Grandmother dies, riding coasters into her 90s

Woh, god bless her. My grandmother recently died in her 80s. May god rest her soul....

I hope I can keep it up as long as she did. Perfect example though of why it's better to celebrate someone's life instead of mourning their death.

I wonder if this is the lady I rode with last year. I got to ride MF in the front seat with a lady who said she was 90 something. She was VERY nice, and had her hands up the whole time. And at the end of the ride she said how she loved the wind blowing through her hair. It was definetly one of my more memorable moments on MForce. Great lady.

*** This post was edited by RollerCoasterGod 7/16/2004 10:48:35 AM ***

The Mole,I share your pain after having just seen my father laid to rest yesterday after a long struggle with HIV...he was only 59 & had just celebrated his birthday the day before his passing.

It's as if god wanted him to live just long enough to complete one final year in this life but at least now he is at peace & free of all of the hardships he had to endure during those 59 years,may he & all the dearly departed loved ones in our lives forever rest in peace.

Jeff is right in saying that we should celebrate the life of a loved one who has passed on instead of mourning their death....that is exactly how the pastor presiding over my father's funeral service had so beautifully put it & no truer words have ever been spoken than those.

Batwing, I am so sorry to hear about your father. I am happy though, that you have such a positive outlook on the situation. I really don't know if I could, you are a very strong person.

Very deceptive front page there...

"-Grandmother dies, riding coasters into her 90s-
Mellie Juliette (Cox) Thomas was riding Millennium Force at 92."

I thought she was on Millennium Force when she died and that Cedar Point was having a really bad week.

But yes... I hope I can go out like she did. Riding until the end.

Thank you batwing, my grandmother died of cancer earlier this Feburary. I'll never smoke, she got second hand smoke. It's awful. Trust me, it's hard, but I've made it thought, so you can to.

Now see, I differ. I do NOT want to live to be that old. I just want to step in front of a bus or something one day and *poof* it's over. Or better yet, while doing something really fun like riding a coaster... IMO, if you gotta go, go with a smile.

By grandmother was 85, and was just sitting at home. She burped then went. So I guess if I do live pretty long, that's the way to go. ;-)

Shaggy

I hope that will be me at 90. At least if I can keep my current good health.

Regardless, when I go, my final resting place will be at CP with the help of some of my coaster riding friends and family.

Shaggy, with the way you burp...it could happen at any moment! ;)

I'm with Shaggy, I always tell my friends, if I gotta go, I'd love for it to be on a coaster, better than rotting away in a hospital bed. At least I'll pass on doing the thing I love most.

And I'm also very sorry to hear about that Batwing, and agree with Sarah, you are a very strong person. Hang in there bud, at least he's at rest now, and just focus on the great times you were able to share with him while he was here. And encourge people you know to help in anyway they can to fight this horrible disease, so that hopefully someday good folks like your Dad don't have to be needlessly taken away from us way too soon.

Glad that she had a long life and was able to still get out and do the things that she loved.

i work at an old folks' home and let me tell you....

i agree with my Grandmother's philosophy....

she always said "i do NOT want to see 80!! i do NOT want to be 80!!" like 80 was the evil nujmber or something.

a week before she turned 80, she died.

but i see people at my work who do nothing but complain and make life miserable for everyone. then there is the 100 year old who doesnt look or act a day over 70.

but if i die on a coaster, that's the way to go for me!! or at a U2 show. yeah. either one.

Goddess bless this woman we are speaking of. what a strong life force and spirit she had!! we should all be so lucky...

My dad flew the Skycoaster for the first time at 81. At 82, he and I outrode my mom and wife on Lightning Racer. (No line, we went on about 10 times, they chickened out after about 6.) He and my mom take full advantage of their "season pass" at Kennywood, usually coming out to ride once every week or two.

You're only as old as you feel. God bless the people who can keep going.

Amen kpjb! My dad is 68 and still rides. I'll ride until I'm dead or incapacitated.

I agree we should celebrate the life of a person who passes, but mourning/grieving is a healthy way of coping as well. I would say healthy mourning involves celebration and healthy celebration involves mourning. To celebrate without mourning denies the pain and hurt that do occur through the loss of a loved one. The only way to get through that pain and hurt is to face it.

And in case anyone cares, it's my current job to go through this with people. I'm a chaplain at a hospital and not 10 minutes ago I sat with a man as his mother passed. (And somehow my first thought was...oh man, I gotta go check the 'buzz for a pick me up :P)

*** This post was edited by ApolloAndy 7/16/2004 6:58:44 PM ***
*** This post was edited by ApolloAndy 7/16/2004 6:59:06 PM ****** This post was edited by ApolloAndy 7/16/2004 11:18:05 PM ***

Thanks for the show of support from everyone,it has been a very difficult & emotional time for everyone in the family during the past six days what with having the viewing,funeral & final burial stretched out over the course of three days.

The reasons for the drawn out process are due to my father's place of residence in Maryland during the last few years of his life,coupled with the long drive from there down to Quantico VA for the burial services yesterday morning.

My dad served in the navy during vietnam for a few years so of course during the final service his casket was flanked by members of the naval honor guard & just as the procession pulled into the area where the service was to be held he recieved a proper military salute before the service began.

As for the grieving process it will take time but with each passing day the pain will subside,sometimes I stop & imagine that he is still alive even though I know that he has gone on to a much better place,it just takes more time for the heart to catch up to the mind & accept the fact that he's gone.

I want to say that I honor his life Batwing. He served our country, and he lived with dignity. That is precious. You can always be proud that he lived his life with integrity and passion. He had a belief system, and that is awesome. It sounds to me that his wisdom might have rubbed off on you. Best of blessings to your family.

For the older lady.... YOU GO GIRL! ;) I can only hope that's how I end it all. Chances are I'll be disemboweled in an auto or airplane crash. ;)

Kpjb, did your parents happen to come today?

The reason I'm asking, is I had this old guy...had to be in his 80's rode the King Kahuna, and Volcano. I told him at the Volcano, that he was the oldest person that I've seen ever to ride the Kahuna and Volcano before.