ANOTHER ANGEL GOT ITS WINGS

Angels walk among us every day but a very special one in our family received her real wings late Tuesday afternoon. They say you can pick your friends but you don't pick your family. Well if you were able to pick in-laws (mishpocha) my brother Marc lucked out and so did we when he married into the Cohen family. 

Matriarch Leaine Cohen, 91 years young went into hospice just a couple of days before our Mom and even shared the same hospice nurse. Leaine was fortunate to be able to stay in her home and daily be visited by her caring children, grandchildren and friends.  Sonny, her loving husband of 60 years passed a year ago and his caretakers continued Leaine's daily care. 

This photo was taken mid August when my daughter Lori invited Leaine, who she called her 'Bonus Grandma', to be among the family girls to go wedding dress shopping. Leaine would lean over towards me and compliment her favorites. That's the way she was, always concentrating on the positive.  Every time I saw her she would say, "I sure hope I can be at Lori's wedding. I would love to be there." 
We all knew May was a long way off...  
Leaine was the perfect Grandma exuding unconditional love. She always filled me in on the grandkids's going ons. She never hesitated to add what a 'good' kid they were. 

Grandchildren surround Leaine last Father's Day at Honor Thy Father
photo courtesy of Ben Lewis

She would say the very same thing about her 3 children, Jerry, Perry and Terri. And you know what? She was right. They had learned by her caring example and were always there for her too.   

Below are beautiful insights by Leaine's two daughter-in-laws recently shared on FaceBook. 
Perry's wife Jana wrote:   She was a sweet mixture of Southern, German and Jewish. Her Southern soul loved her fig trees, persimmon trees and country steak and yellow rice. Her German work ethic kept her working with her family at the Little Rock Foot Clinic well into her 80's. Her Jewish spirit was passed with pride into all of her children and grandchildren.

Jerry's wife Susan: "How lucky am I to have someone, that makes saying goodbye so hard."Winnie the Pooh
Even though you were 91 years young, we simply did not have enough time. We love you, we will miss you and we will take care of each other.  Good-bye Leaine Cohen

Amen to that. Thankfully she has left such a lovely legacy in all of her family. And we all shall say,  "May her memory be a blessing."