Ryan Bernier
Peggy was as kind-of-heart as anyone I have ever met. In the 28 years I was able to spend with her during the latter course of her life, I lived a spoiled existence. 'Nana', as she was known to my cousins and I, never forgot a birthday, graduation, Christmas, or any achievement in youth sports. We always received a card at a family dinner, and she was always sure to ring our phone to ask us about every mundane detail.
Additionally, I was a frequent benefactor of her fabulous cooking skills, most notably the British-style breakfast that included bacon, eggs, fried tomatoes, french toast, 'fried-bread', and many other items that my waistline now regrets.
Peggy wasn't without her flaws, but to my eyes they were few and far between, and she owned all of them proudly, and often with a sarcastic British witticism and dramatic facial expression tacked onto the end of an explanation.
In my late adolescence, Peggy and I both discovered that we both watched the same British sitcom. Watching the show always reminded me of her.
Peggy battled with many illnesses in her later years and her health always seemed precarious, but she was a fighter. I wonder how many extra years her fighting spirit gave to our family. For that I am grateful.
Perhaps most of all I will miss our conversations. She was a wealth of knowledge, having lived through World War II and many historical events. I think she enjoyed telling my wife and I those stories just as much as we enjoyed hearing them.
I'm glad she is now free of her health issues, and I know she lived a full and meaningful life. Rest in peace Nana. Love Ryan.
Wednesday June 13, 2018 at 5:58 pm