Constance Virginia Fordyce

My grandma passed away August 9th, ten days before my 31st birthday. I will always remember this birthday because of her. My Grandma was a beautiful, immaculate person. She married my grandpa right before he was sent off to WWII for nearly 4 years. She waited for him -- not knowing how they'd rekindle their relationship. Shortly after his return, they started their family by having my mom. Three years later my aunt arrived.

My grandma loved clothes. Her clothes were perfect -- washed and ironed according to label directions. Her nails were always polished and to complete her look, she finished herself with jewelry.

My Grandma loved to work in the yard. In her old home in Lincoln city, Oregon, she lived on Devil's Lake. She and my grandpa took evening strolls on their paddle boat to watch the beautiful sunset. She had a love for animals. When a stray cat came along, she rushed it in to the vet to have it "fixed," then she would take care of it -- or them (she had several, but they all lived outside) -- for as long as they came around, which was forever since she diligently fed them every day. She also had ducks; every morning she walked down to the lake (20 ft. from her back porch) to feed them, too!


I remember vacationing many times in the summer at Grandma's house. When I was little, I was raised on the outskirts of Ogden. To drive from Ogden to Lincoln City takes about 14 hours. I did not look forward to the roadtrips to my grandma's, but once we arrived, my grandma and grandpa would be waiting for my family and me to pull into their driveway. She always had oatmeal cookies in the cookie jar and hot soup on the stove.


My grandma never aged ... The day she died, she looked exactly as I remembered her. She was 100% Italian! She was very petite with olive skin, and she was beautiful. In the last year of her life, she became very sick and when I would call her to talk with her I would never know how sick she would be. She always had a bubbly, happy voice and was upbeat, even if she was in pain. She died so suddenly, but I was very relieved that she didn't have to suffer. I love her and miss her so much, but I know she is in a happy place and I will see her again.