Nona Elnora Bennett Wutkee

October 11, 1915 - February 25, 2010

(possibly age 16?)

I have only had one grandparent since the mid 1980's, "Grandma Nona", who is my dad's mother. After a very full and relatively healthy life, she finally started "getting old" a few years ago but only in body, her mind was sharp to the end. It was not until her fall in November that she became frail really. Thankfully Evan and I visited her at a nursing home/rehabilitation center while we were home for Christmas. She was in great spirits but her body was not working well anymore. It was gently failing her.


This afternoon she passed away peacefully in her sleep after a short deterioration of her body. She was 94 years old. Our family is happy for her and not sad in the sense of her not being here as she lived a very full and long life. We believe she has been reunited with her sweetheart, is holding our niece that never got to live her life and is having a great reunion with her parents and siblings gone before her.

I would like to tell you some things about my grandmother that I know (sorry if any of it is incorrect). She was born and raised on a Farm in Montana. One of 13 children (they were not Mormon fyi. My dad converted to the LDS church as an adult). When she was 18-20 1933+ she took a train to California. I believe by herself! (big in those days) Once in Los Angeles where one of her married sisters lived. Meanwhile my grandpa Al was working with some friends the summer somewhere near Wisconsin or Iowa when they heard you could go to the state of Washington and pick apples. ;) They were off in my grandpa's car. When they were done, they said, 'we're so close to Hollywood, let's go!" As soon as they got there, my grandpa said he was staying and to sell his car and send him the money. (wow!) He met my grandmother at a dance club, fell in love and married.

They settled in Los Angeles and raised 5 children. My parents married and eventually lived in Woodland Hills when I was a kid (approx 25-30 miles away) and for Christmas and Easter, I had great memories of driving (what seemed like hours) to my grandparents little cottage home or 'bungalow'. For Christmas Eve, it would be evening by the time we pulled up to their house. I even remember stepping from the car, onto the grass and sidewalk and walking to their front door in anticipation of what was waiting inside. The only light in the room was a table lamp or two and the Christmas tree (bubble lights!). It was so 'romantic' really, especially with the yummy smells from all the food cooking. The record player would be humming a melody so familiar and I really felt at home.

For Easter it would be the afternoon and full sunshine. They had a pretty great yard, full of flowers and probably vegetables. The flowers were taller than my head and like a maze to play in. With the sun shining it was like a fairy tale. I was purposefully sure to mention those memories to my Grandmother over the last few years so she knew I cared.

Unfortunately I didn't feel particularly close to my Grandmother growing up and wish I had known more about her. I have lived away from my family for the majority of my adult life and would have liked to learn more of her genealogy and her youth, in person, from her mouth. I'm sure my older siblings had better experiences and closer relationships depending on where they were in the birth order. I was little and the middle of 11 children, I felt distracted from getting to know her as I would have liked to know her now. I'm sure she would have told me anything I wanted to know. She was always kind to me, even writing me a few letters over the years, asking how I was doing.

Grandma Nona was widowed in the Mid 80's (and eventually moved into a guesthouse built on to my Aunt and Uncles property, 2 blocks away). She was very sentimental and saved lots of things. I dare say everything given to her. :) Now, I just hope she is enjoying seeing my grandfather again and is happy to be young again. I know she missed the younger more agile body of her youth and it must be nice to hop and skip again. ;) In a conversation a few Christmas's ago, she was having a lot of trouble with her legs, 'just not working' at the time. She said to me "I just don't understand (why her legs weren't working), I'm not OLD!" ;) There is a bitter sweet sentiment that she was at least 92 at the time and saying she wasn't 'old' but it's the frustration we all feel. Our minds are younger than our bodies. So I will try not to take for granted a healthy agile body while you enjoy your once again youthful one. :) Love you Grandma Nona. xoxo

(This is a revision of a posted memorial I posted somewhere else. I also wanted it documented here for when I one day get it printed. Sorry if you've already read this)