Minnie Francis Spann

November 18th, 2020 marks the end of an era in our Spann family. My grandma Minnie passed away. She was 104 years and 173 days old. She died not from sickness or disease or tragedy, but simply from old age. She slipped away in her sleep with dignity and grace, the same way she lived her life.

It is very hard to talk about grandma without including grandpa. He died 20 years ago.

Grandpa Press, born April 15th 1913 and Grandma Minnie, born May 30th, 1916. They married on March 23rd 1935. Together they had 6 children, five daughters and one son. They went on to assemble 14 grand kids, (of which I am one), we have amassed 26 Great Grand Children and finally they have, so far contributed 8 Great Great Grand Children. That does not even include spouses, partners, or stepchildren. Wow! Quite an accomplishment. Starting from just two.

As mortal human beings we tend to, be born, live well, grow old and die.

Throughout history, mankind has built temples and pyramids, erected statues and constructed skyscrapers with their names or images on them so as to be remembered. Most of us however, merely leave behind a legacy of memories with those we knew and loved.

I have often wondered why we marry. Is it for passion or companionship or love? I believe it is because we need a witness to our life. We want to feel that our life matters. When we find that partner, we promise to be a witness to their life. To everything, the exciting and monumental, the triumphs and failures, the ordinary and the mundane, all of it, all the time. We promise each other that your life will not go un-noticed because I will notice it. That your life will not go un-witnessed because I will be your witness.

So, as we close this chapter of the Spann family legacy, which has spanned (no pun intended) a millennium, rest assured Grandma and Grandpa that your lives have not gone un-noticed. There have been countless people, family, friends, and even strangers who have borne witness to your lives. We have noticed, and your lives have truly mattered.

You will be forever missed and never, ever forgotten.

We all love you...… More