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Frances Jean Landvatter Hermann 1926-2005
December 7, 2005
My grandma died yesterday. My uncle Steve said it perfectly:
"I knew a little girl, (although I didn't meet her till much later) who was born in a small town in northern Utah. The youngest of five children, born into one of the only non-Mormon families in that little town.
She grew up singing and playing as all youngsters do, but unlike many others, was a good enough singer to be awarded a scholarship to the University of Southern California.
A small town girl in the Big City of Los Angeles.
At school, she met and married a man who was to become a fairly large light in the news and entertainment industry, and became a Hollywood housewife. Three children were born and raised in the Hollywood hills, to one of only a few non-Jewish families in that neighborhood.
Through her involvement in a co-op nursery school, she realized she had found her calling in life, and spent 35 years as a Head Start teacher in the barrio of L.A.
The only little white woman in the Hispanic neighborhood of Echo Park.
Time went on, and the terrible ravages of Alzheimer's disease stole many of these memories from her, and her last years were spent living with her daughter in New Jersey, in the end, not really sure where she was or where she belonged.
She is now where people of kind and true hearts belong, and I will miss her.
My only wish is that when my time comes, they will loosen the restrictions, and will make an exception for me, and I will see my mommy once again.
My friends,
I celebrate her life with every song I sing, come celebrate with me when you can."
Posted by Colin at December 7, 2005 8:15 AM
