Going Home

She loved to laugh

The lighter side of Virginia Happy.

Virginia "Grandma" Happy was a very complex lady.

She was fiercely opinionated, stubborn and set in her ways. Ask any of her card-playing buddies and they'll tell you that Grandma's patience was severely tested by people who didn't follow the rules.

She was also completely devoted and loyal to her family. I think the worst thing somebody could do in Grandma's eyes was to mess with a member of the Happy clan. Michael Corleone was a wimp compared to Grandma.

But her best quality, in my eyes, was Grandma's sense of humor. She loved to laugh, to make others do the same. And I always knew how to crack her.

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During one of her hospital stays, at St. John's in Detroit about 10 years ago, Grandma just wasn't in the mood to smile. She was in such a funk that she was staring at, of all things, the chapel channel on the little TV suspended by a metal arm above her lunch tray.

My brother, Brian, and I got to her in the end, though. We went down to the chapel, snuck up to the altar, put on our most-devilish grins and waved to Grandma. She was belly laughing by the time we returned to her bedside.

Her best joke on us came all the way back on Oct. 31, 1972, the night of a neighborhood Halloween party for the children of Dobel Street.

Virginia Happy: Feb. 7, 1919 - Dec. 8, 2008

About 14 of us kids had just returned from trick-or-treating, were in the basement of my childhood home at 8271 Dobel -- playing games and singing pumpkin carols -- when Grandma, who lived right across the street from us, showed up. Only we didn't know it was Grandma. How could we have?

She was decked out in white from head to toe, black vampire bats floating around her head, which was elongated by a lamp shade she wore like a hat. Her face was painted white. Her eyes were surrounded by a death-blue tint. Her lips were blood red.

Grandma was downright scary-looking and didn't say a word as she crept down the stairs and crashed our party.

When she reached the basement, Brian, dressed in a clown suit, was the first to greet her. He did so by falling backward onto my father's stereo console. Brian was absolutely terrified by the sight of Grandma. She totally loved it and only smiled -- that devilish smile of hers.

I'll miss Grandma's smile most of all.

All are welcome to attend a memorial service for Grandma Happy on Sunday, 2 p.m., at St. Athanasius Church, 18720 13 Mile Road (between Groesbeck and Gratiot). Lunch will follow in the church hall.

A special thanks to Shield of Faith Church (formerly Holy Name) for offering to play host to Grandma's service. Unfortunately, many of her friends are too frail to make the trip to Detroit. Our family will never forget the kind offer by the Jennings family, though.

Comments, Pingbacks:

Comment from: wick [Member]

Michael I am so sorry about your loss. Mrs. Happy was the "Donna Reed" of Dobel. Everyone knew her and loved her.You have certainly inherited her quality traits my friend and serve the family well.Virginia has not left us but is only preparing for us to go home. I will always remember the Happy family and the harmony they brought to Dobel. virginia was a gem and will be missed greatly. My prayers and thoughts are with you and the Happy Family.

Permalink 12/13/07 @ 13:54

Comment from: mikesalhaney [Member]

Mr. Happy: It turns out that your grandmother and my grandmother were neighbors on Fairmount St., on the east side. My grandparents were Bud and Viola Chalou. I am sorry to hear of your grandmother's passing.

Mike Salhaney

Permalink 12/17/07 @ 13:30

Comment from: Michael Happy [Member]

It's a very small world.

Permalink 12/17/07 @ 13:34