Paying Respects

I got to speak at my grandmother's service. It was an honor. Here's what I said, while the Pastor held up the painting.


I’m Dannah, Judy’s granddaughter. Judy was very dear to me. I learned so much from her, including how to paint. I love art, and she is the person who taught me. She gave me my passion in life.

This is a painting she did of me and my brother Paul. It is dated 1979, So she painted it when we were that size. About 10 years ago, she gave me the painting and told me the significance of it. It is of us, and symbolizes us going forward into the future. I am rushing ahead, and Paul is holding back a little, but I’m pulling him along. I do tend to dive into everything, and Paul was a bit more timid as a child. He's more careful than I am a lot of the time.

The clouds on the horizon symbolize our future. The sky is not clear and sunny, or dark and stormy, but yellow. She said the clouds are yellow because when there are yellow clouds the weather is uncertain and it is a bit ominous, but not necessarily bad. She was worried for us, as we approached our lives.

There is a break in the clouds toward the top of the painting. She said that was the part of the sky she would watch over us through, and the sky between her and us would always be clear.

I have had this painting hanging by my bed since I got it. I look at it every night before I go to bed, and think about the story she told me of the painting. I am so grateful to have had her looking out for me all these years, because I have needed it! I know she looked after all of us when she was alive. Now she has the better view, watching over her family and friends. I couldn’t think of anyone I’d rather have watching over me.