On Friday, March 20th 2015, Lillian Mae Duffin, 99 years old, went to go be with Jesus from her home in Arroyo Grande, California.
Lillian was my grandmother. Her family loves her and misses her very much.
Grandma was born on Thursday, 15 July 1915 at the family home on Santa Rosa St. in San Luis Obispo, Ca. The home no longer exists as it was located on the area of the street where the current bridge passes over highway 101. It was most likely 778 Santa Rosa St where her parents lived at the time.
Grandma was the fourth (and last) child of Jesse and Nancy Burns. She was raised in the Central Valley of California on the Union Oil Company pump station called Middle Water where her father ran the pump station and her mother ran the cook house. The family moved to the Coalinga pump station and then to the pump station at McKittrick where she attended school at the one room Olig Elementary School near McKittrick. She later attended school in Taft and graduated from Taft Union High School.
Grandma met Grandpa when she went to go dancing one night and he was the guy playing the piano in the dance band. They were later married in Los Angeles, Ca. and lived at 409 Woodrow St., Taft, Ca. Grandpa soon had a job with the Belridge Oil Company that ironically was not very far from the Union Oil Co. Middle Water pump station where Grandma lived as a child. Grandpa, Grandma and Dad lived in Belridge, Ca. When Grandpa retired, Grandma and Grandpa moved to the Daisy Hill Mobile Home park in Los Osos, Ca. and then to the Sunrise Terrace Mobile Home park in Arroyo Grande, Ca. After living there for a while, they moved into a duplex at 840 Mesa Dr., Arroyo Grande, Ca. They owned their half of the duplex. It had a nice little yard and a sun room that they converted into a family room. They were very happy there.
Grandma was a great mom, a great wife to Grandpa and a great Grandmother to her four grandchildren and her great grandson. She raised my dad with a steady hand and guided him through life.
Grandma was always a homemaker and volunteered in the PTA at my fathers school and was the den mother for my dad's cub scout group.
Grandma was also a spotter for airplanes for the aircraft warning service during World War II, obtaining her wings for her long service at that time. Because Grandma, Grandpa and my dad were living in a oil company town out in the oil fields at the time of WWII, there was concern that the oil fields would be bombed by the enemy. This is why there was a need for aircraft spotters.
Grandma was always fixing pies, cakes and other food dishes for family affairs and for various gatherings throughout the years at the company clubhouse. She was very active in the eastern star at Fellows, Ca. becoming worthy matron in about 1962, serving one full term. She later attended eastern star meetings in Arroyo Grande, Ca. She was awarded a certificate of appreciation for 20 years of service by the Arroyo Grande Women's Club in May of 2007. She also served many years as a volunteer at the Arroyo Grande Hospital.
During her life there were 17 presidents, namely Wilson, Harding, Coolidge, Hoover, Roosevelt, Truman, Eisenhower, Kennedy, Johnson, Nixon, Ford, Carter, Reagan, G. Bush, Clinton, G.W. Bush and Obama. She was about 3 years old when WWI ended. She saw and lived through the Depression, WWII, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, the Cold War, the Gulf War, the War in Iraq and the stuff we know about going on today.
She was very happy with her son Richard, daughter-in-law Benadene, her four grandchildren Jim, Sharon, Susan and Eric, her grandson-in-law Mark and her great grandson Andrew. She was very excited to have Andrew as her great grandchild.
In late September 2008 she fell in her backyard and broke her right hip. She was not completely hindered by it. She was back up and using a walker at the rehab and was able to get around in her home up to the next to the very last day of her life. When she first returned home from the rehab she did have 24 hour care for a few weeks until she could maintain herself at home. From late October 2008 until late March 2015 she had care providers for five hours per day except the weekends until late March 2015 when she had some 24 hour care until her last days. Grandma had gone to her weekly Wednesday morning hair appointment at the beauty parlor two days before her passing. Grandma was a very organized person and every day of the week had a purpose. Monday was washing day, Tuesday was ironing day, Wednesday was her beauty parlor day etc... Saturday was Grandpa's day :).
Funny things:
Grandma would tell the caregivers that she did not like beer, wine, etc... However, she would have wine at dinner parties, etc... when she was younger. She just did not admit to that fact. One time one of her care providers', Jena, asked if it would be ok to take Grandma to brunch at Christmastime. Dad said "sure, go have a good time". Jena took her to a restaurant near Avila Beach, Ca. Grandma looked at the menu and saw the list of juices in a Mimosa and wanted one. She ordered one and when it came she took a sip of it and said "boy, that is good" and began drinking it while eating the food that she had ordered. Upon leaving the restaurant, she became a little tipsy and Jena had to hang on to her going back to the car. When Jena told us about the incident it became a family funny joke to tell about Grandma at our family gatherings at Christmastime.
One day Grandma was at Mom and Dad's house at Christmastime and her grandson Jim asked her if she wanted a Mudslide. She replied that sounded good and would like one not knowing what it was or what was in it. Jim proceeded to make her one and she drank it and told Jim that it was good. A couple of days later she was at the store and bought a bottle of Mudslide mix. Not realizing that you add Whiskey to it, she drank it straight and said it was the most horrible thing that she had ever tasted and gave the rest of the bottle of mix to my Mom and Dad!
When her care provider, Lorelyn was down and working for Grandma, she asked if it was ok to go through all of the foods in the freezer because some of the food in the freezer were very old and outdated. Dad was thankful of the idea and told Lorelyn to have at it but to do it slowly so as to not make Grandma think that all of her food was being thrown out. So, over a fairly long period, Lorelyn and the other care providers were able to begin using the foods that were good and reduce the outdated stuff. However, Grandma wanted to go shopping to get groceries in general and Lorelyn would take her. Grandma had a habit of wanting to buy more and more frozen stuff that she already had in the freezer at home. So, Lorelyn would just let her pick out some and when Grandma was not looking Lorelyn would just take it out of the shopping cart and put it back on the shelf. Grandma never caught on to what was happening. Over time the good food was used up and the outdated stuff was gone.
Thank You to all the care providers who took such great care of Grandma over the years. Namely, Jena, Lorelyn, Penny, Jamie, Amber, Dina, Gena and Veronica. Our family is extremely grateful for all their help. Grandma never wanted to go to a retirement home or a convalescent home. She wanted to stay in her own home and because of her son Richard and daughter-in-law Benadene and all the care providers help, she was able to do just that. She passed away peacefully, in her own home, as she wanted.
Grandma is survived by her son, Richard Duffin, daughter-in-law Benadene Duffin, grandchildren James Duffin, Sharon Duffin, Susan Gossman (Mark) and Eric Duffin, great grandson Andrew Gossman, sister-in-law Lucile Burns and many nieces and nephews, grand nieces and grand nephews.
Grandma was preceded in death by her husband, my grandpa, Thomas Townsend Duffin, her parents Jesse and Nancy Burns, her siblings Beth Smith, Thelma Mayhall and Robert Burns and her brothers-in-law Charles Irwin Mayhall and Prentice Franklin Smith.
Grandma, have a good time with your "Tommie" the "Best Husband Ever"! Grandpa, you are now back with your "Susie". Grandpa called grandma "Susie" even though her name is Lillian. Grandma never knew why he called her Susie but she always loved it! He said that she looked like a Suzie so her called her Suzie.
Grandma's 4th great grandmother was Hannah Boone Stewart Pennington, the sister of Daniel Boone and the wife of John Stewart. Daniel Boone was Grandma's 5th great uncle.
Daughter-in-law Benadene Leone Duffin's findagrave memorial number is 185162076.
Lillian was my grandmother. Her family loves her and misses her very much.
Grandma was born on Thursday, 15 July 1915 at the family home on Santa Rosa St. in San Luis Obispo, Ca. The home no longer exists as it was located on the area of the street where the current bridge passes over highway 101. It was most likely 778 Santa Rosa St where her parents lived at the time.
Grandma was the fourth (and last) child of Jesse and Nancy Burns. She was raised in the Central Valley of California on the Union Oil Company pump station called Middle Water where her father ran the pump station and her mother ran the cook house. The family moved to the Coalinga pump station and then to the pump station at McKittrick where she attended school at the one room Olig Elementary School near McKittrick. She later attended school in Taft and graduated from Taft Union High School.
Grandma met Grandpa when she went to go dancing one night and he was the guy playing the piano in the dance band. They were later married in Los Angeles, Ca. and lived at 409 Woodrow St., Taft, Ca. Grandpa soon had a job with the Belridge Oil Company that ironically was not very far from the Union Oil Co. Middle Water pump station where Grandma lived as a child. Grandpa, Grandma and Dad lived in Belridge, Ca. When Grandpa retired, Grandma and Grandpa moved to the Daisy Hill Mobile Home park in Los Osos, Ca. and then to the Sunrise Terrace Mobile Home park in Arroyo Grande, Ca. After living there for a while, they moved into a duplex at 840 Mesa Dr., Arroyo Grande, Ca. They owned their half of the duplex. It had a nice little yard and a sun room that they converted into a family room. They were very happy there.
Grandma was a great mom, a great wife to Grandpa and a great Grandmother to her four grandchildren and her great grandson. She raised my dad with a steady hand and guided him through life.
Grandma was always a homemaker and volunteered in the PTA at my fathers school and was the den mother for my dad's cub scout group.
Grandma was also a spotter for airplanes for the aircraft warning service during World War II, obtaining her wings for her long service at that time. Because Grandma, Grandpa and my dad were living in a oil company town out in the oil fields at the time of WWII, there was concern that the oil fields would be bombed by the enemy. This is why there was a need for aircraft spotters.
Grandma was always fixing pies, cakes and other food dishes for family affairs and for various gatherings throughout the years at the company clubhouse. She was very active in the eastern star at Fellows, Ca. becoming worthy matron in about 1962, serving one full term. She later attended eastern star meetings in Arroyo Grande, Ca. She was awarded a certificate of appreciation for 20 years of service by the Arroyo Grande Women's Club in May of 2007. She also served many years as a volunteer at the Arroyo Grande Hospital.
During her life there were 17 presidents, namely Wilson, Harding, Coolidge, Hoover, Roosevelt, Truman, Eisenhower, Kennedy, Johnson, Nixon, Ford, Carter, Reagan, G. Bush, Clinton, G.W. Bush and Obama. She was about 3 years old when WWI ended. She saw and lived through the Depression, WWII, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, the Cold War, the Gulf War, the War in Iraq and the stuff we know about going on today.
She was very happy with her son Richard, daughter-in-law Benadene, her four grandchildren Jim, Sharon, Susan and Eric, her grandson-in-law Mark and her great grandson Andrew. She was very excited to have Andrew as her great grandchild.
In late September 2008 she fell in her backyard and broke her right hip. She was not completely hindered by it. She was back up and using a walker at the rehab and was able to get around in her home up to the next to the very last day of her life. When she first returned home from the rehab she did have 24 hour care for a few weeks until she could maintain herself at home. From late October 2008 until late March 2015 she had care providers for five hours per day except the weekends until late March 2015 when she had some 24 hour care until her last days. Grandma had gone to her weekly Wednesday morning hair appointment at the beauty parlor two days before her passing. Grandma was a very organized person and every day of the week had a purpose. Monday was washing day, Tuesday was ironing day, Wednesday was her beauty parlor day etc... Saturday was Grandpa's day :).
Funny things:
Grandma would tell the caregivers that she did not like beer, wine, etc... However, she would have wine at dinner parties, etc... when she was younger. She just did not admit to that fact. One time one of her care providers', Jena, asked if it would be ok to take Grandma to brunch at Christmastime. Dad said "sure, go have a good time". Jena took her to a restaurant near Avila Beach, Ca. Grandma looked at the menu and saw the list of juices in a Mimosa and wanted one. She ordered one and when it came she took a sip of it and said "boy, that is good" and began drinking it while eating the food that she had ordered. Upon leaving the restaurant, she became a little tipsy and Jena had to hang on to her going back to the car. When Jena told us about the incident it became a family funny joke to tell about Grandma at our family gatherings at Christmastime.
One day Grandma was at Mom and Dad's house at Christmastime and her grandson Jim asked her if she wanted a Mudslide. She replied that sounded good and would like one not knowing what it was or what was in it. Jim proceeded to make her one and she drank it and told Jim that it was good. A couple of days later she was at the store and bought a bottle of Mudslide mix. Not realizing that you add Whiskey to it, she drank it straight and said it was the most horrible thing that she had ever tasted and gave the rest of the bottle of mix to my Mom and Dad!
When her care provider, Lorelyn was down and working for Grandma, she asked if it was ok to go through all of the foods in the freezer because some of the food in the freezer were very old and outdated. Dad was thankful of the idea and told Lorelyn to have at it but to do it slowly so as to not make Grandma think that all of her food was being thrown out. So, over a fairly long period, Lorelyn and the other care providers were able to begin using the foods that were good and reduce the outdated stuff. However, Grandma wanted to go shopping to get groceries in general and Lorelyn would take her. Grandma had a habit of wanting to buy more and more frozen stuff that she already had in the freezer at home. So, Lorelyn would just let her pick out some and when Grandma was not looking Lorelyn would just take it out of the shopping cart and put it back on the shelf. Grandma never caught on to what was happening. Over time the good food was used up and the outdated stuff was gone.
Thank You to all the care providers who took such great care of Grandma over the years. Namely, Jena, Lorelyn, Penny, Jamie, Amber, Dina, Gena and Veronica. Our family is extremely grateful for all their help. Grandma never wanted to go to a retirement home or a convalescent home. She wanted to stay in her own home and because of her son Richard and daughter-in-law Benadene and all the care providers help, she was able to do just that. She passed away peacefully, in her own home, as she wanted.
Grandma is survived by her son, Richard Duffin, daughter-in-law Benadene Duffin, grandchildren James Duffin, Sharon Duffin, Susan Gossman (Mark) and Eric Duffin, great grandson Andrew Gossman, sister-in-law Lucile Burns and many nieces and nephews, grand nieces and grand nephews.
Grandma was preceded in death by her husband, my grandpa, Thomas Townsend Duffin, her parents Jesse and Nancy Burns, her siblings Beth Smith, Thelma Mayhall and Robert Burns and her brothers-in-law Charles Irwin Mayhall and Prentice Franklin Smith.
Grandma, have a good time with your "Tommie" the "Best Husband Ever"! Grandpa, you are now back with your "Susie". Grandpa called grandma "Susie" even though her name is Lillian. Grandma never knew why he called her Susie but she always loved it! He said that she looked like a Suzie so her called her Suzie.
Grandma's 4th great grandmother was Hannah Boone Stewart Pennington, the sister of Daniel Boone and the wife of John Stewart. Daniel Boone was Grandma's 5th great uncle.
Daughter-in-law Benadene Leone Duffin's findagrave memorial number is 185162076.
On Friday, March 20th 2015, Lillian Mae Duffin, 99 years old, went to go be with Jesus from her home in Arroyo Grande, California.
Lillian was my grandmother. Her family loves her and misses her very much.
Grandma was born on Thursday, 15 July 1915 at the family home on Santa Rosa St. in San Luis Obispo, Ca. The home no longer exists as it was located on the area of the street where the current bridge passes over highway 101. It was most likely 778 Santa Rosa St where her parents lived at the time.
Grandma was the fourth (and last) child of Jesse and Nancy Burns. She was raised in the Central Valley of California on the Union Oil Company pump station called Middle Water where her father ran the pump station and her mother ran the cook house. The family moved to the Coalinga pump station and then to the pump station at McKittrick where she attended school at the one room Olig Elementary School near McKittrick. She later attended school in Taft and graduated from Taft Union High School.
Grandma met Grandpa when she went to go dancing one night and he was the guy playing the piano in the dance band. They were later married in Los Angeles, Ca. and lived at 409 Woodrow St., Taft, Ca. Grandpa soon had a job with the Belridge Oil Company that ironically was not very far from the Union Oil Co. Middle Water pump station where Grandma lived as a child. Grandpa, Grandma and Dad lived in Belridge, Ca. When Grandpa retired, Grandma and Grandpa moved to the Daisy Hill Mobile Home park in Los Osos, Ca. and then to the Sunrise Terrace Mobile Home park in Arroyo Grande, Ca. After living there for a while, they moved into a duplex at 840 Mesa Dr., Arroyo Grande, Ca. They owned their half of the duplex. It had a nice little yard and a sun room that they converted into a family room. They were very happy there.
Grandma was a great mom, a great wife to Grandpa and a great Grandmother to her four grandchildren and her great grandson. She raised my dad with a steady hand and guided him through life.
Grandma was always a homemaker and volunteered in the PTA at my fathers school and was the den mother for my dad's cub scout group.
Grandma was also a spotter for airplanes for the aircraft warning service during World War II, obtaining her wings for her long service at that time. Because Grandma, Grandpa and my dad were living in a oil company town out in the oil fields at the time of WWII, there was concern that the oil fields would be bombed by the enemy. This is why there was a need for aircraft spotters.
Grandma was always fixing pies, cakes and other food dishes for family affairs and for various gatherings throughout the years at the company clubhouse. She was very active in the eastern star at Fellows, Ca. becoming worthy matron in about 1962, serving one full term. She later attended eastern star meetings in Arroyo Grande, Ca. She was awarded a certificate of appreciation for 20 years of service by the Arroyo Grande Women's Club in May of 2007. She also served many years as a volunteer at the Arroyo Grande Hospital.
During her life there were 17 presidents, namely Wilson, Harding, Coolidge, Hoover, Roosevelt, Truman, Eisenhower, Kennedy, Johnson, Nixon, Ford, Carter, Reagan, G. Bush, Clinton, G.W. Bush and Obama. She was about 3 years old when WWI ended. She saw and lived through the Depression, WWII, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, the Cold War, the Gulf War, the War in Iraq and the stuff we know about going on today.
She was very happy with her son Richard, daughter-in-law Benadene, her four grandchildren Jim, Sharon, Susan and Eric, her grandson-in-law Mark and her great grandson Andrew. She was very excited to have Andrew as her great grandchild.
In late September 2008 she fell in her backyard and broke her right hip. She was not completely hindered by it. She was back up and using a walker at the rehab and was able to get around in her home up to the next to the very last day of her life. When she first returned home from the rehab she did have 24 hour care for a few weeks until she could maintain herself at home. From late October 2008 until late March 2015 she had care providers for five hours per day except the weekends until late March 2015 when she had some 24 hour care until her last days. Grandma had gone to her weekly Wednesday morning hair appointment at the beauty parlor two days before her passing. Grandma was a very organized person and every day of the week had a purpose. Monday was washing day, Tuesday was ironing day, Wednesday was her beauty parlor day etc... Saturday was Grandpa's day :).
Funny things:
Grandma would tell the caregivers that she did not like beer, wine, etc... However, she would have wine at dinner parties, etc... when she was younger. She just did not admit to that fact. One time one of her care providers', Jena, asked if it would be ok to take Grandma to brunch at Christmastime. Dad said "sure, go have a good time". Jena took her to a restaurant near Avila Beach, Ca. Grandma looked at the menu and saw the list of juices in a Mimosa and wanted one. She ordered one and when it came she took a sip of it and said "boy, that is good" and began drinking it while eating the food that she had ordered. Upon leaving the restaurant, she became a little tipsy and Jena had to hang on to her going back to the car. When Jena told us about the incident it became a family funny joke to tell about Grandma at our family gatherings at Christmastime.
One day Grandma was at Mom and Dad's house at Christmastime and her grandson Jim asked her if she wanted a Mudslide. She replied that sounded good and would like one not knowing what it was or what was in it. Jim proceeded to make her one and she drank it and told Jim that it was good. A couple of days later she was at the store and bought a bottle of Mudslide mix. Not realizing that you add Whiskey to it, she drank it straight and said it was the most horrible thing that she had ever tasted and gave the rest of the bottle of mix to my Mom and Dad!
When her care provider, Lorelyn was down and working for Grandma, she asked if it was ok to go through all of the foods in the freezer because some of the food in the freezer were very old and outdated. Dad was thankful of the idea and told Lorelyn to have at it but to do it slowly so as to not make Grandma think that all of her food was being thrown out. So, over a fairly long period, Lorelyn and the other care providers were able to begin using the foods that were good and reduce the outdated stuff. However, Grandma wanted to go shopping to get groceries in general and Lorelyn would take her. Grandma had a habit of wanting to buy more and more frozen stuff that she already had in the freezer at home. So, Lorelyn would just let her pick out some and when Grandma was not looking Lorelyn would just take it out of the shopping cart and put it back on the shelf. Grandma never caught on to what was happening. Over time the good food was used up and the outdated stuff was gone.
Thank You to all the care providers who took such great care of Grandma over the years. Namely, Jena, Lorelyn, Penny, Jamie, Amber, Dina, Gena and Veronica. Our family is extremely grateful for all their help. Grandma never wanted to go to a retirement home or a convalescent home. She wanted to stay in her own home and because of her son Richard and daughter-in-law Benadene and all the care providers help, she was able to do just that. She passed away peacefully, in her own home, as she wanted.
Grandma is survived by her son, Richard Duffin, daughter-in-law Benadene Duffin, grandchildren James Duffin, Sharon Duffin, Susan Gossman (Mark) and Eric Duffin, great grandson Andrew Gossman, sister-in-law Lucile Burns and many nieces and nephews, grand nieces and grand nephews.
Grandma was preceded in death by her husband, my grandpa, Thomas Townsend Duffin, her parents Jesse and Nancy Burns, her siblings Beth Smith, Thelma Mayhall and Robert Burns and her brothers-in-law Charles Irwin Mayhall and Prentice Franklin Smith.
Grandma, have a good time with your "Tommie" the "Best Husband Ever"! Grandpa, you are now back with your "Susie". Grandpa called grandma "Susie" even though her name is Lillian. Grandma never knew why he called her Susie but she always loved it! He said that she looked like a Suzie so her called her Suzie.
Grandma's 4th great grandmother was Hannah Boone Stewart Pennington, the sister of Daniel Boone and the wife of John Stewart. Daniel Boone was Grandma's 5th great uncle.
Daughter-in-law Benadene Leone Duffin's findagrave memorial number is 185162076.
Lillian was my grandmother. Her family loves her and misses her very much.
Grandma was born on Thursday, 15 July 1915 at the family home on Santa Rosa St. in San Luis Obispo, Ca. The home no longer exists as it was located on the area of the street where the current bridge passes over highway 101. It was most likely 778 Santa Rosa St where her parents lived at the time.
Grandma was the fourth (and last) child of Jesse and Nancy Burns. She was raised in the Central Valley of California on the Union Oil Company pump station called Middle Water where her father ran the pump station and her mother ran the cook house. The family moved to the Coalinga pump station and then to the pump station at McKittrick where she attended school at the one room Olig Elementary School near McKittrick. She later attended school in Taft and graduated from Taft Union High School.
Grandma met Grandpa when she went to go dancing one night and he was the guy playing the piano in the dance band. They were later married in Los Angeles, Ca. and lived at 409 Woodrow St., Taft, Ca. Grandpa soon had a job with the Belridge Oil Company that ironically was not very far from the Union Oil Co. Middle Water pump station where Grandma lived as a child. Grandpa, Grandma and Dad lived in Belridge, Ca. When Grandpa retired, Grandma and Grandpa moved to the Daisy Hill Mobile Home park in Los Osos, Ca. and then to the Sunrise Terrace Mobile Home park in Arroyo Grande, Ca. After living there for a while, they moved into a duplex at 840 Mesa Dr., Arroyo Grande, Ca. They owned their half of the duplex. It had a nice little yard and a sun room that they converted into a family room. They were very happy there.
Grandma was a great mom, a great wife to Grandpa and a great Grandmother to her four grandchildren and her great grandson. She raised my dad with a steady hand and guided him through life.
Grandma was always a homemaker and volunteered in the PTA at my fathers school and was the den mother for my dad's cub scout group.
Grandma was also a spotter for airplanes for the aircraft warning service during World War II, obtaining her wings for her long service at that time. Because Grandma, Grandpa and my dad were living in a oil company town out in the oil fields at the time of WWII, there was concern that the oil fields would be bombed by the enemy. This is why there was a need for aircraft spotters.
Grandma was always fixing pies, cakes and other food dishes for family affairs and for various gatherings throughout the years at the company clubhouse. She was very active in the eastern star at Fellows, Ca. becoming worthy matron in about 1962, serving one full term. She later attended eastern star meetings in Arroyo Grande, Ca. She was awarded a certificate of appreciation for 20 years of service by the Arroyo Grande Women's Club in May of 2007. She also served many years as a volunteer at the Arroyo Grande Hospital.
During her life there were 17 presidents, namely Wilson, Harding, Coolidge, Hoover, Roosevelt, Truman, Eisenhower, Kennedy, Johnson, Nixon, Ford, Carter, Reagan, G. Bush, Clinton, G.W. Bush and Obama. She was about 3 years old when WWI ended. She saw and lived through the Depression, WWII, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, the Cold War, the Gulf War, the War in Iraq and the stuff we know about going on today.
She was very happy with her son Richard, daughter-in-law Benadene, her four grandchildren Jim, Sharon, Susan and Eric, her grandson-in-law Mark and her great grandson Andrew. She was very excited to have Andrew as her great grandchild.
In late September 2008 she fell in her backyard and broke her right hip. She was not completely hindered by it. She was back up and using a walker at the rehab and was able to get around in her home up to the next to the very last day of her life. When she first returned home from the rehab she did have 24 hour care for a few weeks until she could maintain herself at home. From late October 2008 until late March 2015 she had care providers for five hours per day except the weekends until late March 2015 when she had some 24 hour care until her last days. Grandma had gone to her weekly Wednesday morning hair appointment at the beauty parlor two days before her passing. Grandma was a very organized person and every day of the week had a purpose. Monday was washing day, Tuesday was ironing day, Wednesday was her beauty parlor day etc... Saturday was Grandpa's day :).
Funny things:
Grandma would tell the caregivers that she did not like beer, wine, etc... However, she would have wine at dinner parties, etc... when she was younger. She just did not admit to that fact. One time one of her care providers', Jena, asked if it would be ok to take Grandma to brunch at Christmastime. Dad said "sure, go have a good time". Jena took her to a restaurant near Avila Beach, Ca. Grandma looked at the menu and saw the list of juices in a Mimosa and wanted one. She ordered one and when it came she took a sip of it and said "boy, that is good" and began drinking it while eating the food that she had ordered. Upon leaving the restaurant, she became a little tipsy and Jena had to hang on to her going back to the car. When Jena told us about the incident it became a family funny joke to tell about Grandma at our family gatherings at Christmastime.
One day Grandma was at Mom and Dad's house at Christmastime and her grandson Jim asked her if she wanted a Mudslide. She replied that sounded good and would like one not knowing what it was or what was in it. Jim proceeded to make her one and she drank it and told Jim that it was good. A couple of days later she was at the store and bought a bottle of Mudslide mix. Not realizing that you add Whiskey to it, she drank it straight and said it was the most horrible thing that she had ever tasted and gave the rest of the bottle of mix to my Mom and Dad!
When her care provider, Lorelyn was down and working for Grandma, she asked if it was ok to go through all of the foods in the freezer because some of the food in the freezer were very old and outdated. Dad was thankful of the idea and told Lorelyn to have at it but to do it slowly so as to not make Grandma think that all of her food was being thrown out. So, over a fairly long period, Lorelyn and the other care providers were able to begin using the foods that were good and reduce the outdated stuff. However, Grandma wanted to go shopping to get groceries in general and Lorelyn would take her. Grandma had a habit of wanting to buy more and more frozen stuff that she already had in the freezer at home. So, Lorelyn would just let her pick out some and when Grandma was not looking Lorelyn would just take it out of the shopping cart and put it back on the shelf. Grandma never caught on to what was happening. Over time the good food was used up and the outdated stuff was gone.
Thank You to all the care providers who took such great care of Grandma over the years. Namely, Jena, Lorelyn, Penny, Jamie, Amber, Dina, Gena and Veronica. Our family is extremely grateful for all their help. Grandma never wanted to go to a retirement home or a convalescent home. She wanted to stay in her own home and because of her son Richard and daughter-in-law Benadene and all the care providers help, she was able to do just that. She passed away peacefully, in her own home, as she wanted.
Grandma is survived by her son, Richard Duffin, daughter-in-law Benadene Duffin, grandchildren James Duffin, Sharon Duffin, Susan Gossman (Mark) and Eric Duffin, great grandson Andrew Gossman, sister-in-law Lucile Burns and many nieces and nephews, grand nieces and grand nephews.
Grandma was preceded in death by her husband, my grandpa, Thomas Townsend Duffin, her parents Jesse and Nancy Burns, her siblings Beth Smith, Thelma Mayhall and Robert Burns and her brothers-in-law Charles Irwin Mayhall and Prentice Franklin Smith.
Grandma, have a good time with your "Tommie" the "Best Husband Ever"! Grandpa, you are now back with your "Susie". Grandpa called grandma "Susie" even though her name is Lillian. Grandma never knew why he called her Susie but she always loved it! He said that she looked like a Suzie so her called her Suzie.
Grandma's 4th great grandmother was Hannah Boone Stewart Pennington, the sister of Daniel Boone and the wife of John Stewart. Daniel Boone was Grandma's 5th great uncle.
Daughter-in-law Benadene Leone Duffin's findagrave memorial number is 185162076.
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Married 63 years
