My grandma ... Mommy D.
Growing up we always called her Mommy Dienner. When Hadassah was born and started talking she called her Mommy D. Her name stuck and now we all call her that!
I loved Mommy D. I grew up living right next door with my grandparents! Daudy and Mommy D. were very special to me! Mommy made the best egg sandwiches with lots of cheese and buttered bread. She served the best homemade strawberry shortcake and chocolate cake and made the best pumpkin pies! She loved to make meadow tea and iced tea. Her and Daudy made their living by going to market and I had the privilege of working for him at his little drink stand before I was even a teenager. Mommy always had an Easter Egg Hunt for us grandkids! Every Christmas Eve the Dienners always met at Daudy D's and Mommy had a gift for everyone! Daudy D put in a tennis court and in ground swimming pool at their home place so obviously we spent a lot of time playing and swimming here!!!!!
Fast forward to years later, I got married. Moved into a small rancher with Mike and Mommy D would come do my weed eating for me. She made the best lines with her small gas weed eater and it looked so nice after she was finished! She bought Longaberger Baskets from me when I was still a consultant for that company and gave the baskets out for Christmas. She loved on my children! My only regret is that she didn't get to meet Gunnar in person! Of course, I showed her a picture of Hadassah and Gunnar when he was born. I was so proud to show her but I knew she didn't really "get it." I told her the very last time I had a conversation with her that I am going to bring Hadassah and Gunnar with me the next time I visit! I really wanted to make it happen but God had other plans! Now she lives in heaven!!!!!
When my mom called and said that Mommy wasn't doing well, I had intentions to go see her on Wednesday like I did most times before workout class. I dropped a pan off at moms and she said she was just down to see Mommy D and her words were all slurred. I decided to wait for my visit if she was having an off day anyway and went off to workout class. Mom and Dad went to the cabin because they have a pickleball court project happening up there and a forest fire that state firefighters were fighting. When Mom called me on Thursday morning and said that Tel Hai called and said that Mommy's breathing changed and that they should consider coming to the home, I knew I needed to go see Mommy D! I called Mike and we met there right before lunch time. My parents were heading home from the cabin to come be with Mommy D.
When I got the retirement home, I waited outside for Mike to arrive. I sat my their outdoor water fountain and thought that maybe this would be my last visit here on earth with Mommy. When we walked into her room this is how we found her. All snuggled in her bed. Breathing hard. I thought she moaned when I started talking to her but after watching her breath so hard, I'm not sure? I cried when I saw her. She didn't look good. Maybe her time on this broken earth is finally over soon! I talked to her. I told her I loved her! Mike asked if I don't want to hold her hand or give her a kiss. I looked at her and didn't want to disturb her sleep but I wish now I would have held her hand because that was her last way of communication with her children. She did squeeze their hand when they gathered around her and she passed away. I walked back out of her room and walked over to the nurses station and started crying. I said, "She doesn't look good." Mike and I grabbed lunch together and I came back home.
Mom and Dad were on there way home from the cabin and all her siblings sat around Mommy D's bed that night. She worked hard for every breath she took. At midnight, my parents went home to try to get some sleep but at 2 AM Tel Hai called again and said they should come back. Again, another change in her breathing. I woke up Friday morning and checked my phone right away. Mike and I had our football weekend planned for this weekend. Plane tickets and motel room was booked. We had game day tickets to watch the Cowboys VS Bears play on Sunday with John and Kathy. We couldn't wait for this weekend together! I asked Mike if we should still go ahead with our plans and he said that we can't live in the what ifs and we should stick to our plans to hear more from Mommy D. I agreed.
At 7:23 AM, Mom texted and said that Mommy D just passed. Mike and I were going to get picked up at 8:30 and taken to the airport to fly to Chicago. Our plans changed really quick and we were not going anywhere but to be with the Dienner family celebrating Mommy D's life!
This is the last photo I took of Mommy D! September 18, 2025. She died the next day.
We were all packed up for our weekend away and the kids couldn't wait for the sleep overs with cousins.
I drove down to my parents to help clean up the reck room area and get ready for the Dienner family to gather at my parents house that night. Mommy D was brought by the undertakers for our first viewing that afternoon. The Dienners were welcome to come and be together that night.
Mommy D's home church brought us meals over the entire weekend. I told the ladies that Mommy D's favorite were banana splits and that was our dessert that night!!!! I loved that! Thank you!
On Saturday, Austin had a baseball game. We didn't think we could attend because of being in Chicago but now we were home and cheered him on! He's loving this fall ball season and had a great hit!
Sunday ... again we had plans to be in Chicago but because we were home for Mommy D's funeral day, we decided to go hear our friends speak out on their Faith Story with the passing of their son Parker five years ago! Brian and Erica did a great job through their tears share their tough journey of how Jesus helped them through some of the toughest days of their life! I'm so proud of them!
We grabbed lunch with our children that also went along to Freedom Life Church that morning. Then we rested at home before it was time to head to Mommy D's funeral. I knew I would cry the moment some family shared memories of Mommy D! She was so special to me and one of my best friends! I have a million memories of her and will miss her! A grandchild of Mommy D, one from each family, was asked to be a pallbearer. I'm so proud of them and they proudly carried her casket to the grave yard!
Flowers were passed out to be laid on her grave!
I love you Daudy and Mommy D!!!!!
This world can be so cruel and sad but today, angels are rejoicing and the saints of God are rejoicing in heaven!!!!!
