sassy, and way ahead of her time

When someone is just a few months shy of hitting 100, you pretty much expect the call to come any day. But, secretly, we thought  somehow she'd outlive all of us.

from her early nursing days

On Sunday, March 7, the Zamborsky family lost our matriarch and grande dame. Nana Z was just a few months shy of her 100th birthday. Zs will be gathering from far and wide next week to pay tribute, and there will be many stories and much homage to this strong, sassy, amazing woman. Here's my two cents. I'll try to keep it short, since she wouldn't want anyone to make a big fuss over her. 

an early Christmas with Pop-pop (check out the stash of booze!)

with Barb and Ed and a fabulous fur!

She wasn't the cookie-baking, kiss-your-boo-boos-away kinda grandma. And that's exactly what we loved about her. She was a tough lady, no doubt about it, most notorious for getting us to shine all the doorknobs in the house whenever she came to babysit. But we could ride our bikes over any time to visit, and she always had a Hershey bar ready from her stash. Perhaps even a forbidden Diet Coke. And she bailed me out of a tough spot on more than one occasion, with practical advice or a safe harbor to come vent or perhaps sometimes even a little white fib, if that's what was needed.

going to McDonalds with Nana was always a special treat

stories around the dining room table 

Nana was way ahead of her time with notions like "fish is brain food" and "get out and exercise every day!" She was a celebrated storyteller, a guardian of Zamborsky family lore, and her sense of humor was legendary. The last time we visited her, one of the nurses made a point of telling us how much he enjoyed her wit and how she cracked him up. She always cracked us up, and herself too, with her knee-slapping cackle. I sometimes find myself cackling like that too -- although I haven't gotten the knee-slapping thing down -- and can only hope that a small piece of her indomitable spirit lives on.

everyone's favorite cackle

Nana Z, role model and ultimate sassy gal, we will all miss you. I hope you're enjoying an excellent hand in that Great Bridge Game in the Sky. And I bet by now you've got 'em shining up the Pearly Gates until they can see their faces in the reflection!

November 2009... still telling stories and keeping 'em laughing