[From Terry, her grand daughter in California:] Wishing I could be here with all of you, to hear your stories, to celebrate my Grandmother in your presence. Holding a vision of her Great Big Smile, her laughter, with us today and from here on out, knowing that we are all collectively celebrating her life, whether near or afar. I wanted stories. I was the grand daughter who would pluck her mind for whatever memories she could share. Her mind was sharp. She would find writings from her past and send them to me. As a child, I?d spend hours looking through her boxes of old family photos– eventually leading to the making of a Family Tree. Onward through adulthood, we would revisit this archaelogical dig many times, shuffling through those same sepia-toned photographs while I listened to her name every person in that box. She was always generous– certainly fair and equitable without fail. Every holiday, she would send a card, usually with a check inside taped closed to conceal the amount. This was to make darn sure you were reading that Hallmark greeting first. When my twin sister Leann and I were younger, she was certain to balance her generosities between us to the penny?quite literally to the penny, even if it took months to balance out. We?d chuckle about it, as this continued well beyond our early years. It became a signature mark of hers, and was pretty endearing. A few years ago while visiting Dallas, we had a sleepover. I packed my bag and took the DART to Oak Cliff, where we spent a good 24 hours together, just the two of us. At some point in the eve while we were watching a movie in our pajamas, she said, ?I wanna see you dance!? So I got up in the middle of the living room and started dancing. She was tickled. We talked and talked, and with her great big smile she said ?I feel like we?re roommates!? This year I had the pleasure of visiting her at her new abode at The Wellington, which she was so very happy with. I walked into the lobby with my mother? and by the time we made it to the dining area– which at the moment was empty– my imagination saw a full room of people. Peers for my Grandmother. I literally burst into tears for joy. For those of you in the room who may work there, or assisted with this transition, thank you. Over the years, Grandmother and I would speak over the phone. On occasion, these conversations would last for a good solid hour. She would say things like, ?we have a mutual understanding for each other.? We knew we saw life through different lenses, but with shared values. Just a few years ago, she courageously asked if I had accepted the Lord Jesus into my heart, to which I responded ?Grandmother, I did that when I was about 9 years old!? She took a giant exhale and said ?I am SO relieved?? Her service and devotion to her church, her friends, was always at the centerpiece. She was an impeccable role-model for content and acceptance in life– always grateful for even the little things. It seems as though she has been preparing for this her whole life. May she be with her Lord, and her missed loved ones. I would like to also speak on her behalf to say thank you to my mother, Sharon, who I know she was consistently in deep gratitude for, as both a friend and a daughter. My mother would call her almost every day. And for my father, Don, who was a great support and advisor to her for many practical matters that contributed to her daily comfort after my Grandfather passed. There are probably many angels in the room amongst us here today that she felt blessed her life. This we know. Remembering Rosa? The joy in her heart, her trust in life.