Mae E. Derus

I remember the way she used to smile at me and always say "Hi." I got sad because I really didn't want to go to heaven. And mom said in heaven you can wish for anything you want and it's magical there and you're with every one and everything you love. And then I wasn't sad and I felt better. That's all I want to say.
- Keegan 5 years old

My favorite memory with Gram was when i was like 4 years old and she moved to Ginge's I was so sad that i begged my parents to let me move over there and live with her. Every time i think of that i laugh

One of my memories of Grandma Mae Derus is these cookies, I didn't make a memory board, I made these instead. I have only had them at holidays at Grandma's and have never seen them anywhere else. I don't remember making them with her, but I sure do remember eating them. If you like them as much as I do please feel free to make them between the holidays too. I will always think of her when I make these.
Kristin (Derus) Johnson

Snowballs:
1 Package of Almond Bark
3...

I remember being at Weaver when I was little. On Sunday, Gram would always make the adults coffee. She would tell them that she was giving me coffee too, but actually she brought me hot chocolate instead. It made me feel so grown up and included.

Another really good memory that I have was at Weaver in the summer. After we had picked strawberries and worked in her garden all day, we were tired. I got into bed, and Gram brought bowls of strawberries and ice cream that we ate in her...

Josh's memory:

Eric was chasing me around downstairs, and I was running and thought the patio door was open, and I tried to run outside. I hit the screen and fell flat on my back. I thought she'd be mad, but Grandma started laughing and came over and asked me if I was all right and helped me up. Then she asked if I wanted some popcorn.

Joshua Birkholz

Andrew's memory:

On weekends she'd make her famous bread dough and give all of us cousins a portion to make whatever we wanted out of it--breadsticks or pizza--whatever it was. She'd let us do anything we wanted, and she'd bake it even when she knew it wouldn't turn out any good. Everybody would try to do something different and do the best thing.

Andrew Birkholz

My Heartfelt Sympathy goes out to the family of Mae. Your loss is the world's loss, Truly. Over the past several years, as a friend of Kathy's, I've had the chance to spend some time with Mom, ( as I refered to her) as I attended family functions. Never, did I see a frown on her face or hear a quiver in her voice. It was always a smile on her face and a tone of cheer and happiness as she spoke. Only to be accompanied by Love and Peace. It's for certain that this world became a much better...

The Ultimate Road Trip -----
In February, 1988 I heard that Mae and Daughter Mae had planned a drive to the West Coast. Having just ended my work-a-day life in the Corporate world, and is possession of way too much free time, I kind on invited myself to tag along. They graciously accepted what was probably an intrusion and we left Minneapolis on a cold February morning, in my new Lincoln Towncar. This car had all the bells and whistles, including an outdoor thermometer, which we...

My heartfelt sympathy goes to the family and friends who will miss their mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, co-worker, and good friend. Hope in seeing her again in a better place is what I pray your joy will be. May God's blessing be with each and every one of you in your time of sadness.