Ella ~ My Grandma

Ella Elizabeth Bauman Domnick

June 12, 1915 ~ April 1, 2015

My Grandma was a simple woman who loved her God, her family and her friends well. When I think of Grandma, I think of the simple, ordinary things she did every single day to show that love. She was one of 12 kids, but 4 passed away before Grandma was born. (a little side note, she was the last of the siblings to pass away). She was born and raised in Bern, Kansas. She met my grandpa in a Sunday School class in Burlington, OK and they married on April 27, 1940.

Several years ago my mom made me a book and in it recorded some of my Grandma's thoughts. My Grandma's biggest fear was to die young and not be able to enjoy her family. Grandma....you lived a long life and had plenty of time to enjoy your family.

According to my book, here are some of her favorites:

• color ~ blue
• scent ~ vanilla
• season ~ spring
• flower ~ roses
• place ~ her home
• person ~ her husband
• book ~ the Bible
• writer ~ David, the Psalms
• music ~ violin and piano
• hymn ~ In the Garden

Here are some of my memories:

• washing dishes after a home cooked meal at her house
• eating toast with REAL butter on it for breakfast on those nights I got to spend the night
• sitting in the back seat of the van together on our many long road trips / vacations
• chocolate chip cookies - she ALWAYS had chocolate chip cookies for us
• the child sized coat rack in their hallway put up for Aaron and I when we were little
• visiting Grandma in the lingerie department of Witzig's (their department store) when she was still working
• peeking into Grandma's jewelry boxes whenever I visited and trying on her opal ring - which she gave to me when I was 16
• stopping in to say hi on my way home from high school (and getting some chocolate chip cookies!)
• homemade ice cream for birthdays and special family get togethers
• having my own special garden in their yard

Grandma's opal ring

It's true that we don't get a choice when it comes to family - we don't get to choose who will be our parents or grandparents. But honestly, if I had a choice, I would definitely choose Ella to be my grandma. I hope and pray that her example of loving and serving her God, her family and her friends has rubbed off on me a little bit.