Jean Helen Rivin

Grandma is and always will be one of the most inspiring people in my life. She is my hero is so many ways. She was one of the most compassionate, loving, accepting and hilarious people I will ever know. Her laughter could light up any room and was always contagious to anyone around her. Just this last 4th of July, I brought out our bocce ball set to play for the first time and offered her the chance to throw the balls. She had never played before and I thought she'd decline but she accepted and said she wanted to play. The two of us and two of my friends started playing and not only was I impressed at how far she was throwing the balls, but I was hysterical laughing at how much fun she was having as she laughed the entire time and didn't want to stop.

Some of my favorite memories with her included When I was little, how She taught me to properly paint my nails and put on lipstick. She also always let me try on anything from her treasure trove of jewelry, no matter what it was. Her pearls and purple alexandrite stones -she always told me, were special to us because they were the June birthstones- both of our birthday month. She let me try them on whenever I came to visit. I would spend hours combing through her endless jewelry boxes, trying on random things. Sometimes she would just tell me to keep them and I would always say no until she insisted. She was always about giving to others and making someone happy.

While she was very loving and kind, she could also be bossy and stern. On many occasions when Ben and I would take her to dinner, I would offer to pay the bill and she would always decline. One time at our favorite Mexican restaurant that she loved, the bill arrived at the table and as I went to grab it so she wouldn't insist on paying, she lunged over the table and snatched the bill out of my hand (practically ripping my arm off) demanding that I wouldn't be paying. I learned my lesson that night that if you want to keep your hand, you should probably let her pay. This was how she always was- wanting to take care of others and make them happy. Whether it was trying to pay the dinner bill, or offering you more food and frappacinos than you could ever consume when you arrived at her apartment- she always wanted you to feel welcome and loved.

I was very excited for Grandma to be able to meet schuyler when we started dating. I knew their warm personalities would mesh well and right away they hit it off. Grandma would always ask when we were getting married, and when Schuyler finally proposed in August 2014, grandma was elated. Every cardiology appointment she had she told her doctor he had to keep her alive to be able to attend my wedding. She laughed at this every time, even though we all told her it wasn't funny!

While I couldn't see Grandma every week after she moved into the courtyard, we emailed constantly, I would tell her how my week was going and what Schuyler and I were up to and she would tell me what she did that day, all her appointments for the week and that she couldn't wait to see me at brunch the next available Sunday. Even though I didn't love waking up early, I cherished the brunches we had together and loved meeting all her friends and acquaintances she would constantly reintroduce me to each of them again.

In the last week, my world has been turned upside down knowing that I won't be eating brunch with her again or sending her an email to tell her how my week has been. With all of the sadness and loss I am feeling, I am comforted knowing that she lived an amazing life, full of so many people that she loved and that loved her. Her 93 years have brought so much joy and love into our lives and I will always keep her close to my heart.

Arrangements under the direction of Riverside-Nassau North Chapel, Great Neck, NY, (516)487-9600, www.riversidenassaunorthchapels.com.