Saving Granny's Home
Donation protected
My name is Noni Roberson and its with a heavy heart that I write this letter for the love of my mother. After nearly 70 years of living, loving, caring and sharing; weddings, funerals and births; graduations, military deployments and triumphant returns, my family is terrifyingly close to losing the home we all love so much.
My grandparents purchased their dream home for themselves, three sons, and two daughters in 1960. From that time on their home served not only as their personal home, but a sort of home for the community. Both of my grandparents were civic minded and very involved with their church, The First Baptist Church of Crestmont. There were constantly meetings and social events held at their home, to raise money for various charities and organizations. Once, I even volunteered their garage to store hundreds of boxes of Girl Scout Cookies! If a family member needed a little help, or a place to stay for a few days or even a few months, they always found the space. "Granny's House" was all of our house.
When my Grandfather passed away about 25 years ago, my grandmother continued to care for her home lovingly. She was never late paying a single bill and often paid early. Sadly, my grandmother injured herself when she was 89 years old and required care at home from then on. Because I lived closer to my grandmother than most of my cousins and my daughter would be able to attend the same school she had been attending and because it would cause the least disruption to my life, we decided as a family that I would take care of my grandmother. I moved into her home with my daughter to take care of her full time. it was very important to my grandmother that she not be put into a care facility unless it was absolutely necessary. I expected things to be a little difficult because my grandmother had always been strong-willed and liked to have things her way. I quickly found out however, thatcaring for my grandmother was different than I thought it would be. My daughter was nine at the time and I coached her to be quiet and not make noise, however my grandmother was so glad for the company that she encouraged my daughter to have friends over and she also insisted that she practice her viola and flute in my grandmother's room. During the time of my grandmother's confinement, her children and grandchildren were very supportive, and helped as much as they could financially so that Granny would be okay. My mother lives very close by and I could always count on her to come and help me with Granny no matter what time of day or night. She also understood that caring for an elderly person can be emotionally draining at times and she made sure to take her time caring for my grandmother over the weekend or just for a day so that I could spend time with my friends or take my daughter out for a special outing. She and my aunt helped with the shopping and laundry to save me the time. Often, my mother was at the house doing things and cleaning before I had the chance to ask her for help. I don't know what I would have done without her. I took care of my grandmother in this way for several years, but the time came when I could no longer care for my grandmother at home and she had to be placed in a nursing home. The cost of the nursing home consumed all of my grandmother's income and more. When my grandmother passed away in 2012 she left her beloved home to my mother. My mother raised my little
brother and me very well. She sacrificed so that we could have not only the things we needed but also the things we wanted. My mom and dad have never owned a home of their own. They have always rented either an apartment or house. Now that my mother, at the age of 68 finally has the opportunity to own a home of her own, it breaks my heart to know she may lose it because we were unable to afford the back taxes that accumulated when my grandmother was in the nursing home. My mom is the most deserving person I know. She will come home from work house cleaning and immediately give someone a ride to the store or help them with something that they need. In addition to working, she also has to care for my father who is a disabled Vietnam vet. I can truly say that my mom is a selfless person. I love my mom and there's nothing I want more for her than for her to be able to keep this home that her parents wanted her to have so badly. So if you can, please help and if you can't please say a prayer for us and share this with your friends thank you so much.
Granny in her Garden more than forty years apart.
My grandparents purchased their dream home for themselves, three sons, and two daughters in 1960. From that time on their home served not only as their personal home, but a sort of home for the community. Both of my grandparents were civic minded and very involved with their church, The First Baptist Church of Crestmont. There were constantly meetings and social events held at their home, to raise money for various charities and organizations. Once, I even volunteered their garage to store hundreds of boxes of Girl Scout Cookies! If a family member needed a little help, or a place to stay for a few days or even a few months, they always found the space. "Granny's House" was all of our house.
When my Grandfather passed away about 25 years ago, my grandmother continued to care for her home lovingly. She was never late paying a single bill and often paid early. Sadly, my grandmother injured herself when she was 89 years old and required care at home from then on. Because I lived closer to my grandmother than most of my cousins and my daughter would be able to attend the same school she had been attending and because it would cause the least disruption to my life, we decided as a family that I would take care of my grandmother. I moved into her home with my daughter to take care of her full time. it was very important to my grandmother that she not be put into a care facility unless it was absolutely necessary. I expected things to be a little difficult because my grandmother had always been strong-willed and liked to have things her way. I quickly found out however, thatcaring for my grandmother was different than I thought it would be. My daughter was nine at the time and I coached her to be quiet and not make noise, however my grandmother was so glad for the company that she encouraged my daughter to have friends over and she also insisted that she practice her viola and flute in my grandmother's room. During the time of my grandmother's confinement, her children and grandchildren were very supportive, and helped as much as they could financially so that Granny would be okay. My mother lives very close by and I could always count on her to come and help me with Granny no matter what time of day or night. She also understood that caring for an elderly person can be emotionally draining at times and she made sure to take her time caring for my grandmother over the weekend or just for a day so that I could spend time with my friends or take my daughter out for a special outing. She and my aunt helped with the shopping and laundry to save me the time. Often, my mother was at the house doing things and cleaning before I had the chance to ask her for help. I don't know what I would have done without her. I took care of my grandmother in this way for several years, but the time came when I could no longer care for my grandmother at home and she had to be placed in a nursing home. The cost of the nursing home consumed all of my grandmother's income and more. When my grandmother passed away in 2012 she left her beloved home to my mother. My mother raised my little
brother and me very well. She sacrificed so that we could have not only the things we needed but also the things we wanted. My mom and dad have never owned a home of their own. They have always rented either an apartment or house. Now that my mother, at the age of 68 finally has the opportunity to own a home of her own, it breaks my heart to know she may lose it because we were unable to afford the back taxes that accumulated when my grandmother was in the nursing home. My mom is the most deserving person I know. She will come home from work house cleaning and immediately give someone a ride to the store or help them with something that they need. In addition to working, she also has to care for my father who is a disabled Vietnam vet. I can truly say that my mom is a selfless person. I love my mom and there's nothing I want more for her than for her to be able to keep this home that her parents wanted her to have so badly. So if you can, please help and if you can't please say a prayer for us and share this with your friends thank you so much.
Granny in her Garden more than forty years apart.
Organizer and beneficiary
Noni Roberson
Organizer
Willow Grove, PA
Essie Roberson
Beneficiary