When I was ten, I told someone that if they looked up “Grandma” in the dictionary they would find a picture of Greta Bokros.  I meant it. She was the consummate grandmother. She loved us so much. Henry, her first grandson, was perfect in her eyes. Alex, the baby, couldn’t do wrong. And you should have heard her talk about me, Charlie, the middle grandson …

She was born in 1929 in New York . She, her sister, Ingrid, and her mother Harriet moved back to Norway in the 1930s. They returned to the U.S. in the 1940s as World War 2 ripped across Europe. Shortly thereafter, she met my Grandpa, Paul. They went to junior prom together in 1947.

Unbelievably, they would spend the next 75 years together. Think about that ... 75 years. She was described by her classmates as “Greta makes friends very fast, the sort of friends that really last. Her charming smile and winning way make Greta likable and gay.”

Their wedding, in 1950, was followed by a “paper-bag” lunch and a small sit-down dinner. Her diamond engagement ring came from my Grandpa’s mom and dad, Phillip and Alice. Alice had hidden it in her skirt as she fled Nazi Europe.The young couple initially settled in Philadelphia where Paul began his career as an engineer with RCA. Soon after that Greta, lovingly referred to as “Cookie,” by Paul, enrolled in nursing school at the Norwegian Hospital in New York City.

During the 1950s, Greta and Paul’s family grew to include Debbie and Allan. They built a home in Norristown, Pennsylvania and were happy living their piece of the “American Dream.” In 1966, they moved to Carlisle, Massachusetts. A few years later, they bought their beloved second home on Barters’ Island near Boothbay Harbor, Maine. Greta and Paul loved this home. They spent their summers on the water, with Paul captaining one of his sailboats and Greta being the first mate.

Eventually, their family grew even larger with the addition of Patrick Stern, Debbie’s husband and grandsons Henry, Charlie and Alex. In later years, she welcomed the addition of three women, Katelynn, Bo and Mandy,who were to become her grandsons' wives.

Growing up, the grandkids spent at least a month of each summer at the Rocky Point house in Maine with Greta. Greta would ferry them back and forth from sailing camp, tennis camp, trips to Wiscasset and mini golf. All the while, she served the community by watering the flowers at the local cemetery. She loved that community and wanted to give back somehow.

Greta had many great interests and was smart as a whip. She as an avid bridge player and followed the stock market religiously. She loved throwing cocktail parties and entertaining. She also loved the simplicity of just spending time sitting with her family and enjoying their conversation and presence. One of her cherished pastimes was flying with Paul in one of his planes. The family spent countless weekends in the air together. She loved that so much.

After splitting time between her home in Maine and Florida, she and Paul moved to Dallas, Texas in 2017. Those last few years were a gift to Henry, Charlie, Alex and their parents. Sunday brunches with them became the norm. Towards the end, Friday lunches with Grandma were appointments that weren’t missed. Paul passed away in April of this year. To the end, Greta took care of him. They were together for 75 years, and Paul and Greta are together again.

Shortly before Greta died, she told us that an obituary was not necessary. She only wanted for her friends and family to remember that she lived a wonderful life and loved her family so much. We all know that, and we loved her so much too.