To a woman,

Daughter, sister, wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother,

Saleswoman and business owner always in a suit and heels,

Lover of her family, Minnesota sports teams, travel, birds, gardening and politics,

Smart wit and great humor,

Polish and of Catholic faith,

Attentive to details and taking great care in cooking and cleaning,

Inspiring each live she has touched to be a little more gentle, a little more understanding and to act with love.

Happy 100th Birthday to my Grammy, I love you.

This is her first birthday our family will be remembering her without her present.  I know her lessons will last my lifetime and will continue to have a powerful influence on future generations of our family.  After her passing in December 2012 (link) I took some of her photo albums, as pictures are so important to me.  Here are a few of my favorites.

My grandparent’s wedding day.

Eleanor, her 3 children, their spouses and 7 grandchildren – 1993

Grammy with her first 5 grandchildren

Her oldest child Sandy, her husband Douglas and their first born Zachary

4 generations

Her and 3 sisters growing up

Grammy with me on a trip to Florida in 1982

My dad with his older brother Mike

My dad with his parents.

So in Love!

Her first daughter Sandy, with her daughter Jessica

My stylish grandparents.

In Hawaii

Uncle Mike with his first of two daughters, my cousin Michelle

At her shop in South Minneapolis, Two’s Company.

My dad with his first born, my brother Matt

Me as a baby with cousins Molly, Jessica and Grammy

The wedding party.

Grammy with Sandy

The Wines children

Third from the left, Grammy, and her sisters.

Grammy with her twin sister Adeline

At my bridal shower in 2008.

They loved to travel.