Remembering Rebekah
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From:
Clifton O'Banion
Rebekah, what did she give you?
I saw her for the last time on Sunday the 11th of December. That is the last time that I will let myself think about seeing her, happy and in her element. She most enjoyed being with her family and she really liked giving gifts. This year we drew names, so I didn’t get a gift from her, per se. But I did leave with something. Think about the last thing that Rebekah gave you. It may be something physical, like jewelry, or maybe some advice. I never took any advice from her…to her chagrin. I know it may have been frustrating for her that I literally never listened to her, but she bailed me out a few times anyway (not from jail though).
I got married young, to the first girl that fell in love with me. My mom said, “that’s not a good idea,” but we did it anyway. She supported us…eventually. She said, “the military, no don’t do that, go to college instead;” she brought Amy to my boot camp graduation. “It’s kinda early to have kids at 22,” she said, but she loved my girls as much as she loved anyone. She liked the mocha latte and I prefer white. She thought she was a comedian…she was not. She would tell me her opinion about everything. We didn’t agree on much, but I loved her anyway, even though she was mostly wrong.
I don’t have an emotional relationship with many people. In fact, some people would say I am not emotional, at all. My mom (and her family) love(d) to touch, hug and kiss. That is not my jam. That doesn’t mean I don’t love. I just prefer a loving fist bump or a gentle wave from across the room.
So…what did she leave you? Maybe the last thing she gave you was a hug. I did get one of those. The thing that she left us with, though. The one item that I got to remember her, every time I see it, every time I use it was a Squatty potty. You probably all know what a Squatty potty is, but if not, the website says it’s “The #1 way to go #2.”
Thank you, Mom, for the never-ending advice. After 40, or so, years, I can finally say she was right about something. It is the number one way to go number two. And, thanks to my mom, I now get to be emotional… every time I sit on the toilet.
Your Son, Clifton
From:
Amy O'Banion
What can I say about losing someone who has been in my life for as long as I can remember? Rebekah and I didn't always see eye to eye, you know the whole mother and daughter-in-law thing, but she truly was like a second Mom to me and I loved her so. While our time was unexpectedly cut short we have so many memories to cherish and I will hold on to them forever.
So many special moments, vacations, dinners, celebrations, get-togethers, conversations, laughs, and tears in the 27 years of knowing her. I am so thankful for our time with her and I do believe I am better for knowing her. She was so much more than a mother and mother-in-law, she was an amazing grandma to my 2 girls who thought the world of her. Her family was everything to her and whenever she could be with them she was.
Rebekah was truly one of a kind, she loved big and was always there for everyone! Whenever I needed her she was there. She was always thinking of others and loved to help in any way she could. She loved hosting parties even though they were a ton of work and we could never get her to sit down and just relax and enjoy. She always had a camera in her hand ready to capture the moment. She always enjoyed a good meal and loved her desserts! She loved family time, playing games, and celebrating everything. We will miss her smile, her hugs, her laugh, her particular way of doing things, her bargain shopping finds, her kindness, and most of all her love! The world will just not be the same without her in it. It is still hard for me to believe she is gone and that we can't just pick up the phone and call her or stop by for a visit. There is one quote that I recently came across and it has just stuck with me, "Goodbyes hurt the most when the story was not finished." There were so many plans in place for the New Year for everyone and it is just hard to know she will not be a part of them. While I know she will not be here for the next chapter in our lives she will be forever in our hearts.
From:
Erin (O'Banion) Sanborn
While no words will ever be good enough to describe my grandma, here goes nothing.
She was a bright light in everyone’s life that knew her, she cared and she made it obvious. I always use the word, “extra”, to describe her, because it’s the only one that really makes sense for her. She needed everything just right, and she was always focused on everyone being happy! She had to have jewelry that matched every outfit, and she needed anything rainbow or remotely shiny that she saw. Even though I would always tease her, she was extra everything. Extra caring, extra loving, extra special, extra supportive, and the list goes on and on.
My favorite memories with her are endless, but the one thing we always did was go get food or a sweet treat. We would do it at least once a week in middle school, and I truly wish I hadn’t let that tradition slip away as I grew older. We would get Dairy Queen or Bahama Bucks’ snow cones… it never mattered what it was, it was all about the time. Quality time was everything to her. With me, and with anyone she loved.
She would type things in her notes that were important to me so she wouldn’t forget them, when I mentioned new friends, she would pause and make sure she got the correct spelling. When I first mentioned Issiah, she created a whole new category, a boyfriend, my first one! She was so so happy, really excited to meet him, and I could tell she loved him just the way she loved me. She loved him because she said he brought back my happiness, they both love my naturally curly hair, and she was so grateful I met someone who wanted me to be who I am (just like she did)! He said that one of the last things she told him was that she was proud and couldn’t wait to see him as an Airman, and while she wasn’t able to… I know she’s watching, and is so happy for us. Grandma Bec (she always said she missed me calling her that), was one of my best friends. She never judged me (to an extent) and was always there when I needed a shoulder to lean on or a person to talk to. I will forever be so grateful for the time I was able to spend with her, and for the incomparable impact, she made on my life.
I don’t know how I’m gonna get haircuts now since she always did it for me without hesitation. I don’t know how I’m going to be able to eat a Blizzard without tearing up, and I don’t know what I’m going to do without her. I know she will always be with me because she has been a huge part of my life since I can remember. I love you most Grandma, always and forever! Thank you.
From:
Jordyn O'Banion
I’ve tried to start this story more times than I can count, but how do you even begin to talk about someone who has been such an amazing part of your life since the moment you took your first breath? How do you capture over 20 years of memories in one short story? It seems impossible.
My grandma was the type of person who always spoke her mind. She told me years ago that I was so dramatic and that I should join theatre because I seemed like I would be really good at it. At this point in my life, I was terribly shy and simply could not imagine ever standing up in front of an audience. A few years later, I did join theatre. I was scared at first, but it very quickly became one of the best decisions of my life. Theatre led me to the things I needed most, including my career. I now teach theatre to middle schoolers to hopefully inspire that same spark in them that my grandma helped inspire in me.
Another thing about my grandma is that she loved numbers. Anytime she would check the clock and it would say a time like 11:11, 12:34, 1:23, 3:33, and so on, she would have to let us know. This soon became something I would do often in my everyday life because I was so used to doing this with her. I would watch for the numbers to change to make these special times and then I too would announce it to those around me.
In the last week leading up to her memorial service, I noticed the number 11:11 a total of 6 times. The Wednesday before, we were at my brother-in-law’s graduation lunch and I noticed that it was 11:11 and told my sister to make a wish. The next day, on my lunch break at work I was having a particularly tough day and I looked down at my watch to notice it was 11:11. Then on Friday, I again noticed it to be 11:11 on my lunch break and later that same day, my fiancé and I were driving home and our ETA showed 11:11. Saturday, my fiancé went to get his hair cut and on his way home, the same ETA - 11:11. About 40 minutes later, I looked at my phone exactly at 11:11. By this point, it was getting crazy and I could not believe how often this way happening. I love to know the meanings of things, so I googled “Angel number 11:11”. I wasn’t expecting the answer I found, and I could not help but cry when I read it. It said, “if you have lost a loved one recently and are seeing Angel number 1111, your loved one is wanting you to know that they are okay and safe”.
Thank you for letting me know grandma, I love you so much.
From:
Issiah Sanborn
Some things that happen in life are for reasons that don’t make sense. Questions to be asked, uncertainty surrounds us. But there are things in life that we know are to be certain.
A certainty in my life was that Rebekah became my grandmother too. We both shared common interests that I didn't know we had. A flower to be picked, we would pick it. A person to make smile, we would certainly try. At least I’d try, she always managed to pull it off, definitely had to be from the caring heart that she possessed.
In ways that not a lot knew she always kept a smile on her face. I believe it was because she was simply happy. She has an amazing family that is always thinking of her. She’s proud of the family that will never forget her.
Rebekah will always be my Grandma too. As I was in BMT I always remembered what people would say to me. The last thing she told me was how excited she is to see me graduate.
In my heart I know, she was watching
In my heart, I just know we would see the warm caring smile that we all loved.
Thank you. For your kind heart.
From:
Melody C Lovett
This past year I feel like I’ve been living with a conundrum of emotions. Why does life mirror good movies, you know the kind, where you feel the deep low is looming because you are in the height of happiness? In January, my daughter broke her jaw. On Mother’s Day, I learned we’re expecting our Grand Blessing. Chris’s father dies in September after two months of Hospice care, then it’s discovered, Debbie’s cancer has returned. Now, in a movie, this would be where a new “High” would occur. Instead, the bottom really falls out when Rebekah dies, days before Christmas. And I think, really God? This wasn’t supposed to happen. I mean, this is the absolute worst movie ever. I want my money back! And amid all this, my daughter’s belly is growing, and to hold onto a shred of hope for happiness I’m like Scarlet O’Hare, “I’m not going to think about that today. If I do, I’ll go crazy. I’ll think about that tomorrow.”
Well, tomorrow is today!... and enough about Me. Let me tell you about My Sister, My Counselor, My Spiritual Cheerleader, My Faithful “tell-it-like-it-is” Friend, My Biggest Fan, My Prayer Partner, and My Extra Mother (I know Erin, she liked extras). As her CPA, I would advise her, “You know, you don’t save any money when you buy four items at half price, (one for her and three to share). Her reply, “But that’s what makes the Woo-hoo!” I get it, Sis, I get it!
Cliff, asked, “What did she give you?” Well, for starters, my mom was 38 and pregnant AGAIN. One morning, after a bought of morning sickness she began lamenting to her 13- and 16-year-old daughters, “Why, God? Why did this happen to me? I thought this part of my life was over, now this, diapers again?” To which Rebekah immediately replied, “I know why Mommy, it’s because I prayed for a baby sister!” Rebekah believed in prayer. As Jordyn said, she liked numbers, and she used them to remind her to pray for specific people and things. How poetic that the Lord let her take her last breath at 12:34. That can’t be a coincidence. “I’m Just Saying!!!” Hehe
Years ago, I found a pillow that read, I’m not Bossy, I just have better ideas! I made Rebekah buy it for me. It was just too ironic. Maybe I was born this way, or maybe I learned it from her. I admit it, we both have our ideas about things and we like to share them (unsolicited, but with good intentions) I mean, who really cares to trim the “extra” fat off the bacon, or which arm should go up and the other down for a proper hug, or if you take the cap off the bottle before you recycle it? She did! And it was usually better. I will miss all her unique insights and ideas. Amy is right, Rebekah will live on forever in our memories and in our thoughts. Every time the clock repeats a number, every rainbow-hued item I ever see, and every time I take a video or picture to share. My sister gave so much to me, she gave to us all. But the gift that she wanted most to share with everyone was her Faith. I am certain that she would still say today, “God is Good, ALL the time!”
I will miss you, my sweet sister, but I will take my time “punching my ticket”, for this movie isn’t over yet. Hey, I guess you met my Grandson, Lei. He was born last week. Maybe it’s time for a little happy, I do hope so because I’m here until The End and in the meantime, help Daddy feed the birds.
From:
Tracy (Young) Wallace
I was a 16-year-old teenager, and she was a 20-year-old young wife, and we lived across the pool from each other at Kitty Hawk apartments. That is where we met so many years ago. We would talk for hours and became best friends in a short amount of time. Her smile could make your bad day change into a good one. She was bubbly and fun and always there for me. Many know the story of the night that Cliff was born, but I was with my mom where she worked helping out and I got the call saying it was time. I did not drive yet, so I stood along Pat Booker Road, and they swung by and picked me up on their way to the hospital. Cliff was born not long after we arrived, which was unusual for a first-time birth. It was such a happy time. We would spend time at the pool, up at the lake with her family, and a lot of laughing and talking was done.
Speaking of driving, I learned to drive in Rebekah's red Malibu car. Even taking my driving test in this car when I was 18 years old. She and Dan were good teachers. It is amazing how close we have always been, even though we only lived near each other for 3 years. I moved back home to Virginia in 1979. We always kept in touch and visited. She came to Virginia many times and I came to Texas. I remember one trip flying into Houston and after getting off the plane, she said she had a surprise for me. She took me to some area near the airport and there was a police helicopter waiting for me. She had arranged for a friend to take me for a helicopter ride over the Houston area at sunset. That is where my love for flying in helicopters started. Any chance I get, I will take a helicopter ride (one over Niagara Falls, one over the island of Hawaii, and others). In the early years, keeping in touch was done with mail. Even now, she still covers my cards with stickers and emojis of all kinds. I always loved Jack in the Box in Texas. There are no Jack in the Box restaurants in Virginia. So, she would send me Jack balls for my car antenna. I still have a bag full. When Cliff got older, she sent me all of his Jack in the Box toys that came with the kids' meals, which I still have. One time, I had a long layover in Houston, Rebekah picked me up at the airport and took me to Jack in the Box for lunch, then took me back to the airport to catch my next flight. We always had fun together. Just before her surgery, I got a package in the mail from her. It contained Jack in the Box glass mugs with the year 1976 (Cliff's birth year) on them that she wanted me to have. She had saved them all these years and was downsizing for her move to the new house and thought I would like to have them. She knew me so well. I'm so glad we had spoken on the phone recently and wished we had done more of that. I will miss her, and her smile more than I can imagine. Rest easy my dear friend, until we meet again. Lots of Love!
From:
Mary Lynne Anderson
My heart is deeply saddened to learn of Becky's passing. I've known Becky since we were 3 years old. Debbie, Becky & I played together for many years & our parents were close friends. My memories of the things we all did together along with other kids in our neighborhood on Alastair Street in Red Bluff Terrace are far too many to mention. I rejoiced with this beautiful family when they embraced Melody Lovett into their hearts & lives.
As the years have passed & our lives have taken very different roads I still think of the Laird family & always thought of them as my second family.
From:
Sheryl Knight
I became a Rookie Firefighter with The Kemah Volunteer Fire Department. Rebekah was one of the first to greet me. I was not sure how I would be received within a department that was mostly men but it was a dream of mine to be a firefighter. Rebekah wanted me to know the exact spelling of her name and put it in my phone - R E B E K A H. She explained that the spelling was different and not like everyone else. She introduced me to everyone like she had known me forever.
Later in years, I started learning about the Women of the Bible and THERE was the exact spelling of her name. Wow! It was then that I understood how important/special her name was but also how wonderful she was to me! She directed me in the Fire Dept. kitchen and at every event, she put me to work. One day, she wasn’t there but I could hear her in my head giving directions. She liked things to be a certain way and in a specific place. I loved her ways of wanting things to be perfect. Probably because I am that way as well. We had many talks and shared life stories. Family was very important to her. She loved Steve and always ordered his food. She would ask him what he wanted and then she ordered something else for him instead. We would all quietly laugh at the table. Steve ate whatever she ordered. This was entertaining for us all! Rebekah talked about her son. I remember how much she said that she loved him. One time at a restaurant, she had tears in her eyes as she talked about him. I am a mom as well and we both knew how much we love our sons. They hold a very special place in our hearts. Being a mom is not easy. We want to hold and protect. Why? We never want our loved ones to be hurt or disappointed. We carry that additional pain and worry in our hearts as well as the love.
Rebekah was always different and not like the rest - just like the spelling of her name. Being different was what I loved about her! She was herself! We always got along and I am so glad we remained friends. My only regret is that this past year, I didn’t reach out like I used to and didn’t get to give her one last hug and a kiss on the cheek. R E B E K A H you will be remembered as an amazing woman and … ONE OF A KIND!! You will always hold a special place in my heart. I love you!
From:
Alisa Villarreal
Rebekah brought joy and energy to everything she did. I’m thankful for knowing her. She was a servant and loved to help and contribute her skills and gifts to take care of people and projects presented to her. She was serious about loving the people in her life and made sure they knew they were special to her, by going out of her way to encourage and support them. She was such a strong and beautiful person inside and out. She will be sorely missed. Love you Bekah! I look forward to being neighbors again but this time in heaven.
From:
Siaw Fong
Eventually, all pieces fall into place. Until then, laugh at the confusion, live for the moment, and know that everything happens for a reason.