Grandma

On Friday this world lost one of the most amazing and inspirational women, Julie Schneider.

Roz and Julie Schneider, 2012

She was born on March 13, 1918 and when she was 18 she moved from NY to Washington DC where she spent her next 78 years. She was a friend to everyone she met, and didn't retire until she was 88, when her boss was retiring. She married, had four children, was widowed, and continued raising her kids without thinking twice. She was a cancer survivor, she broke bones, but never her spirit. She was on Facebook, and during her weekly Sunday morning calls to my mom, she would ask us about pictures we posted or adventures we took. She stayed in contact with past colleagues, and no matter where in DC we went, she knew someone, who owned the business 30 years earlier, and people gave her free meals. At the ripe young age of 94 she decided it was time to move into a senior living apartment, where doing "nothing" included exercise, a bus trip for lunch, and mahjong almost daily.

She loved White Russians, and she drove us up the wall in the way only your 90-sometime grandmother is allowed to do. She always needed chocolate around, a trait she shared with my dad, and she made the best matzah brei. She did multiple crossword puzzles a day and watched GSN for hours.

Even to her last day, her mind was quicker than most, but her body could not keep up with her brain. Somewhere she is now cooking a brisket for my dad and they are engaging in their typical banter; an exchange we will miss for the rest of our lives.

Grandma, you finally get to see your husband again after 50 years. I hope you are celebrating the 96 years of inspiration and life you shared with us with him, Aunt Edie, Marge, and dad. We will miss you so much.