Nana Welch

I'm in Oregon today saying goodbye to my Nana Welch. She was the matriarch of our family. She was 91 years old and lived a full life. She was married to my Papa Welch for 68 years. She was an incredible cook and hostess. She could make fresh apple pies and peach cobbler like it was nobody's business. I have so many wonderful memories of my Nana including many Easter vacations spent with her at their ranch, Easter egg hunts, Kings in the Corner and the importance of knocking on the table when your turn was over, scrambled eggs with cheese, swimming for hours in their pool in Newport Beach, school shopping, All My Children, and the importance of a good, long nap in the afternoon. She was an amazing gardener. She turned choosing fruit and produce from the grocery store into an art. She'd sit in her wing back chair in the evening before bed and carefully slice a piece of fruit with a paring knife and offer slices to each of us. She taught me the importance of mixing meatloaf with your hands. Our last hours together were spent thanking her, singing to her, and reflecting. What an amazing woman she was. She loved Jesus and her family so very much. We will miss you, Nana.