For those of you who don’t know me, my name is Damian Dewit, and I am Roma Jordan’s grandson.

I wish I could say that my grandmother lived a life that was full of joy, and happiness. But her life was marked by tragedy and struggle. She lost one of her children at an early age and eventually succumbed to that horrible affliction known as Dementia. Yes, her life was marked by tragedy, but what was amazing was that she never let these tragic events drag her down. She never lost her compassion, generosity, or serenity. In fact, these events made her more compassionate, generous and wise. A stranger looking at her would never know or understand what she had gone through in her life. She had a smile for everyone. Her generosity knew no bounds.
Nana taught me so much of what I know. It was my Nan who first taught me how to cook and believe it or not, how to hold a golf club properly. But that wasn’t everything she taught me. She also instilled in me the value of hard work and to push for your dreams no matter what life throws at you. On the downside, she was constantly telling me to sit up straight (I don’t think that lesson ever stuck?). I’m forever grateful for her teaching me these valuable lessons.

Nana, I will always miss you. Thank you for being the best grandmother in the world.

I just wanted to finish with a poem that I think sums up my Nan (Unfortunately, I can’t lay claim to writing it myself).

One Of A Kind

The funny beautiful lady
That means so much to me
May be gone from the land of the living
But with me she will always be
Because my memory holds her dearly
And my pen recalls her ways
And most of all I love her
A love that always stays
It stays inside my memory
And is often on my mind
Because a lady like my grandma
Is rare and hard to find.