On Friday, October 9th, 2009, Meredith’s Mom called and left a message on our machine saying that Leona was not doing very well and would probably pass away in a day or two. She called back a couple of hours later to tell us that Leona had died, peacefully at home.

I not only loved Leona, I liked her. I met Leona (and Carleton) back in the summer of 1994 when I was visiting Meredith. I do not remember much of those visits – I had eyes mostly for Meredith, but for some reason Carleton and Leona liked me; I can only imagine that my Maine heritage helped. I have enjoyed spending time with Gram and Gramps ever since. I last got to see Gram in August of 2008, so I got to enjoy her company on and off for 14 years. It was a privilege, and too short.

Gram was sassy with me, and I loved it. She loved to give me grief, and I loved giving it back. Leona had a small whiteboard on her refrigerator, and I would write limericks on it that teased Gram about her lack of skills in Skip-bo (a card game we played). The next morning when I got up, she would have replaced it with her own limerick that teased me and my Skip-bo playing.

Gram and I called each other dea-ah (dear, with a Maine accent). It was a familiar nod to our both being Mainers, and it was much fun. Usually, dea-ah was followed by some gentle sparring, usually about Skip-bo. Gram and I used to trade a stuffed skunk back and forth during our stays in Rockland. The skunk symbolized getting “skunked” in Skip-bo (getting beaten without winning a game all evening), and the skunk moved about from room to room as we maneuvered to find new places for him. Gram got me good last summer by having Meredith sneak him into my luggage. (As an aside, I decided to take the skunk along on trips and to photograph him for Gram. He’s been to Alabama and to London, but I never got to let Gram know that.)

Gram loved to give me grief, but she was also very kind to me. More than once, she did my laundry or ironed my clothes, even though I never asked her to. She would make me hot chocolate from time to time, and often asked after me to make sure I had things to eat (since I am fussy).

Gram and Gramps loved each other, and it was so obvious. They loved to have battles of wits, and to give each other a hard time, but it was always with a smile. I very much want to be like Gram and Gramps when (and if) I get to be in my 70s and 80s with Meredith.

Gram actually liked it when I would bring my guitar along to Rockland. I have no great talent on the instrument, but Gram and Gramps and Mer and I would sit around and sing hymns together on some visits, and that was special. They never cared if I messed up on a song – Gram and Gramps just liked singing with us. It was nice.

Gram was always welcoming to anyone we brought along to the house. We have had several friends and my brother and his wife visit the Wooster home in Rockland. They were introduced to the magic of Skip-bo, and to the magic of Leona and Carleton. Shannon, Jo, and our other friends who met Leona have a small understanding of how special the kitchen on Rankin Street was.

Leona and Carleton came out to our wedding when they were in their 70s, and they drove to Chicago from Maine to be there. They also came and visited us in our Ohio home when they were in their late 70s, again driving from Maine. They wanted to be a part of our lives, and they succeeded.

I’m sure Gram was not perfect, but she was very special to me (and to Meredith). Visits to Rockland were an escape to a home where we were welcome and loved and we could just rest and relax in that place. Rockland is still special because Gramps is still there, but the love is a little less now with Gram gone. She was a great lady. I will miss her.

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Here is the obituary that was printed in the papers and online:

ROCKLAND – Leona A. Wooster. 84, died Friday, October 9, 2009, at her home. Born in Rockland, March 23, 1925, she was the daughter of Ephraim and Carrie Lothrop.

She was educated in Rockland schools, attending Oak Grove School, Tyler School, McLain School, Rockland Junior High School and Rockland High School.

She worked at the former Newberry’s, Rockland Wholesale Grocery and raised poultry for several companies.

At a young age she attended Littlefield Memorial Baptist Church, where she later became a believer in Christ, was baptized, and joined that church. In 1951 she transferred her membership to the First Baptist Church of Rockland, where her husband, Carleton, was a member. She remained an active member there the rest of her life, teaching Sunday school for many years and serving as Superintendent of the Junior and Primary departments. She also served many years as a Deaconess and as a leader in the Pioneer Girls.

Special joys in the last several years of her life were her great-grandchildren, Logan and Kasey Grubbs. Along with her husband, she cared for them much of the time while their parents were going to school or working. A recent joy was the birth of a great-granddaughter Paisley Leona Hayslip, born on August 31, 2009, with her middle name honoring her great-grandmother.

She enjoyed a longtime special friendship with Marjorie Bickmore of Rockland.

She was pre-deceased by her parents; two brothers Lewis Hadley, Ephraim Lothrop, Jr.; two sisters, Minnie Bunker, Effie Hupper; brother-in-law Milton Wooster; sister-in-law Barbara Wooster; and a nephew Danny Wooster. She is survived by her husband of 66 years, Carleton of Rockland; one daughter, Carlene King and her husband Dale, of Casselberry, FL; one son, Raymond Wooster and his partner Brenda Harrington, of Spruce Head; three granddaughters, Dana Grubbs and her husband Dale of Thomaston, Meredith Riordan and her husband Matthew of Ohio, Tracy Hayslip and her husband Jon of Northport; three great-grandchildren, Logan Grubbs, Kasey Grubbs, Paisley Leona Hayslip; a brother-in-law Ervin Wooster of Rockland; a sister-in-law Shirley Wooster of Thomaston; nieces and nephews including Gail Jones, Glenn Wooster, Dennis Wooster, David Wooster, Doreen Genthner and Randall Hadley; as well as several others not located in this area.

A funeral service will be held at 1:00 p.m., Thursday, October 15, 2009, at First Baptist Church, 215 Limerock Street, Rockland. The Reverend Gabriel Rogers will officiate. Interment will be in Achorn Cemetery Rockland.

Those who wish may make memorial contributions to First Baptist Church of Rockland, 215 Limerock Street, Rockland, ME. 04841 or Kno-Wal-Lin Home Care & Hospice, 170 Pleasant Street, Rockland, ME 04841.