Mary Helen Cleary - Online Memorial Website

I loved and trusted Gram because whenever I had a question about one of my Grandchildren as far as what to feed them when they wouldn't eat or how to get them to rest she knew the answer.  She was alway there for me no matter what her schedule was.   She loved her Grandchildren and Great Grandchildren no matter what and that is why I loved her, respected her and so appreciated her so much.  She was the most loving, caring person I have ever known and I appreciate the experience of being a part of her life.

 

I don't know really where to start...so I will just speak from the heart and go from there. When I was little the first thing I did when I woke up was sit on her lap before she made me breakfast (to this day I can't make better scrambled eggs them she did) that helped me wake up before going to school and if I was upset about something I would still go sit on her lap to feel better. Even would crawl into bed with her when I had a bad dream. I was a very restless sleeper...but she never complained. In fact she did the same thing for her greatgrand children, she had a way about her. She knew how to comfort them and me. She also drove cross country with me twice...once when I was a teenager which was probably not pleasant.lol. She would play games with me (and let me win) Gram was a second mom to me. She was the one I could call to ask how to cook something...I miss her deeply and I will miss just calling her for advice...on cooking or anything else for that matter. She never judged me...even in my darkest hours. She loved me no matter what. Apparently her mottow was "put one foot in front of the other and never miss an opportunity to use the bathroom". Gram will be loved and missed and she wil always have a very special place in my heart

My earliest memory of Gram was crossing the country with her, grandpa and my mother in their VW bus. She taught me the alphabet in sign language, "California Here I Come" and "Wrap Your Arms Around me Honey..." We used to go to rodeos, the circus and breakfast after spending the night. She bought me my first pair of Vans and went to every store with me until we found what would be my first pair of Jordache jeans. She rented out Skateway for the most amazing birthday party ever when I was 11. As I entered my adult life she was my constant. She was always there for me no matter what. She loved me unconditionally. At a low point in my life when I was feeling very down she gave me a tiny plastic giraffe. She said to me, "This is a special giraffe. If you hold it, it will make you feel better." I soon told her, "It's working! I feel a little better." About two weeks before she died I received a letter in the mail from her. Taped to the letter was a picture cut from a magazine of a cast iron giraffe toilet paper holder. She wrote about how she and my mother used to play a game called, "If I were going to buy you something, I would buy you this". Sooo, she said that's what she would buy for me..a giraffe. I honestly thought we would have had many more years together. You were the strongest woman I've ever known. You have always been there for me and it's very hard to accept the fact you aren't there now. It's almost surreal. I miss you so very much. I think about you every day. I embrace the memories I have of you and all of your Grammyisms. Most of all I miss your laugh. I miss you asking the man at the store for a Caaaaht (cart) and yelling at him for telling you he didn't have any cots. Even better for a "faaaaahk" (fork) and you can guess what they thought you were saying. I love you very much, Gram. Thank you for everything. Now it is you who is my giraffe :)

I really thought we would have many more years to create memories.  I miss you so much.  When Tuesday rolls around, I automatically think that its our day to go to lunch.  Or something will come to mind and I think, "I'll give Mom a call..."

I'm so glad we had time to laugh and create projects together ~ I remember when we tied macrame knots as a side job back in the 70's ~ we practically taught each other how to sew when I was a kid because we learned at the same time.  The last thing we did together was a pillow for Barbara.  I want you to know that I finished it up and sent it right out to her.

Thank you for being my mother.

I'm on of the great grandchildren who had the pleasure of knowing this amazing women. She was a women who was all ways doing something for the family or her grandchildren. she would take me and my cousin Nathan to the pool, the park even wake up at 7:00 and take us to build things at home depot but we hardly got to use nails lol it was all ways glue :D . I will miss her very much ..it pains me that I will never get to say are we going to grammy and nanas house agian that had to be my favorite question lol.I will never forget how much she's sacrificed and done for me.
           I love you gram and I all ways will