For those of you who don’t know me – my name is Taylor McGovern and I am Jeanette’s oldest and favorite grandchild. I received the absolute honor of speaking about her as we celebrate her life today. I have agonized over what to say today to best sum up the life of my Nana and it may be the hardest thing I’ve ever done. But I’m going to try.
From the day I was born, my grandmother’s love surrounded me like a warm embrace. She was always there when I needed a hug or a shoulder to cry on, also offering the most honest opinions always – whether I wanted to hear them or not. Her love for her family was boundless and taught me the true meaning of unconditional love.
As a child, I remember her as the one who never missed a school play or an awards ceremony. She was always there, sitting in the front row beaming with pride. I knew that I could always count on her to show up for me.
While writing this, I asked my boys what their favorite memories of Nana are. Aiden said the way she spoiled him with secret Klondike bars behind my back. Asher shared that he loved when Nana would swim in the pool with him. And Austen loved that her cookie jar was always fully stocked and ready for our visits.
Her home was a safe haven for our family, the place where we all gathered together. Nana was the center of all of our family’s traditions, from baking cookies to festive gatherings, she taught us lessons not through lectures, but through the love wired in simple, everyday occurrences.
Nana’s love for my grandfather, Howard, was something even the best novelists couldn’t write about and do it justice. Their love for each other was unconditional and became the example for the bare minimum I was willing to accept in my own marriage. Nana poured every bit of strength she had into caring for my grandfather until the day he left this world. My grandmother was the most selfless woman i have ever known.
My Nana was warm and loving but my Nana was also a force to be reckoned with. A true badass, if-you-will. Her unwavering strength was awe-inspiring, both for our family and others who knew her. Suffering setbacks and challenges with grace, she showed us what it meant to be a strong, resilient woman capable of overcoming adversity. Her ability to push through difficult times while providing undying guidance and love to her family sets a legacy that will always be remembered. If I can become half of the strong, resilient, badass woman that my grandmother was, I will consider that to be one of my greatest successes.
My grandmother was a constant source of support and guidance in my life. She taught me the importance of being resilient and to never give up on my dreams, no matter how difficult the journey might be. I remember her telling me stories of how she overcame obstacles, and the advice she offered always seemed to be precisely what I needed to hear in that moment.
To the world, she may have been one woman, but to me, she was the center of my world. In hard times, she was my stability; in moments of joy and celebration, she was the fireworks. My Nana lived her life with a rare kind of generosity—the kind that never runs out and expects nothing in return. It’s a generosity that has taught me more about kindness and giving than any book ever could.
As I stand here today, I am grateful for the time I had with my Nana, but it feels impossible to imagine moving forward into a world without her. I know that her spirit and memory will live on in her children and grandchildren.
To my sweet, irreplaceable Nana, your absence leaves a void no one else can fill. Thank you for being my rock, my guiding star, and the warm embrace I could always count on. I will carry the lessons and love you have gifted me throughout my life, and I promise to honor your memory by cherishing our family and remembering the values you instilled in us.
In our hearts and stories, you will live on forever.
On behalf of my heart, our family, and anyone who has had the privilege of knowing you—I thank you, I celebrate you, and I promise to carry your love and lessons forward.
I love you muchly, Nana.
taylor leigh mcgovern 