Over the last two years, both my Dad's parents died. His father (my Granddad) was ex-Army/Air Force, flew missions over Japan in World War II. He was quiet, very much of the generation of men that didn't like to say the word "love," but you could tell he loved us in his own quiet way. Especially my little brother, who loved baseball as a young kidGranddad always loved watching the ballgames with him when we'd visit. His health deteriorated pretty badly right at the end of his life, and his death was apparently pretty unpleasant. My Dad was there, I was not (at college), but I did go up for the funeral. Apparently he and my Dad resolved a kind of rift in their relationship in his last few weeks, which made my Dad feel much more at peace at his passing, so that was good. He was buried at a military graveyard about a half hour from their old home in Wilmington, DE.
His mother, my Grandmother, was a very wonderful woman. Always kind, caring, very loving to both of us (spoiled us a bit, like every good Grandmother should). Unfortunately, she had arthritis the whole time I knew her, which only got worse and worse. Bad circulation too, she eventually had her right leg amputated below the knee. Still, right up until about the last six to eight months she was pretty active mentally. As she went into the end of her life though she rapidly lost mental function, and the last time I saw her she was unable to even form coherent sentences. It was clear she knew who we were and even was thinking clearly, but simply couldn't make her brain deliver the correct words for things to her mouth. It was pretty sad actually. She passed away this past spring.
My Mom's parents (both younger than Dad's parents by several years, they're both still under 80), on the other hand, are in really great health. Say what you will about "hippie" stuff like vegetarian/macrobiotic diets and yoga, but both of them dropped red meat from their diets soon after my Mom and her brother moved out of the house. They've stayed active all throught their "retirements," doing things like hiking and cross-country skiing. As such, they move a little slower now than they used to, but compared to a lot of older folks, they're in amazing health. They stay very mentally active too, and busy. My Pop-pop fixes (and makes!) clocks, and Grandma is a seamstress who alters clothes. They are both Mac users now, go to museums and read a lot... I think the combination of staying active both physically and mentally is a great way to stay healthy as one ages.
They're both very kind spirits, Pop-pop loves to tell really bad puns and jokes, Grandma is quiet but funny when she decides to get a word in. They clashed with my parents over religious views a few years ago, but that seems to be smoothing over nowadays. I personally haven't seen them in quite a while, they came through our house a few times while moving from New Hampshire to North Carolina, I was at college the first few times and then I'd moved out to California. Not sure when I'll get to see them again.
Anyway, that's my grandparents. A little sad with one half gone, but pretty happy overall.
