The Eulogy of  Dee Pruet - Eulogy for a Grandfather - Eulogy by a Grandson

Dee Pruet
 
          Thank you all for being here today. As many of you know, our family has been going through the most difficult period or our lives. Last week we lost our mother, two weeks ago we said good-bye to _______, and today Cheri. We have learned what it means to grieve and to support one another in grief. Your presence today, your kind words, your cards and calls and visits have all meant so much to us and have helped immensely.
 
          Cheri was one of those people who come into our lives who is just about everything to everyone. She was the best mother to Jacquelyn that a girl could ever hope for. She was the Nana to her grandkids, even though distance kept them apart. She was the best sister John, David, Connie and me. She was a wonderful wife. She was a loving aunt. If she was your friend you had one who would stick with you no matter what came along in your lives. She was a friend forever.
 
          Cheri worked, for twelve years as the Business Manager at the Lake Elementary School. She loved it there – just to be around all those children with their energy and joy and life. When she was home recently, she received a card from one of the students wishing her to get well soon and to come back. She was so touched by the innocence and compassion of that child…
 
          Before the school, she worked at Bank of America and Umpqua. She loved those years, too (25 I believe). She was such a people person and every place she ever worked she collected friends. She had them from the banks and from school. She had friends from her membership in her Sorority, in the Boosters, in the Sober Grad Organization… So many of you here today knew her in one of those and know what a great woman she was.
 
          Cheri was a nurturer. She never liked confrontation so she never really mastered the art of being firm with people (except with Jacquelyn, of course). One of her biggest fears was the possibility of making someone sad or upset. She loved peace.
 
          Well, there was one time, though, when she violated that rule… Since she was a child, Cheri was always afraid of clowns. I don’t know why. I’ve always loved clowns and even have a clown collection in my home. I remember once, a few years ago, Cheri came to stay at our house overnight. My husband, Jeep, knew of Cheri’s fear so he took my entire clown collection and distributed them everywhere in the guest room. When Cheri opened the door and turned on the light, she was confronted by dozens of clowns all over the room. She let out a blood-curdling shriek and got very confrontational with Jeep – She wanted ALL of them out of her room NOW!
 
          Cheri and Russell have been married for 35 years. Not nearly long enough. They met back in High School and started dating after they graduated. They had a huge group of friends. I don’t know all of them and wouldn’t even attempt to name them all but I know that many of them here today to say good-bye to a dear friend and to support Russell.
 
          The true love of Cheri’s life, of course, was Jacquelyn. The day she was born Cheri knew, more than ever before, what true love was. She adored you, Jacquelyn. I know that all mothers and daughters have their issues, but you were the apple of her eye. You were the best thing that ever happened to her.
 
          Or, that is, until your kids were born. She loved Luke and Gwendolyn more than you will ever know. She was SO thankful for Skype. Those little ones lived so far away that being able to see them live was a great blessing. She was one of those proud nanas who was always sending everyone she knew photos of the grandkids and telling us all they were doing and what funny things they were up to…
 
          I imagine she saw herself in our grandmothers. She was very close to them. Grandma Margie taught her to knit and crochet. She loved needlework all her life after that.
 
          Most of us would describe Cheri as on the quiet side. But one of her best friends, Kurt, saw her as something different. He called her the ‘instigator.’ I’m not exactly sure what that means, but I’m pretty sure that it means there was much more fun and mischief in Cheri than most people saw.
 
          Cheri loved to quietly sit outside on her patio and watch the world go by. She was so happy when their house was finally finished and move-in ready. It was their forever home… twenty acres in Capay with bees everywhere. She’d keep the books and Russell would keep the bees. For her it didn’t get much better than that.
 
But she also liked going to the casino with friends – making some small bets in hopes of big winnings. I don’t suppose it ever happened. It seldom does. It was the being with friends – being active – doing things with people she loved – that was the thing. And she loved the outdoors. Being out in the woods camping with Russell was a pleasure. Enjoying nature was refreshing…
 
Cheri was such a compassionate person. She loved everyone. She was a good listener. She was always ready to hear what you were saying without jumping in to give quick fixes. Then she would encourage you as best she could.
 
It’s been a tough time for our family. Losing Cheri is the most recent grief we have experienced – the freshest… and she was one of the best among wonderful people.
 
Cheri, we are going to miss you with our entire beings. You have been loved and you will be always. Your life brought joy to ours. Your death only sorrow. We will love you forever.
 

           Eulogy for a sister. Eulogy for a sibling. Eulogy for a female... Eulogy by a sis.