Oh, my sweet G-ma. I still remember coming to visit you as a small boy, and having too much energy to know what to do with myself. I’d beg and beg to watch your (cool) t.v. not knowing quite yet the importance of the wealth of wisdom you had that I would soon come to learn. You’d tell me you had a surprise, go to your room that I dared not approach, and you’d come out with candies for me. Fast forward to when we came back from New Jersey, I was many years older, and we saw each other again. You could hardly recognize me as I had grown so much (and my hair was very long). You called me James, which I still take as a compliment to this day. When I reminded you that I was your great grandchild, George’s grandson, your face lit up, and you embraced me. You told me how handsome I had gotten, and planted a kiss on my cheek. I will always wish that I had just one more opportunity, to hear the memories I asked you to share with me that day. When I have children of my own in the not-so-distant future, you can bet, they will know who their G-ma was. I’ll miss you more than I can put into words, and I love you even more than that. Rest in Peace.

You know when you receive a phone call at 3 a.m. from your big sister, something's probably not right. Turns out that the matriarch of our family, Loretta Bassett, got to go home to meet up with her husband and her oldest son, my father, in Heaven. Normally, when there is a loss of human life, we tend to mourn it but in this case, my grandmother would have been 99 years old on January 22nd, the day after her great grandson, Edward's, 5th birthday. That is something to be admired and revered! Imagine all of the things that she has gotten to see! The Great Depression, World War II, every single War since then. 18 presidents from Woodrow Wilson on. All of the technological advancements, need I say more on that topic. Bearing 6 beautiful children and having 13 grandchildren and some great grandchildren in there too. 😉
She was a devout Catholic and a member of St. Pius Catholic Church for many many many years. She was a member of their choir and could play the organ/piano and sing like an angel!! She lived a life that only some of us can dream of. I will always remember you, think of you fondly, and will always love you, my beautiful Grandma. - Ár gcroí agus ár teaghlaigh. Éirinn go Brách! Your, BeauJames.

At 49 years old and the age I will become in just 12 days, this wonderful woman called Loretta became known to me as “Grandma.” She’s since been a guiding force in my life and a soft place to rest when life became a little too overwhelming. With each challenge that life presented, she was someone I turned to for guidance, and she always managed to wrap her infinite wisdom around me like a soft, snug blanket. I have memories dating back to a very young Grandma - one who sat on a phone book so she could see over the steering wheel to drive, one who took me to open my very first savings account by bus, one who got dolled up for work, one who allowed me to walk around in her fancy shoes as a child - when they were still too BIG for my feet (!), one who did household chores, cooked and relaxed in the den with her feet up watching The Love Boat and Fantasy Island on a Saturday night, because she was babysittting me. She was the first person to make excuses for me when I didn’t want to do something, and she was often times, the first person to applaud me when I did. She helped me make career choices, and gave me marital and parenting advice, which was often born out of her own admitted mistakes. She was humble in my presence, yet strong and gave off the character impression that she was 10 feet tall, as tiny as her true stature was. She was the quintessential Grandma, who bought me cocktail bread so I could have “tiny sandwiches”, and hung my artwork on the side of her fridge, just as any proud Grandparent would. “A Potful of Love” was proudly displayed from the time I was a young child, and was only returned to me as an adult when the family home was sold. I so wish my Grandma could’ve seen me become a Grandma myself, but I know how to be great, as I had the best one ever created to serve as my example. I love you so much, Grandma. Please watch over me, alongside my Daddy, knowing I’ll miss you each passing  day until we meet again. 

All my love - Your Granddaughter

I always enjoyed talking to Loretta and Loved her so!  She was so sweet and very funny! She will be missed! Rest In Peace Loretta, See you again one day. Love you little lady! 

So heart warming to see three generations of two families come together at Mass each Sunday. I got to witness the loving & patient care given to this beautiful lady. It was my privilege to bring Eucharistic to Loretta. My gift from her was her smile & her grateful pat on my hand. I know she is in Our Lord’s loving arms. 

Loretta was a very nice lady and enjoyed taking her walker to her.  She was all smiles. Diana and I will miss her. 

To the  the entire  family of Mrs. Loretta Bassett...
My thoughts and prayers are with all of you.
I will never forget her beautiful smile and the great hugs we shared every Sunday, during Mass.  I also loved taking pictures  for the family, of the  annual blessings she received from our Priests, for her birthdays  and  the remarkable number of  years  that she lived.
I miss her, already. May she Rest In Peace.  


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Loretta was preceded in death by her husband George W. Bassett Sr., son George W. Bassett Jr. and sisters Anna Pityo and Elizabeth Brino.

Loretta is survived by her sons Matthew Bassett and wife Wendi, Jonathan Bassett and wife Suzie, daughters Jane Ellen Petersen and husband John, Wendy Lockard and husband Wes and Laurie Barker. Loretta is also survived by 13 grandchildren and 9 great-grandchildren.

OBITUARY

Loretta Villana Bassett

January 22, 1920 – November 24, 2018

Sunset Memorial Park & Funeral Home

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