Mildred Callahan

Mildred A. Callahan of Dallas, PA peacefully passed away on Tuesday, May 29th.  She lived to an astonishing age (a lady never tells), cared for and loved by her three children: Genevieve Singer of Shavertown, Joyce Krivenko of Florida and Paul Callahan of Dallas.  “Nanny” showered her seven grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren with endless love, support and inspiration.  From her, we all learned how to love (ain’t no way but to love someone to “bits and pieces”), how to hug (around the necks and squeeze as tight as you can!) and how to never, ever quit.  Nanny is a strong as they come, tougher than a honey badger!  She survived the depression, WWII, two open heat surgeries and even went code blue a few times, just for fun.  She showed us that love and an indomitable will could overcome anything, even death.  Living well into her 90s, giving hugs and kisses to all her nursing staff, Nanny had a positive effect on everyone she met.

Though cooking really wasn’t her thing (her concrete pork chops are infamous), she was a fantastic seamstress, often making her grandkids clothes, creative Halloween costumes and stuffed animals.  Who needed to buy Cabbage Patch dolls when Nanny could make them for you?  She would be anything for her family, and made sure all of her grandkids and great-grandkids knew how special they were.  She never judged us, would always listen, and gave great advice.  We owe her so much, and will miss her every day.

Dear Nanny,

Thanks for being there all those year and thanks for all the little things you have done for all of your grandkids.  Here’s just a few things that made you so special to us:

10.  Helping us catch fireflies in your backyard

9.    Trips to Dutch Wonderland and the Wax Museum

8.    For never judging… loving us all for who we were

7.    Amazing Christmases…full of love and laughter, silly videos and Nanny and Poppy trivia

6.    All the handmade dolls. . .especially our homemade Cabbage Patch dolls

5.    More hugs than you could ever imagine

4.    Pink fluffy robe and sweetheart soap

3.    Always being at Sunday family pasta dinners. . .or a birthday. . .or a milestone

2.    Homemade Halloween costumes turning us into whatever we wanted to be:  a lion, Chewbacca,

Spiderman, a bat, a spider, a crab, Princess Leia, a panda bear, and “authentic” Bi-Centennial

Costumes.

1.    Teaching us to never give up

Nanners, you’re as cute as bananers, we love you bits and pieces and bushels and pecks and hugs around your (our) necks.  Maybe you were a knitter, or a heavy hitter, mixing wine with sprite, you’re doing alright.  Everything will be alright.  Cuz’ you are Nanners. . . .

Rest Easy, Nanny, ‘till we meet again!

Funeral services will be held privately.  A Memorial Service will be arranged by family. Arrangements are under the direction of The Richard H. Disque Funeral Home, Inc., 2940 Memorial Highway, Dallas.