Wedding photo of Freda and Chet DeMars, grandparents of Raina Pfundheller.
“My Grandma Freda DeMars was sweet, loving, and generous. She had a slew of grandchildren, but she never missed our birthdays; and at Christmas time, she always had a little gift wrapped and under the tree for each one of us. She truly enjoyed her children and grandchildren, especially when we’d spent the night at her house. She’d bake extra treats, and though she liked to go to bed early, she made an effort to stay up late to enjoy our company.
Then, little by little we started to notice a change in my Grandma Freda’s behavior. She would make odd mistakes like leaving a package of raw chicken on the counter overnight. She had been a wonderful cook, but suddenly, she forget simple recipes, like how to make Jello.
At the time we had never heard of Alzheimer’s Disease. We just thought she was getting old and forgetful and silly, but her behaviors just kept getting more bizarre. She had a little wiener dog named Toby that she adored. Each night she’d put Toby in his box, but she started to fear that he would escape through the tiny breathing holes, so she stuffed the holes with socks. Eventually, my uncle had to give the dog away because my grandma wasn’t able to care for him properly.
I remember one time when my husband and I visited her and took her out to a restaurant to eat. Grandma ordered a club sandwich. When the food arrived, she asked me if I could please remind her how to eat it. I showed her how to pick it and take bites. She said, “Oh, that’s right. What’s wrong with me, anyway?”
What was wrong with grandma was not her intelligence—which was always high—nor was it her heart—which was always warm and good—it was a terrible disease taking over her and replacing my beautiful grandmother with a mind that was a blank slate and a face that held an empty expression.
Still, though the disease robbed her of her memory and of a long, full life, it did not erase the person she was or the love we all had for her. Freda DeMars was one of the kindest, smartest ladies I’ve had the pleasure to know.”
–Raina Pfundheller
Honoring her grandmother, Freda DeMars, Raina models Zel’s jewelry.
Blue beaded necklace and multi-colored beaded clip on earrings.
