One month ago today, we gave my extraordinary grandmother back to God. Her presence has been central to my life since it began - she held me before my mother even did. We shared the middle name Ellen and a deep affinity for the book Little Women, among other things.

Over the past few years, I have steadily been collecting photos and videos of grandma, her home, and the memories we were making. A sense of being on borrowed time with grandma always followed me, because it was the reality – nothing in life truly keeps.

As we prepared for her memorial, it was cathartic for me to sift through these memories and more, pulling together a few videos that attempted to capture her magic. I was also honored to give the eulogy at her memorial, where we celebrated the indelible touch that her faith, love, and beauty had on countless lives. Grandma was the kind of person that we call an inspiration – someone that you could spend just a few hours with and feel something change within you. When you were with Grandma, you felt closer to heaven – a trait that I explain more of in her eulogy.

These are the final pieces of Grandma’s life – it feels like the most right thing I can do to place them here, for my parents, my siblings, my aunts, uncles, cousins, and you… that her memory might continue to inspire us now and all the days that lie ahead.

memorial video

Photos of Grandma, from 1926 – 2022

Virginia Ellen (Foote) Stratton, 95, of Edmore, Michigan, passed peacefully at home on the Stratton Farm on Friday, June 24, 2022, where she lived for 75 years. An extraordinary woman, Virginia was defined by her unwavering faith in Jesus Christ and her devotion to her husband, family, and community.
Virginia was born in Ferris Township, Michigan, on October 19, 1926, the daughter of Arthur and Nellie (Young) Foote. As a teen, she accepted Jesus as her Lord and Savior and was guided by his love and truth all her life.
In 1944, Virginia graduated from Vestaburg High School where she met the love of her life, Arthur C. Stratton. They married on February 23, 1947 after Arthur returned from his service in the United States Marine Corps during the Second World War. Together, they enjoyed 65 years of marriage before Arthur's passing in 2012, and Virginia continued for the following 10 years ever his sweetheart. Virginia was mother to Dennis (Cindy) Stratton, Christopher (Lynda) Stratton, Patrick (Debbie) Stratton, Kathleen (David) Gates, Brian (Beverly) Stratton, and Laurie (Mark) Siebert.
In addition to the full-time role of a farm wife and mother, Virginia worked as the librarian at Vestaburg Elementary School for 20 years. According to Principal George Showers, she ran it "like someone with a Master's Degree in Library Science." She committed herself to mentoring students who needed extra attention and sincerely believed that all children deserved someone who loved them unconditionally. She was an avid reader who kept apprised of current events and volunteered her time as a Sunday and Vacation Bible School teacher, Senior High Youth Group Leader, and Bible Bowl Coach. Virginia was a prayer warrior for family, loved ones, and anyone in need. Her deepest desire was for her family to love and serve Jesus, and her life was an exemplary model of what that looked like. She had a special friend in Sonja Sherman - they shared many hours in prayer and laughter together.
Virginia was preceded in death by her husband; son Dennis Stratton; parents Arthur and Nellie Foote; parents-in-law William and Ethel (Sherman) Stratton; and numerous siblings and siblings-in-law.

Virginia's legacy will live on through over 100 living descendants, including 5 children, 23 grandchildren, 43 great-grandchildren, and six great-great-grandchildren. Her children feel extravagantly blessed to have been nurtured and loved by their sweet mother.

eulogy

Writing and sharing this eulogy with my family and Grandma’s loving community was one of the biggest challenges and honors of my life. I’ll cherish this experience always.

I am Amanda Ellen – the daughter of Laurie Ellen, who is the youngest daughter of Grandma Virginia Ellen. I am number nineteen in the queue of grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great-grandchildren privileged to say – Virginia Stratton is OUR grandma.
I am honored to share the eulogy celebrating Grandma's extraordinary life. In many ways, we, here, are each bonded, connected by a sacred thread woven into us the moment God joined our lives to Virginia Stratton. Some here are her children, whether by birth or by marriage; it was all the same to her. Some here were blessed by her friendship, others by her fellowship. Maybe you were fortunate to be a student of Mrs. Stratton, and many, many of you are her grandchildren... which I may be biased when I say we have the best connection to her of them all. A word to the wise… Don't argue with the grandchildren - we do outnumber you after all.
We not only have our connection or relation to grandma in common — we also have a divine thread connecting us all because, at some point or the other, you can be certain that Grandma prayed for you. Her shimmering tapestry of prayer has your and my name on it. It probably has uncle Denny’s on it the most. She often said how blessed she was to have her family… but aren’t we the ones that were blessed because we belonged to her?
Our treasured memories with Grandma are innumerable – how could I capture her magic in so many words? What can I share that could possibly embody her legacy that was pressed into each of our hands merely five days ago? Her mantle is heavy. What I wish I could do today is impart the feeling of the sunrise touching your face when you wake up from the best sleep of your life on grandma's living room floor. Or when the summer wind slips through the window over the kitchen sink and blows her crisp white curtains against your cheek. The feeling of that hug that only grandma could give as she whispers in your ear, "Oh, am I glad to see you." Grandma’s house was what Celtic Christians called a “thin place” — where the veil between Heaven and Earth is almost porous like a screen door, and the winds of the divine blow through. I wish I could truly describe to you what the turn onto Pine Grove Road is like, knowing 100 years of your family has happened right here. A heritage like this wraps its arms around you and is a grounding force so strong that you name your babies after it.
Our lives have been indelibly touched by the magic of Virginia Stratton – we will all keep her close in our own ways, treasuring the countless memories that we each shared with her. It really isn't about my words today, but words she spoke to me and over me throughout my life that I want to share with you.
When you were at Grandma's house, you never knew who would come through the screen door. I just assumed that everyone was a second cousin (this is a sound hypothesis when you're a Stratton.) I was around 10 years old when a kind woman stopped by grandma’s house to say hello. As she was leaving, I asked Grandma if the woman was family – Grandma began to explain she was a friend from the church but paused and said, "You know, family is anyone you take into your heart. So yes, she's family." Grandma made people a priority throughout her life, and was generous in pouring out her love and prayers.
Last year, I turned 30 and was discussing the milestone birthday with Grandma. I asked her about the decades of her life and, if each decade was a chapter, what she would title them. She looked me straight in the eyes and said, "Well, Mandi, when I was in my 70s, I had the world by its tail." Many of her children have begun or entering this decade of their own life, so everybody here better watch out. Grandma always believed the best was yet to come, and reminded us often to find the joy that is waiting for you in each and every day.
During a season of my life when I was fervently praying for something that instead came to pass for someone else, Grandma had the perfect words. Didn’t she always? She soothed my heart with her profound wisdom and said, "I know you are happy for them, Mandi, but a thread of sadness can still run through it for you, too." Grandma’s empathy was boundless, and it made her a safe space for anyone who needed a little healing.
On the occasion of my 5th wedding anniversary, Grandma sent me a text to congratulate Josh and I. I took the opportunity to ask her for some marriage advice. She quickly responded, "It only gets better and better as you learn life is short; there is no time for thoughtless words and actions that leave scars on your soul. Be kind... and always hold hands no matter what." Grandma and grandpas marriage was a model of steadfast love and tireless grace. I will work all my life to mirror even an ounce of her inner beauty.
As one of her long-distance grandchildren, we really did travel over the river and through the woods to grandma's house. After we arrived and settled in, I always looked forward to bedtime – because that was when Grandma read us some stories. Literature was Grandma's love language, and she was gifted in live-reading. I have a vivid memory of Abbey, Adrienne, Blythe, and me gathered around her feet in our pajamas, and as she opened our evening read, she said to us, "Alright girls, we're going on an adventure – books will take you anywhere you want to go."
Grandma was remarkable. And when I reflect on what made her twinkle and glimmer, my mind goes to one of those special bedtime books: called The Chronicles of Narnia, and a character that I have always felt reflected Grandma's spirit: a valiant mouse called Reepicheep.
As a young mouse, Reepicheep was taught a poem that followed him all of his life: Where sky and water meet / Where the waves grow sweet / Doubt not Reepicheep / to find all you seek, there is the utter east.
Reepicheep says of the poem, "I do not know what it means. But the spell of it has been on me all my life." During the story, Reepicheep stays focused on his goal - to find Aslan's Country, which is a metaphor for Heaven, and what the poem is referring to. Every other thing in Reepicheep’s life—gold and riches, power, quests—means very little to him in the face of reaching Aslan's Country. Reepicheep seeks Heaven in everything he does.
In his determination, he describes his plans, saying, "While I can, I sail east in the Dawn Treader. When she fails me, I paddle east in my coracle. When she sinks, I shall swim east with my four paws. And when I can swim no longer, if I have not reached Aslan's country or shot over the edge of the world in some vast cataract, I shall sink with my nose to the sunrise."
The spell that pulled at Reepicheep all his life was the spell of Heaven. Grandma had the spell of Heaven on her life, too.
The truth is that Heaven is not an abstract concept or an idea that helps us suffer through the bad times of life. Heaven is a real destination with genuine importance to our life on earth now. It has a dimension of time and space. Heaven will be the restoring of how God created us to live - no more tears, no more grief of our human selves… but in its place harmony and peace. It will be a dynamic existence filled with meaningful work and meaningful relationships.
As Reepicheep sails closer to world's end, he sees the land beyond, which the story describes as "so beautiful it would break your heart”. He tastes the water and realizes it is indeed sweet. Aslan appears and confirms that Reepicheep has been faithful, and this is his moment - the culmination of everything he has been seeking in his life. He leaps into his little coracle as soon as he can, and the last they see of this valiant mouse is his silhouette against the glittering waves as he journeys on his last great adventure, beaming with joy.
In time, we all will find Aslan’s Country. For some, like Reepicheep, it may be the culmination of everything we have been seeking over the years. Some of us are looking for Aslan's Country; others may have questions or doubts or not believe in Aslan at all. Grandma had the spell of Heaven on her life; her deepest desire was that we would, too.
Today, we give Grandma back to God. And you know what? I am not sad for her. She has won her prize. A turn onto pine grove road will feel different now - we will miss the bubbling anticipation when we see grandma on the porch, waving us back home. But the space between us can be a thin one - for she waits now on heaven’s front porch, praying that the spell of heaven that she gave us will bring us home there as well.
Grandma requested a special song be played today for our listening and reflection. Along with the song and lyrics, we have compiled some precious footage of grandma, her home, and the farm that she made magical for us for 75 years. Let’s go back to the thin place one last time, In honor of the extraordinary Virginia Ellen Stratton.

eulogy video

Grandma requested a special song be played at her memorial for listening and reflection. Along with the song and lyrics, we combined precious footage of grandma, her home, and the farm that she made magical for us for 75 years.

I am so thankful for my grandma. For the ways she shaped my life. For the example of faith and grace that she gave me. And for the precious memories that I will always keep close. Praise God from whom all blessings flow.

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