Javana Grissam

Javana 'Nena' Grissam (Schiavo) died peacefully in Aurora, Colorado on Saturday, August 25, 2007. She was born November 25, 1924 in Crystal Falls, Michigan. The youngest of eight children, Javana survived her mother Maria and father Giovanni as well as her sisters Inez, Theresa, Mary and Irma, and her brothers Victor, Louis and John. At age 19 she became lead singer for the Country Western group 'Oklahoma & Her Westerners' who performed at events and in clubs throughout Northern Michigan as well as in Southern California. She moved to California in 1951 and was married from 1953 to 1960 to Monroe Martin Grissam. While living in California, she also worked for Douglas Aircraft until she retired. She moved to Colorado in 1987 to be closer to her daughter and family. Javana dearly loved to fish, play cards, and watch baseball games. The Colorado Rockies and the Chicago Cubs were her favorite teams. Mostly she loved spending time with her family, singing and playing guitar. A smile on her face most of the time, she sang and yodeled songs and tunes almost every day of her life. She is survived by her daughter Javana (Richardson), son-in-law David; granddaughters Nichole (Parsons) and Jennifer (Sievert); grandson-in-law John Sievert; and great-grandsons Dakota Downs and Vincent Sievert. She was a cherished Great-grandmother, Grandmother, and Mother who will live on forever in our hearts and souls and in the music of life. Memorial services will be held in Denver, Colorado at Coors Field, located at Blake and 20th Streets at 12:00 o'clock noon on Sunday, September 23rd, 2007. Flowers for the memorial may be sent to arrive a day ahead of the memorial to: Horan & McConaty 11150 E. Dartmouth Ave Aurora, CO 80014 (303) 745-4418 In lieu of flowers a donation may be made to: Rocky Mountain Chapter of Alzheimer's Association; 455 Sherman Street, Suite 500; Denver, CO 80203; (303) 813-1669 Take Me There Take me there; To your home in the sky, Take me there; And don't ask me why. Take me there; For I need to be free, And I know; It's there waiting for me. Show me love; Show me kindness and light, Take my fear; Of the darkness and night. Take the time; That's so precious to me, For my faith; Says you'll watch over me. I know you well; It's so clear to me now, I know your touch; Your face familiar somehow. Take me there; To the mountains and streams, You're the one; Who I see in my dreams. I feel the breeze; Blowing over the land, I feel so safe; When I'm holding your hand. To be near you; So wondrous, divine, Take me home; It's your love that will shine. Take me there; And I want to believe, You are there; Where I'm longing to be. Copyright 1999 Javana M. Richardson