a coma by then :(

Just be proud to know she felt proud of you

[rc]

im sorry to hear of the loss

[xgsft]

Wow, how did I miss this one?

Aaron, I know this is very late, but we are very sorry for your loss.  It's bad enough to hear the news...it would be very hard to be the first one on scene like that.

[ChristineF]

My deepest sympathies, Aaron.

I can't even imagine going through that and how hard it must be....

-Chris