My Nana did not always have an easy life.  She knew more than her fair share of loss  losing siblings and her father when she was still a young girl.
She also lost two fiancés to the war.  She suffered more loss by the time she was 25 than I have suffered my entire life.  It's funny, She used to tell me that she didn't feel very smart because she did not have a higher education.  I told her that she knew more about the world and life and loss and war than any of us who read about it in our Advanced History classes.  She knew it firsthand, as she lived it.  She survived a depression, a world war, saw the Civil Rights movement and so much more. she saw pain and suffering in the world
But she kept going, she managed to keep a smile on her face.  And she never lost faith in God.
Never.  
She put her trust in him, she worshipped and thanked him for all that she had, when even at times, it was not much.
She took time to pray, every single day.  
And not for herself, but for the world, for other people.   Many of you have had prayers said by my grandmother on your behalf.  She may have added you to her prayer list when you were going through a hard time, had suffered a loss, or when you were hoping for a new job, a person to share your life with, or for God to bless you with a child of your own.  I know this because I added people to her list.
I would tell people "I will have my Nana pray for you, because God likes her
And she did.  And she never took someone off of her list.  I saw it, on the kitchen counter, name after name, some with a little note that would say Job or Illness but it was just this massive list of names.  And never was there one crossed out.  
She gave of herself, she gave time, in this crazy busy world where we are all racing time and trying to make the most of our time, the one thing we cannot buy more of or get back, she gave her precious time to pray for us.  
And she would ask ever so often How is so and so, are they doing ok?  She prayed and she thought of others, that is just who she was.
A testament to that beautiful, selfless way that she lived is her family.
Her three daughters, who collectively demonstrate the best of my nana, are her legacy.  I watched them these past 5 years, as my Nana's health began to diminish.  I watched them give of themselves, for the woman who taught them what that looks like.  It started out by them rotating weekends, taking turns sleeping at my Nana's house, to help care for her, to spend time with her.
When the time came for Assisted Living, it was so hard on them, they gave their all to keep her in her home, which was what she wanted.  But, they had to make a move that was in her best interest.  They thought it through, they made the decision together.  They handled the move, together.  Nothing about it was easy, but sometimes doing the right thing is not easy, but it was done out of love.  
I watched my dad and my uncle, her two loving son in laws, for years, giving of their time.  Just as she gave her time praying on the behalf of others, I watched these two doing anything she needed  fixing things around the house, driving her places, dropping by just to say hi, always being so patient and gentle with her.  
I can give you so many examples of how that continued in the years that followed, even up to just these past few days.  To say my grandmother would be proud of her children would be an understatement.  Their faith, hope and love  those things instilled in them by my Nana are what carried them through.
Now we must move forward, we must continue living our lives, loving each other, as we always have.  We learned it from Nana, and it's our job to ensure that the youngest generations of our family still grow up with those same values  that we love our family and are there for each other, that we love God and we thank him for all that we have, none more important than our family.
We will remember her, we will laugh when we think of Kimmie goosing her every chance she could get.  We will remember sleepovers at her house that included getting up at an insanely early time to come to this very church, helping her and papa with the bread or watching her whip up her vegetable soup that will never be made the same special way she made it.  We will remember to pray, as she did, every day, walking around the basement with her rosary, asking God to intervene in and bring peace to this world.  We will teach the littlest members of our family songs like You are my sunshine and Dance with the Dolly. And when we sing it, we will hear her singing along.   
Sometimes, when we hang up a phone, we will remember calls we had with her, where the last minute of each one ended with her saying I Love you, God Be with you and you saying it back to her, and her saying it back to you one more time, for good measure.
On Christmas Eve, we will continue to gather around for a shot, now in her honor  laughing at memories of trying to get Nana chukka on Christmas Eve.  
And next year, we will go back to celebrating the feast of St. Joseph.  A day that is not only based on our Italian roots, but also in devotion to the Patron Saint of family.  It will be a day to make spinghi just as she did for all of those years, it will be a day to remember how special our family is, because of the love and devotion that she poured into building it.  She gave us her all, and to honor her, we have to do the same.  
Thanks to her, her 3 daughters are as close as siblings can be, and as the oldest of the 6 grandkids, I feel that it's more like I have 5 siblings our love is that strong.  Nine great grandchildren knew her love, her voice and her songs.  Although the future kiddos won't know her in the same way, we will ensure they know exactly how special she was and how she is surely smiling down with joy.
I just want to leave you all with a few of my grandmothers sayings, I cannot tell you how many times I have heard them in 37 years, but in the end, they really are the essence of who she was and how she lived.
Smile and the world smiles with you, cry and you cry alone
It doesn't cost a thing to be kind
God Bless
and
God Be with You


My dearest Nana, 
I love you and will always be grateful that God allowed me to feel your beautiful, pure love.  I know you are with the angels, I know you are in the place you so earned.  
In my heart, forever you will be,
Jennifer

I am very sorry for your loss.We express our warm love and deepest sympathy for you and your family.It is times like these that we need comforting.The bible gives us a very comforting hope in the very near future of seeing our loved ones again in the resurrection at John 5:28,29.

Dear Mom,
Nearly forty years ago We met and You welcomed Me into Your Home. I was shown Love by You, Dad and Your Family every day of My life since then. Among other things You taught Me Humility, Patience, and the importance of Faith and God in My Life. With the help of Your gentle guidance and unconditional Love for all of Us Our Family has grown to understand how Unique you really were. You will be missed but also celebrated for Your compassion, patience and support.            Thank You and Love Always,  Jeff

OBITUARY

Beth Spalla

August 6, 1924 – March 15, 2017

Blake-Lamb Funeral Home

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