“Doll” Crane died 3 weeks ago, in Johannesburg. She was 95.
Bill, her husband, died in the early 70s. When last I saw her she was bright as ever, her thoughts quick and clear. She was tired of her body letting her down though, and it was time to be with her darling Bill whom she missed with all her heart. She said all this calmly, with a smile.
While I was growing up, Doll was “Gran” Crane to all the neighbourhood kids from 3 years old to 13 and some beyond. My own parents brought me up to use people’s first names if they allowed it. Mr, Mrs or Ms if they did not. “Gran” was always Doll to me.
Her youngest, Patrick, was a year or two older than me, and a friend. Doll had a cascade of older sons and daughters. She nurtured them all, along with whichever neighbourhood kids had wandered in. Her kindness and equanimity made her a refuge for anyone who had clashed with a sibling, argued with a parent or simply wanted to be somewhere warm, kind and filled with love, light and delicious home-baked cookies.
On the winter afternoon I last saw Doll, she made me smile by calling her nurse to laughingly ask why her medicine – a whisky – was late. She had never been one for alcohol, she said, but her doctor had said a few years ago that a single good whisky at 5:00 each evening would do her good as she aged. As she sipped it, and as the colour rose in her cheeks, I admired her doctor’s wisdom.
Doll helped anyone and everyone. Young, old, sick, sad, lost, found, human, animal. Even those who didn’t know they needed help. The only requirement seemed to be that you needed a hand and that she knew you did. It didn’t matter what you’d done. She never had a harsh word for anyone. Only smiling love and gentle wisdom.
When Doll sold their house across the road and moved to the apartments Bill had built as their retirement plan, our neighbourhood lost a priceless treasure. Worse, the Cranes had sold to a bitter, childless old couple who seemed to dislike everything Doll had loved and laughed over. Especially the neighbourhood kids.
Now, after 95 years of her boundless love shared generously with all around her, Doll has finally left us. I wish I had her photo to show you. I have only miles of mental video of her and a deep joy in my heart for having known her. Sadness too that she has gone.
Good-bye Doll Crane. You made the world so much better for so many. All those whose lives you touched will never forget you and we’d all do well to follow your warm examples. Thank you, dear Doll, dear Gran Crane, from us all.
Living Loving Learning 