MOTHER GOOSE

a poem about my grandmother

published in GLOOM CUPBOARD ISSUE 104

If my heart stops
Leave it alone!
She said

And she kept removing the oxygen mask
like it was the cob webs she had gathered
from a bad hip, from going blind
from being lonely
while
living
in federal housing
and
after an hour of this
she finally died


her minister visited
and he
tried to console her daughter.
she is with your god and your father now
he said
her daughter laughed
I think that
she would rather be left alone she said.
she knew he was just trying to be kind
but death has its own brand of kindness
the type that makes everything else seem ridiculous
and filled with sad comedy
and
With that
she got up
Grabbed her walker
Then left the hospital

ARTICLE FROM THE RACINE OBITUARIES

Wednesday, December 17, 2008

Hedwig 'Hedy' Grimbol Hedwig “Hedy” Grimbol, 88, passed away at Wheaton Franciscan Healthcare/All Saints on Wednesday, Dec. 17, 2008, with her daughter, Jackie, and sister-in-law, Marce, at her side.
Hedy was born in Denmark on May 8, 1920, to the late Einar and Othilia (nee: Mortensen) Hjortness. She lived most of her life in Racine. She was united in marriage to Leonard E. Grimbol in Racine on Aug. 1, 1942. She was the secretary at St. Luke's Episcopal Church for 23 years retiring in 1985.
She is survived by her daughter, Jackie Grimbol; son, Rev. William (Patricia) Grimbol; one grandson, Justin Grimbol; three sisters, Karen (Marv) Welfel, Marion (Dick) Hazelton and Betty (Jack) Nelson; three sisters-in-law, Marce, Effie and Mary Hjortness; nieces, nephews, cousins other relatives and friends. She was preceded in death by her husband, Leonard, on April 1, 2000, and three brothers.
A Memorial Service will be held at the Wilson Funeral Home, 1212 Lathrop Ave., on Sunday, Dec. 28, 2008, at 3 p.m. with her son, Rev. William R. Grimbol, officiating. Friends may meet with the family at the funeral home from 1:30 p.m until the time of service.
Wilson Funeral Home1212 Lathrop Ave., Racine (262) 634-3361