Phyllis Leona Nelson

I don´t even know where to begin. All I´ve ever known is life with her in it. She took most of me with her when she passed. I can´t count all the memories we´ve shared, as she practically raised me while my mom was working. She took me on a scavenger hunt around the house to find hidden notes left from my single mother before she went to work another overtime day. We made Easter eggs, homemade candy, watched our shows together. I remember she snapped a CD in half trying to get it out of the plastic case. She was so upset that she wrecked it. I can´t blame her, that little plastic release button was so much more complicated than sliding an old vinyl out of its paper cover. I remember I would play old computer games on her big chunky desktop computer and she would get frustrated with me because whenever the dinosaur computer froze, my little kid fingers would rapid fire on the mouse, worsening the overload LOL she taught me patience. She homeschooled me before I entered the school system. She watched me dance and ice skate around the living room with plastic baggies on my feet. She cheered for my during softball and gymnastics. She told me to "sing out" whenever I was singing to the radio. I wish she could see me recording and producing my first original album now. Towards the end, her memories became clouded, but I went along with it, because I found comfort in the fantastical stories her mind created of all our dramatic "shared experiences". They were such extraordinary stories, like the Big Fish movie my mom knows all too well. We would have sleepovers and she would make me giggle when she took her dentures out for cleaning. She used to pick me up from schools with some snacks for the drive home. This was no ordinary snack bag, there were always about 4 different juice boxes and CapriSuns, 12 different granola bars, strawberry candies- the kind with the filling inside, and a nut goodie bar, without fail. I´m not sure if she was trying to fatten me up or thought that I hadn´t eaten in 3 years. I took her DQ a few years ago, woke her up from a nap with an ice cream cone and she violently ate all the ice cream and then threw the cone away- the best part. I couldn´t believe it! I couldn´t help but laugh at her stubbornness. One time I was prancing around the house, waving my arms like a bird screaming "Cah!! Cah!!" like a Hawk. She scolded me and said caca was a bad word! LOL I must´ve been 3 or 4 years old. She took every chance to try to teach me something. She helped mold me into who I am and I only hope that she looks down with utmost pride of who I am today. One of my last memories with her, a few years ago we were laying on the floor like two little girls having a sleepover. She told me that she was ready to meet her maker, whenever God was ready to have her back. I´ve never met someone so at peace with passing. Someone who could look back on their life with complete satisfaction for the legacy she was leaving. A full life lived and cherished in my heart forever. Miss you forever and always GramGram. Fly Free.

Phyllis was a wonderful first cousin . I always enjoyed our visits. Dorothy Eckstein

DeeDee & siblings: Your Mom was always so very kind to me. When I moved here she always took the time to talk to me and I always really appreciated that. She loved you and yours fiercely and I really liked that about her too. I am sad she is on her new journey for you, but, I am thankful for her that she suffers no more. I am sure each of you have many many memories of her love and care. So sad for each of you.

Hi DeeDee. So sorry for such a tough loss. I lost my father a year ago and miss him terribly. I know how close you were to your mom. I don´t have many memories of her but I have many of you and remember well how often you talked and how close you were. Again my deepest condolences . xoxo

Mom was a tough cookie and a life saver in many ways. I will miss her but I'm so glad that she is no longer in pain. Watch over us Mama. xoxo