In Memory of My Oma

Last Sunday, we got the call no one wants to hear: “Oma isn’t doing well. It would be good if you came soon.” She battled for 2 more days, and this morning, joined her husband, parents, brothers, and beloved dog, Heidi, when she went home to be with Jesus at 90 years young.

Oma was a warrior, a woman of both the Word and prayer. Born in Germany in 1930, she survived WWII and then met the love of her life, our Opa, from Puerto Rico, while he was serving in the Allied forces occupying Germany post-war.

After they married, she emigrated to a new country, while her husband continued to serve. In all, through more international and cross-country moves, she raised 4 children, who gave her 8 grandchildren and, so far, 5 great-grandchildren.

When Opa’s health started failing, I was in college and later moved away, eventually to spend 2 years in Argentina. From afar, I watched and heard of her faithful care of my grandfather as his health declined for more than 10 years. Her commitment to him was formidable; an example of what it means to care for someone else no matter what. When he passed in 2019, I was sad for myself, but even more for her, who had lost a spouse of almost 70 years. It still boggles my mind... I was in college when I realized that my grandparents had a biracial marriage in the 1950s- to me they were always just Oma and Opa, from Germany and Puerto Rico. They had a love that lasted through the ages, despite hardship and war, different languages, cultural differences, and everything in between- because it was grounded in their shared faith. And their story is extraordinary because of their awesome God.

We share a love of dogs, and, some of my favorite, most recent memories are of taking Annie over to see ‘her Oma’. I can quote so many of her German phrases, even though I have no idea what they mean, but the greatest legacy of all that she left everyone in our family is deep, great, unwavering faith.

I’m on Susie Larson’s “daily blessing” email list, and when I saw the one posted on my birthday but sent via email yesterday, I didn’t want to read it. Oma was still here, but we knew her time was short. Today, after hearing the news of her passing, I went to finally read it.

I can’t wait for the day when I am there with her, experiencing this- with our beloved dogs and family together again- in eternity with Jesus. She always called me “Angel”; I most definitely am not one, but one day we will sing with them together.

*first pic from Christmas 2011