Lucile O’Neil Heinlein, my grandmother, was born in 1910. A snapshot of information gathered from the 1940 Census finds her a 30-years old woman, married with two sons. She had come from a large Irish family and married a German immigrant. She worked in the kitchen of a hotel during the great depression to help support her family. Her husband, Harvey Heinlein, a carpenter, passed away in the 1970s, but Lucille went on to live a full life into the beginning of the 21st century. From her two sons she had seven grandchildren—two granddaughters and five grandsons.

What I most remember about my grandmother was how much she loved us. You could always see the admiration on her face. She lived in Illinois near her older son’s family. She did not have much money, yet she traveled to California to visit us almost every year. She could really stretch a dollar. When she traveled to visit us, she cherished this time with family because she knew it was important and set a clear example to us that family was always meant to be the priority.

My grandmother made me a quilt when I was a little girl. She hand-stitched the entire quilt and I slept under it until it finally fell apart. It was made from fabrics that were actually repurposed clothing from other family members. 

Because I loved that quilt so very much, I have become an accomplished quilter myself. My goal is to make quilts for my family and friends who have touched my life in a special way. Like the quilt my grandmother made me, I gift my quilts only to loved ones and now have a deep understanding how much time, skill and effort goes into every stitch.

She came to California to watch me graduate from high school, but was unable to attend my wedding due to her declining health condition and didn’t have enough time to watch me become the first woman in our family to earn a bachelor’s and a graduate degree. When she passed away, she left what little money she had to her sons, of which my father was generous enough to share with my brother and me. I used that money to help finance my education.

The last time I saw my grandmother, I traveled to visit her in a long-term care facility. She was still sharp as a tack in her 90s. I suspect it was from good genetics and that she worked with all those complicated quilting angles and measurements as her hobby.

After her death, while visiting my aunt and going through family photos, we found a picture I sent her of my dogs. I thought, “How precious that when she passed that she had this sweet, silly photo I sent her?” I remember her laugh and her voice. Through the simple acts of love and caring she inspired me to be a better person and because of her, I know that “the little things mean a lot.”