I’ve been MIA the last several days. I’ve been dealing with the passing of my grandmother. She was 79 and suffered from Parkinsons. It wasn’t a huge shock that her time had finally come, but tough to deal with nonetheless. I’d like to share with you the eulogy I gave at the funeral.

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Reflecting back on memories of my grandmother, one thing really stood out: As a child I knew and loved her very much, but I don’t think I ever really knew a whole lot about her outside of what I could cull from our brief visits a couple times each year. I don’t know if it was just me being a kid, letting her concentrate on me rather than me on her, or if it was just that she was a fairly private person.

It wasn’t until I was in college and had to do an assignment for a journalism class that I decided to talk to her, to interview her and really find out who she was.

We spent hours on the phone, and for the first time we just talked about her. Among other things, she told me about how she used to ride the streetcars to Briggs Stadium to watch the Tigers. I’d never known that we shared the joy and agony that comes with being a Tigers fan.

She also told me about how she loved to travel, and what a wonderful time she had visiting us as we moved around the country.

“You’ll have to move somewhere interesting when you graduate,” she said. “So I can come visit you.”

Unfortunately for her, I ended up moving to Oklahoma. She never did come visit.

It wasn’t just the happy memories that she shared with me though. she told me about the rough times too. And after our discussion, all of the memories — good and bad — gave me a clearer picture of the woman I’d thought I’d known all those years.

It seemed like we were on the phone forever that night, and for the first time, I saw Joyce Novak not just as the kindly grandmother who could always be counted on to have candy out when you visited — though she surely was that too — but rather as the complete person she truly was: A hard-working businesswoman, an adventurer, a kind and concerned boss, a sports fan and a loving mother and grandmother.

I’d always loved my grandma, but after that discussion that day I felt so much closer to her and developed a genuine admiration for all that she was. I truly cherish that time we spent together that day, and the many times before and since. I hope that she knew how much all of that time meant to me. She was an amazing woman, and I thank God I got the opportunity to know her.