Marcy Svoboda lived such a full life I cannot sum up in a matter of minutes all the things she will be remembered for, or how loved she is or how much we will miss her. She was many things; a daughter, sister, wife, friend, aunt, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother.

She was often the unashamed laughter heard in our family. And in going through photographs it’s easy to see the many pictures of grandma with her head tilted back and a wide smile on her face. She truly loved life, and she loved sharing it with her family.We shared many Thanksgiving walks down the creek together, and games of tarrocks. We shared travels with her because her van was always ready to take us somewhere. And even in everyday life, she could turn even mundane tasks like picking up or washing dishes into a game. She was a #1 fan to many grandkids, and helped us learn by being an endless pitcher, catcher and outfielder all at once. She decorated her van visors with buttons to support us. Marcy lived such a colorful life it’s hard to mention all the hunting trips, collected gadgets, red hat events and kitchen dances we shared with her.

She was also a creator of beautiful things. She made a beautiful garden. She made scrapbooks and intricate cards. She made afghans and crocheted designs without a pattern.  Marcy spoiled 4 daughters, 10 grandchildren, and 9 great-grandchildren. And each of us have a pair of patched clothing we ripped while playing at the farm. The jeans that our mother’s wouldn’t patch for us, Grandma would fix because they were our favorite. She poured her love into the creation of sewing, crocheting and paper crafts to share with us.

Sometimes the expression of her love for us was in Hoska, rolls or oyster soup. Grandma’s house was the only place to get “grandma soup” or chicken and dumplings. And like the sewing and crocheting, these things didn’t have a recipe. Grandma knew when the rolls would be just right because the yeast would tell her.

“It will tell you” she said.

The patterns and recipes may have been written down for us to remember, but the yeast, the yarn, the lace, the paper… it will always tell us. The yeast will tell us when it has risen enough. The yarn and thread will tell us when the tension is right. May my family always be blessed to hear when the beauty of these things are ready, because that is Grandma Marcy speaking to us still.

I do believe she is never gone, her life will live on through the descendants of her heart, those family and friends she loved with the creations of kolaches and embroidered pillows. She will never leave us for hand-sewn lace wedding gowns and long wedding veils hold her love in them. In hundreds of hemmed pants and dozens of decorated scrapbook pages, her life will be remembered and carried with all of us. May we always tell of times where her laughter filled the room. May Marcy’s humor, selfless love and beauty be genetic to our children, and their children after them.

For all who love and miss her, and long to see her again, let’s do as she often told us….. “Just close your eyes, I’m there.”