Evelyn Sleightholm Saunders
1914-2014
My Grandmother Saunders passed away yesterday. She had a heart attack on Sunday, on top of pneumonia, and despite all that she hung on for four more days, which turned out to be enough time for my mom to get home from Houston and drive to Durham to be there with her, and I’m thankful for that. She was 99 and 3/4 years old exactly — she would have been 100 on October 3. I last saw her in October when we celebrated her 99th birthday.
She grew up in Pennsylvania but spent her entire adult life in Chapel Hill, North Carolina where she became a die-hard Tarheel fan. When she made the move to an assisted living community, it meant leaving Chapel Hill for Durham — only 20 minutes away, but in the heart of despised Duke Blue Devils country. Several years ago when we visited her, she made Jose laugh out loud when we walked past another door in her assisted living community with a Duke sticker on it, and she pointed at it and said “sometimes I just want to tear that sticker right off!”
She only lived a couple hours away, so we saw her often growing up and I have a lot of good memories with her. Riding around on the golf cart at Myrtle Beach. Playing in the park across the street from her old house, and walking to the mall across the street from the condo she lived in later. Watching golf on TV — lots and lots of golf. For many years, she came to Charlotte for Christmas, bearing tins of her delicious chocolate fudge. She was always right there with us at 6 a.m. when David, Katie, Brian and I went scrambling into the living room to see what Santa had brought.
She got to meet Emma twice, in April 2013 and then again in October. I’m happy to have these photos to show Emma when she is older, when I can tell her about her great grandmother.
Love you, Grandmother.
Jen de Jong says
I am so sorry for your loss. I too, just lost my gramma (in April). She was 93. It sounds like your grandmother was a wonderful woman. I’m glad you have those precious photos with her and Emma.
katie says
We’ll miss her for sure. I know she was happy she got to meet Emma too. I have that photo of “all the girls” up in my kitchen and was just looking at it today. 🙂
Love you
laanba says
My condolences Sarah. I have always loved reading about how close your family is and I know it was very special for you to have her meet Emma. She sounds like a wonderful woman for Emma to have in her lineage.
Sarah says
I’m sorry for your loss. It is so nice that you were able to introduce Emma to her great-grandma.