Anna Lou Oswald Obituary

It’s very telling that all of her tributes begin and end with what a loving, kind person Aunt Anna Lou was and how much she cared for her family! She was just the best as an aunt, funny with a twinkle in her bright blue eyes. When she and I met, she would have been just a young, energetic, twenty-five year old. I am so blessed to have had her, as well as Uncle Paul and my cousins in my life for all the long years since then.

I want to give a special shout out about her helpfulness. Always. Over the years, when my own mom was ill, Anna Lou and Paul stepped in on so many occasions, even as they were getting older themselves, visiting her in the hospital, sometimes having her stay with them while she was recuperating (and I know that was hard), and even helping me to empty my mother’s house and get it ready for sale. She or I would bring the sandwiches, and then we’d work for a number of hours, room by room. It helped immeasurably that she and I both could laugh even while we were busting our butts! Then we’d go home and agree to meet the next week to resume our work.

And she always made me feel welcome and happy to see me and my kids, then grandkids when we went to visit her. She had a gift with children, playful and smiley, not smarmy, and all of them thought she was wonderful. I treasured those times because though life evolved for both of us, together we always had good times and eventually a lot of memories to share.

She kept her great attitude even as she aged, accepting the ups and downs of life as best she could, believing it was the way it was meant to be. Over the years, her losses mounted – her husband, her siblings, Barry and Dawn, and too many others, and yet, she kept a sweet composure about her. In several of our last visits we reminisced about our times together at the farm, and I told her how much she meant to us. I said that in Jacksonville, I had a beautiful childhood, and I thanked her for being a huge part of that. When she took my hand, there were tears in her eyes, and she said that meant a lot to her. Then I cried, too.

Anna Lou, if there was ever anyone who deserved a long life surrounded by people who loved you, it was you, and if ever anyone could teach the angels a thing or two about loving kindness, it is also you. I’ll miss you forever.

Your family is the most loyal, attentive family ever. Your mother was a pleasure to care for, always having something positive to say and making sure everyone knew how precious her family was to her. We here at Miller will miss her but know she is with her loved ones and no longer in pain. Each and every one of you have a wonderful Angel watching over you now. Memmy as we called her was a very special lady, a wonderful role model and the love she had for others especially her family was remarkable.
God Bless all of you and God speed my special friend.
Louise

As the matriarch of the family, I have felt truly privileged to take you and my mother to visit Marie. I’ll never forget that special time the three of you laughed together—until you simply couldn’t laugh anymore.

You came from the school of hard knocks—tilling the soil, tending the farm—but above all, you raised a family with deep love and unwavering commitment. Your dedication and hard work were seen and admired by so many.

I will deeply miss your deviled eggs—no one will ever match them.

Though I cannot be with the family for the services, please know that my heart and love are with you as you continue to heal from this loss. The impact of who she was has made me a better person. May the God of Love sustain you and help you carry on her beautiful legacy.

Sorry to hear of Anna’s passing she was a great person

Annalou,
First let me say.
Thank you
Thank you for being such a wonderful mother to my husband Steve.
Thank you for being a wonderful grandmother to our sons.
And.
Thank you for being such a wonderful and supportive Mother-in-law to me.

When I married steve, I had no way of knowing
What a special role you would play in our lives and in mine.

From the very beginning you always had such a natural way
For being supportive, caring and helpful.

You’ve never been the kind of Mother-in-law who interfered, although,
I’m sure there were times when you really had to bite your tongue, yet somehow, you always had enough trust to let us work things out for ourselves at the same time being there if we needed that helping hand.

When I talk to other people,
I realize just how lucky I am to have you as my Mother-in-law.

You’ve always been so warm and loving,
Always willing to listen.
When I lost my own mother, I was devastated, but you took me under your wing and were such a comfort to me that I grew to think of you as a second mom instead of my mother in law and I will never forget that.

As the years continued, I found that I appreciated you more and more, and for that too I’m thankful and grateful.

You were such an important part of our lives, our children’s lives and of my life.

I will treasure the memories.

Like your famous sticky buns and doughnuts, although we only would receive 1 per person in our take home bags. Poor Steve I always ate his.

Helping us paint the walls when we built our home as you would say “up on the hill”.

How you would watch Justin and Jared and get them off to school in the morning, even though you said Jared would always take too long in the bathroom and wouldn’t let Justin in or wear his cap when it was cold outside.

You trying and trying to teach me how to play HAAS

There are so many more great memories I could share but we would be here all day.

I will be forever thankful that I was able to spend time with you in those last days
Reminiscing old times, brushing your hair and holding your hand and especially thankful that I was sitting with you the morning you went through those gates to go home.

Annalou, I will think of you often I will keep you in my heart until I see you again.

Love you,
Brenda