Lola L. Garisek

On Friday evening, February 11, 2011, Lola Lee Garisek, spoke the words “I love you all”, and took her last breath at the age of 90. She is reunited with her husband Martin and her siblings after struggling these past years with dignity and grace through a series of illnesses and injuries.

The legacy she is leaving to the women in our family is that of female strength and wisdom, integrity, and unconditional love. Very much the nurturing, caring center of the Garisek clan, she was also an independent, opinionated, and spirited person.

The men in the family respected her equally, as she would, ahead of her time, engage in heated discussions about politics, world events and the effects on humanity. Never leaving her Irish Catholic faith, she defended the unborn children, and welcomed each new addition to her ever growing family with open arms, and without prejudice. Petite but not demure, always dressed for success, her make-up impeccable, she stood her ground and was in charge of her own convictions. A friend and support to everyone who had her respect, she freely dispensed advice without taking sides … a truly remarkable gift.

She saw no contradiction in her life. Truly a domestic goddess, she followed the traditional division of labor, taking care of her six children, sewing, cooking, and baking, while leaving the yard work, driving, and financial affairs to the men. She took care of her husband who was suffering from Alzheimer’s as long as she could, impoverishing herself so that he may have the best care. She delighted in attending her grandchildren’s sports events, dance concerts, recitals, musicals, and graduations from grade school to grad school; and her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, equally, expected her to be at all of them.

A child of the depression, and the struggles through poverty, she was especially passionate about free lunches for school children, literacy, and health care for all. She was a Democrat, sometimes liberal, sometimes traditional. Her home was the communication center for family news and events. Grammy’s den was the library hub and book exchange for her sons, daughters and her grandchildren. Many dinner conversations over her delicious pot roasts, pies, cream puffs and freshly baked bread revolved around new authors and titles, news stories, religion, and great recipes, new fashions, and movies, usually followed by a card game.

She liked to visit her children’s families, blending right in, and beloved by all.

• May the road rise to meet you.

May the wind be always at your back

May the sun shine warm upon your face.

An Irish blessing -