Birth date: Sep 26, 1924 Death date: Jun 8, 2024
“All that I am, or hope to be, I owe to my angel mother.” -Abraham Lincoln Bette Jane Hudson was born on September 26, 1924, in Corktown (Detroit). She passed away peacefully on June 8, 2024, after a sudden decline in her health, Read Obituary
What a pip Bette was! I'd see her come through the library door and know I was about to be challenged to find her a good book on the subject she was exploring. It was never an easy or superficial subject either. We share your sadness that we won't see her again but she just radiated joy and I'll remember her with love and tenderness, she is such an inspiration.
My grandma, Bette Hudson, passed away on June 8. We were very close. She was 99, and she lived a remarkable life. She touched so many people with her humor, her compassion, and her love.
I learned many lessons from my grandma. But today, I’m thinking about one of the most profound lessons she taught me - how to deal with loss, how to grieve. She lost her mother when she was 18, her son about 30 years ago, and her husband over a decade ago. I saw her honor their memories all the time, with laughter and tears.
Many years ago, I asked her how she dealt with losing a son in particular. And I remember she told me 3 words that will always stick with me: Only Time Heals. And I’ve found that to be very true. You can’t jumpstart healing from a profound loss like this. You can only deal with the emotions and the heartache as they come.
Another part of that lesson, one that she practiced by example, was not to allow grief or sadness to consume my view of the world. She had more love for life than anyone I know. She was curious (reading the NYT cover to cover right up until the end), grateful (never taking for granted the beauty of the world around her), and loved to make people laugh (and she was FUNNY!). This zest for life even after crippling pain I believe allowed her to live such a full life.
So, I am sad now, and honestly a little in shock that I’ll never see my grandma’s picture pop up on my phone because she’s calling again. Or that she’ll never make me her unmatched poached eggs and ham strips breakfast again. Or that we won’t get to play that rematch of Scrabble she challenged me to in January. Or that I’ll never get another hug like only she could give.
I know it will get better though, because, in my heart and soul, I’ll always have my grandma’s strength and wisdom to get me through. As cliche as that is, it’s not any less true.
Life is short folks. Even though she was almost 100, none of us were really ready for my grandma to go. Now I realize, through her reactions to the loss in her own life, she’d been preparing us for this day all along.
I love you, Grandma! And (although you know I am extremely skeptical), I do hope I’ll see you again one day - if only so we can have that Scrabble rematch!
Until then, I’ll always remember the one thing you gave me so much of that I have enough stored up to last me if I live to be 99. That most important 4 letter word (worth only 7 points in Scrabble, but priceless in life): LOVE.
https://www.youngcolonial.com/m/obituaries/Bette-Hudson/Memories
(Photos from January 2024.)
Edwin Lewis " Grandma's Music Man".
Bette was the happiest woman I’ve ever known. Her hugs were the best! I did her hair for a few years and made a friend for life. She will be missed! She was a blessing from God for sure. Rest in peace, Bette. ❤️🙏 Bobbi
Thank you mom for loving and caring for me for 79 years. Rest in peace. Love you, Pamela Ann
My mom was a word whiz! She loved scrabble! Crossword puzzles, and reading the Wall Street journal, the Globe, and just about anything she could get her hands on. Her wisdom, knowledge and most of all her opinions will be greatly miss! I’m thankful for the memories! I had to add the Meijer hat party photo! Never a dull moment with Bette!
My grandma was a beautiful woman and kind hearted she loved all our family and treated everyone with respect and kindness she even put a smile on everyone’s face and welcomed everyone around her she was a loving caring woman who will be dearly missed and loved
