Last night my family lost our Nonna. She was 96. She lived a life of hardship and struggle and loss..lived through WWII in Italy, immigrated to cold Sudbury in the late 1940s, worked hard to take care of everyone, lost many important people far too soon, won health battles, survived a devastating car accident at 88. 
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Through it all, she was the strongest person I've ever known. She loved, she gave so much, she never wanted to be a burden...her most common phrase was "I'm sorry". To everyone, she was Nonna. She cooked the best food. She was so incredibly generous. She had the strongest faith. She loved her family more than anything. 
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I'm so, so beyond lucky to have had her in my life so long. I'm so lucky I was able to spend time with her, even just to hold her hand, when she was so deaf that conversations weren't easy. I am heartbroken she won't be at my wedding, but I'm happy I was able to share so much with her before, and that she got to know Andy. I learned so much from her and she shaped my life more than she could ever know. I will always hold dearly the cherished memories and things she taught me. I'll miss her very much. Ti amo, Nonna. ♥