She was Mom K to me, Grandmom to Mark and Kelly, Marge to my mom.  And in ALL our lives, she played such a huge and important role.

We were part of the Kramer family for only 10 years (well only six officially) but I don’t think she ever stopped loving my children as grandchildren….and it’s been 37 years since we were officially Kramer’s! She never forgot their birthdays and always remembered them at Christmas, even sending them a little something for their own children.

When Tom and I were first married, she took us all into her home after a fire in our apartment and we lived there with her for a while.  She welcomed us and loved us and made us feel like it really was our home too….and, in the process, she made it possible for us to save enough money to buy our own home.  I was lucky to have her in our lives when Mark and Kelly were young and impressionable because she was such a good role model for them.  She set such a good example, for everyone really, with the generosity she always showed to others….seemed she was always visiting someone in the hospital or taking flowers to someone or giving someone a ride!

One fun thing Mark and Kelly always remember is our trip to Maine  with Tom and the grab bag of gifts she gave to them so that they could open one every day of the trip.  I think they remember that more than anything else we did on that trip!

She became best friends with my mom and was the official driver as they proceeded to roam Baltimore and surrounds, always looking for an adventure to share, a new place to explore.  Even after Tom and I separated, my mom would still be invited to the Kramer Christmas gatherings and would take little gifts for all the kids.  Mom K was such a wonderful friend to my mom and provided so much enrichment to her at the end of her years on earth, and for that I will always be so very grateful.

I really have not been in touch with Mom K that often but, when we did communicate at lunch or on the phone, it was like no time had elapsed.  I’m glad I got to see her last year at Kelly’s birthday party (thank you, Tom, for coming and bringing her with you) and I have a couple of great pictures of her with Mark and Kelly as my remembrance of that occasion.  Not even an hour before my phone call from Jane, I was with Mark and had promised him I would call Grandmom to see if we could take her out to lunch the Friday after Christmas.  I’m so very sorry we did not get to see her just one more time before she departed this earth.  We loved her very much and she will always and forever be in our hearts!

Love to all of you and so very sorry for your loss.

Annie (Lynn)

P.S.  I can just see her and mom now…together again planning all kinds of heavenly adventures!!