Last week the world lost a very special lady. Her name was Jewelle and she was one of the kindest, strongest, most wonderful people I have ever had the pleasure to meet. Jewelle was a customer at the cafe my husband used to own. She and my husband would talk every time she came in and they just fell in love with each other. She began calling him her son and telling everyone that she had adopted him. When I came along, it wasn't long before she adopted me as well.
You couldn't help but love Jewelle. She was such a caring person with a sense of humor that never failed to make us smile. She was a woman with strong faith in her own religion but she was open minded about others' beliefs. Jewelle suffered from health problems but I never once saw them get her down. After one bout of illness she instructed me that when she passed we were not to mourn her. She requested that instead we celebrate and dance down the aisle at her funeral because she would be in a better place.
When Jewelle cared about you, you knew it. I will never forget the moment when I knew it. There was a particularly hateful woman who would come into the cafe nearly every morning. She was always rude and surly towards me and normally I just roll my eyes and ignore her. But, that year I had lost my great-grandmother and on her first birthday after she had passed I was naturally more emotional than usual. This woman comes in and starts in on me and it just got to me that day. As I stood in the bathroom crying my eyes out, in walks Jewelle. She comforts me as I tell her what happened and says she knows just who the lady is. Jewelle slammed the bathroom door open and stalked out muttering about how she was going to "kick somebody's ass". I found out later that she did indeed give that woman a piece of her mind.
When my husband and I got married, Jewelle was one of our biggest supporters. When we discovered we were expecting our first child, Jewelle was as thrilled as we were. And so she became Grandma Jewelle. And a proud Grandma she was. When we discovered baby #2 was on the way, Jewelle was one of the first people we told. She was at the hospital when our second son was born and that meant more to us than she ever knew. My boys adored their Grandma Jewelle and it saddens me that my daughter will never get to know her.
Sadly, despite our best intentions, life sometimes gets in the way and "We should go see"s turn into "Too late to go see"s. Then you're left with regrets and guilt and "We should have"s. But, even when we didn't see her, Jewelle was frequently in our thoughts and she was always loved. I hope she knows that.
Jewelle leaves behind two biological children and their spouses and families as well as countless other family members, both related by blood and 'adopted'. There are many many people who will mourn and miss her. Jasmine, Duane, if you're reading this, please know that you are in my thoughts and prayers.
You couldn't help but love Jewelle. She was such a caring person with a sense of humor that never failed to make us smile. She was a woman with strong faith in her own religion but she was open minded about others' beliefs. Jewelle suffered from health problems but I never once saw them get her down. After one bout of illness she instructed me that when she passed we were not to mourn her. She requested that instead we celebrate and dance down the aisle at her funeral because she would be in a better place.
When Jewelle cared about you, you knew it. I will never forget the moment when I knew it. There was a particularly hateful woman who would come into the cafe nearly every morning. She was always rude and surly towards me and normally I just roll my eyes and ignore her. But, that year I had lost my great-grandmother and on her first birthday after she had passed I was naturally more emotional than usual. This woman comes in and starts in on me and it just got to me that day. As I stood in the bathroom crying my eyes out, in walks Jewelle. She comforts me as I tell her what happened and says she knows just who the lady is. Jewelle slammed the bathroom door open and stalked out muttering about how she was going to "kick somebody's ass". I found out later that she did indeed give that woman a piece of her mind.
When my husband and I got married, Jewelle was one of our biggest supporters. When we discovered we were expecting our first child, Jewelle was as thrilled as we were. And so she became Grandma Jewelle. And a proud Grandma she was. When we discovered baby #2 was on the way, Jewelle was one of the first people we told. She was at the hospital when our second son was born and that meant more to us than she ever knew. My boys adored their Grandma Jewelle and it saddens me that my daughter will never get to know her.
Sadly, despite our best intentions, life sometimes gets in the way and "We should go see"s turn into "Too late to go see"s. Then you're left with regrets and guilt and "We should have"s. But, even when we didn't see her, Jewelle was frequently in our thoughts and she was always loved. I hope she knows that.
Jewelle leaves behind two biological children and their spouses and families as well as countless other family members, both related by blood and 'adopted'. There are many many people who will mourn and miss her. Jasmine, Duane, if you're reading this, please know that you are in my thoughts and prayers.
so sorry for your loss, michelle. this is a beautiful tribute to her. may she rest in peace <3
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