My grandma taught me many lessons, though more through her living than through her speaking, though I did also learn at least one lesson from what she said.  She had been living with us the last 8 or 9 years.  She had had Alzheimer's, though I wouldn't say her struggle was as much of a battle as it was just accepting her eventual fate.  In the first few years, she would be frustrated at her memory and she would call herself "stupid".  However, she also didn't try to use her brain; choosing instead to pass her time staring blankly around her room (not that trying to push back would've helped; but it would've been encouraging if she was making an effort).  As her memory deteriorated, she gradually forgot about everyone except for my dad.  Though, in the end, I don't think she even remembered him - but that's the end stage, when she couldn't even understand words; nor could she communicate coherently.  As her memory left, she started going back in time.  She first mistook me for one of her sons.  Then, she took me for one of her brothers.  Eventually, she started addressing me as one of her uncles.  Finally, she simply addressed me as "a dear brother", being the generic term a christian addresses another christian.  

My grandma was a beauty when she was young.  She was both beautiful and witty, the latter of which stayed with her even during my childhood.  Had she been born in the modern world, she would be one of the pretty ladies any guy would die to get.  Unfortunately, the lesson I learned was how someone so attractive would age so poorly.  My grandma had a terrible relationship with my mom.  She had an attitude of entitlement and condescension which did not go well with my mom at all.  When my mom protested, my grandma would use her wittiness to slide out of being caught.  Thus, the contention built up.  As can be easily understood, my mom was not at all pleased that she became the primary caretaker of my grandma in her final years, though she faithfully made sure my grandma was taken care of physically.  However, there was no compassion; and none could be expected.  Though she didn't have to at the time, if she was wise, she would've tried to get along with the people who would eventually be taking care of her.  Unfortunately, it might've been that she was accustomed to being pandered and thus had an unrealistic mindset, which came back to haunt her later.

My grandma was a devout christian.  Despite being unable to get along with my mom (or my aunt, my dad's sister-in-law; so it's not just my mom), she loved the Lord and loved being with the saints.  I am convinced that a person's core is finally revealed as a person ages, and the layers are worn away.  When my grandma was unable to walk for long distances, she was still going to the meetings.  When my grandma had forgotten where she was living, she was still able to sing hymns and quote verses.  When my grandma could no longer remember who her family members were, she still addressed everyone as "dear brother" or "dear sister".  I am really glad to know that my grandma was inside as much of a christian as she was outside.  From that perspective, it is good that my grandma is now with the Lord, as she would've hoped to be.

I'm unapologetically glad that my grandma is gone now.  I really think that she is in a better place now.  My grandpa passed away more than 20 years ago.  I didn't see my grandma at the time that he passed away.  However, a few years later, while visiting his grave, I caught my grandma weeping over it.  I didn't know whether it was something she felt she should do because it was her role to do so, or whether she was crying from the bottom of her heart.  However, I did make a mental note of her uncharacteristic behavior.  Perhaps it was because she said something under her breath to the effect of, "why couldn't he have taken her with him".  It did seem that ever since my grandpa died, my grandma was really shut off from the world.  There was no one who was her confidant.  No one knew what she was thinking or feeling, and for the most part, no one seemed to care.  On the one hand, she was blessed with a long life, dying within 10 days of being 94.  On the other hand, living in a world where hardly anyone else has shared in the same experiences, and where expectations and the culture were so different that it feels like being in a different country or world, she would've had a tough time.  If it was me, I would be glad to leave the world behind.  So, to pretend to be romantic for one sentence, I would say that my grandpa came back to pick up my grandma.