04/30/2026
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On March 31st, our beloved grandmother, Iris, passed away peacefully at home at 98 years old, with her eldest daughter by her side.
To say she lived a remarkable life would be an understatement, her life was nothing short of miraculous.
She entered this world without breath, her tiny body set aside as medical staff tended to her mother. But one nurse refused to give up. Through CPR, life was breathed into her, and from that very first moment, her life became a testimony of resilience, grace, and divine purpose.
Later, she was found to have a hole in her heart. Yet she lived on, without complication after open heart surgery. Years later came diagnoses of atrial fibrillation and hypertension. Despite being educated on the significance of taking her medication consistently, even by her granddaughter, she was sporadic and took it when she felt she needed it. Though she did not always follow medical guidance, she continued to live far beyond what many would expect.
In her early 90s, she revealed to the family she had been living with a breast lump for decades. It was diagnosed as stage IV breast cancer. And yet—for eight more years—she lived. Through IV vitamin C infusions, lovingly supported by family, she often expressed that they gave her incredible energy and allowed her to remain free from pain. Astonishingly, it wasn’t until just days before her passing that she ever required pain medication.
But the true miracle of her life was not just medical—it was who she was.
She had a heart of gold.
Her life was anchored in two things: faith and family. She saw the best in everyone. She spoke ill of no one. In fact, she would often say, “I have the most perfect family. God gave me the most perfect children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.”
And today, we say back to her: We had the most perfect grandmother. How could it be any other way?
She was the queen of making lemonade from lemons. She endured more loss than most could bear—three husbands, her oldest son, her youngest grandson, a great-granddaughter, and her sister at a young age. And yet, if you met her, you would never know the depth of her sorrow. She carried every loss with God, with unwavering faith, and with a love that never diminished.
Because of her, I am the woman I am today.
Because of her, I choose to look for the good or you could say the gold in others. Because of her, I understand that the most precious gift we can give is our time.
For 40 years, I had the privilege of receiving her love—her voice, her hugs, her attention, her presence. And while my life will never be the same without her in it, I know this:
The love she gave me will last me the rest of my life.
And my love for her will never fade—no matter how much time passes.
This is not goodbye forever, only for a short while.
She was the glue of our family. Our strong, steady, immovable Kress Matriarch who buried her first husband when my father was only 16 years old.
A woman of faith. A woman of love. A woman of gold.
With the rest of my life, I pray I can carry her legacy forward.That I can embody the same faith, the same love, and the same strength. That I can be a source of unity, just as she was.
Her life was not defined by how many people she knew—but by how deeply she loved each one.
And that love will live on—in all of us.
For my 40th birthday, my dad gave me a small gift bag with a tag attached. On it was a Bible verse:
1 Corinthians 13:7 “Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.”
I’ve kept that tag on my nightstand ever since, reading it each night.
And now, I realize that verse wasn’t just something to read…It was something I was shown. My grandma was a living reflection of those words.
She bore more than most ever will. She believed the best in everyone. She held onto hope through every loss. And she endured it all—with faith, grace, and love.
What I read each night…I witnessed for 40 years. And because of her, I don’t just understand that kind of love, I carry it with me.
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