Eulogy Given At The Funeral

Hello, I’m Nick and along with my brother Daniel, my sister Sarah, and my cousin Chad, we were the only ones lucky enough to call Chris Kosley “Grandma”. Though my cousins Charlotte and Savannah and my nephew Wyatt all called her “GG” which stood for “Great Grandma” which was also pretty special.

If you knew her, you would know that she was a great hostess. So let me start by saying how great it is to see everyone here today and thank you all very much for coming to remember my grandmother with me and my family.

She’d want me to ask if anyone needs anything. Tea? Coffee? Orange Juice? Maybe a cookie? I didn’t see any donuts out in the narthex, but I’d be happy to run to the store really quick if you would like. No?? Really, it’s no trouble at all, please let me know if I can get you anything!

Grandma was born on August 7th, 1934 to Joe and Helen Manyik. She grew up on a farm on the West side of Calhan, Colorado. She was the oldest of four and she spoke fondly of her siblings Shirley, Kathy, and Delmer and you could tell that she loved them very much when she shared memories of them.

On the farm she learned to work hard and she carried that with her throughout her life. Like all farm children, she began doing chores early and never quit. When she was a little girl, she began preparing meals for field hands with her mom in the kitchen. She would spend evenings and weekends helping her dad in the fields. Even when she was 91, she continued to do chores. She was the energizer bunny doing laundry, dishes, cooking, and cleaning until she just couldn’t any more at the end.

Soon after college, she met my Grandpa, Ray Kosley. They met in November, and were married by the end of January in 1954 and they shared nearly 69 happy years of marriage together. He took care of all of the yardwork, repairs around the house, and always made sure that her gas tank was full of gas. She did all the household chores – I can still remember her washing sheets and hanging them out to dry every Monday. They shared a kiss at every meal after the prayer and often held hands moving from one place to another. They truly loved each other. Even when they were young, my Grandpa affectionately called Grandma “Stara” (pronounced: “Stada”) as a “cute” nickname. “Stara” means “old lady” in Slovak 😜.

Grandpa and Grandma shared their faith in God. She was baptized as an infant and grew up attending St Mary’s Orthodox Church in Calhan. Grandma joined the Lutheran Church when she married Grandpa and they became charter members of Prince of Peace when the congregation formed. For many years they were active members here and I have many good memories with them of this church and its members.

Grandpa and Grandma’s kids, grandkids, and great-grandkids were the highlights of their lives.

Soon after they were married, they had their firstborn, my Uncle Andy, on October 17, 1954. Uncle Andy got my Grandma’s people skills. He was always the life of the party and he could talk to anyone and make them feel welcome. Sadly Uncle Andy passed away Easter Sunday 8 years ago and is greatly missed. He is survived by my Aunt Susan, their son Chad and Betsy, and Chad’s daughters Charlotte and Eythen, and Savannah.

On December 13th, 1956, Grandpa and Grandma had my mom, Cindy Henry. In addition to baking and being a great host, my mom got Grandma’s love for games, playing, and laughter. Mom is always the first to start a game of cards or make plans for some fun event and has an infectious laugh.

On July 24, 1958, Grandpa and Grandma had my Aunt Becky. Like my Grandma, she is extremely loyal. She will do anything for anybody if she is able, she’s extremely generous. She worked as a candy striper when she was younger, performing non-clinical tasks to support nurses and provide comfort to patients.

My Grandpa and Grandma were always there for us grandkids. Whether it was helping my dad on the farm, working cattle, or tearing down the old blue building in Calhan, they were always there. As we got older, I remember they never missed a game when Daniel, Sarah, or I played baseball or softball. She and grandpa traveled all over Colorado and even Kansas to support us, braving mosquitoes, biting horse flies, 100° doubleheaders, or freezing night games; they were always there for us.

Grandma was a homemaker until she and Grandpa opened RayKo Supply, a small oil and auto parts store here in the Springs. She did all of the bank deposits and kept the books for the business. When the business closed, she went to work for Farmer’s insurance.

Grandma was also an Avon lady, selling “Skin So Soft” that not only made your hands softer, it could be used as bug spray, to wash grease and glue off hands and tools, scare away the Bebok (the Slovak boogeyman), cure cancer, or other infinite uses. Had we been thinking, we probably could have given her some “Skin So Soft” near the end and she would still be alive and well today.

Grandma made some of the best foods… She and Grandpa had a routine where they’d have the same meal on certain days. Some of my favorite breakfasts were buttermilk pancakes on Wednesdays or french toast Fridays. Breakfast was at 6 a.m. and she would always play “20 questions” where she’d ask us each “20 questions” while we were all still half asleep. Some of us handled this better than others; some of us still needed our stare time (looking at you Daniel) 😜. For dinner, her meatballs and mac & cheese were always a favorite for us kids. She didn’t really like mac & cheese, but she loved making it because we all enjoyed it. She would make her famous chocolate chip oatmeal cake whenever any of us kids would visit. For special occasions like Thanksgiving and Easter, Grandma would always make her special “Penny Puff” dinner rolls. For Christmas, it was always a family event to make a big batch of pirohy for the 6th on the 5th (her family’s Christmas dinner celebrated in early January). She was always in charge of making sure that we made the dough “just right” so that it wouldn’t boil apart. Everyone enjoyed Grandma’s “Mississippi Mud” cake that she made for family picnics. Grandpa would always teasingly complain that Grandma used every dish in the kitchen, and often some from the dining room as well, when she cooked dinner! After dinners, we kids and Grandpa would always help Grandma do the dishes. She always used dish water that was boiling hot which earned her the nickname – “Ol’ Iron Hands”.

One of my favorite memories of Grandma is how she could talk to complete strangers. We’d go to a baseball game, a doctor’s appointment, or take a ride in a slow elevator… She had the ability to talk to anyone and everyone like they were old friends that hadn’t seen each other in a while. They’d talk about the weather, their lives, politics, religion, you name it. She had a kind, gentle way about her that always made people feel comfortable and welcome around her.

Losing my Aunt Kathy was extremely hard for my Grandma, especially since Aunt Kathy was so young when she passed. When Grandma loved someone, she loved and cared about them forever.

My Aunt Shirley was my Grandma’s best friend. They’d call each other every day; morning, noon, and night just to say hello. Somehow they found the words to talk for 20 minutes or more each time and they never got bored or couldn’t find something to talk about.

There are so many little things about Grandma that I’ll always remember, from her sayings like “open the blinds to let Mr. Sunshine in” and “bats in the belfry” when she was frustrated with cards. She was fondly described as a little old lady with poofy hair when we called the Calhan hardware store asking if she was still there, and she always wore a babushka to keep her hair from getting wet or wind blown. She would always ask us kids “Where is your Jadok?” (pronounced: Ya-dok) when we showed up without it; Jadok is Slovak for “jacket” or “coat”. Grandma would always try to pile blankets on us even when we were sweating – she was cold so we must be cold too. She loved watching the news, reading the newspaper, doing word searches, and playing cards with family. My uncle Delmer would always accuse Grandma of cheating at cards, especially when he was losing. She never cheated, but he would always give her a hard time anyway.

For Christmas, I remember that after Vinchovatsing (going from house to house saying a Christmas blessing in Slovak), Grandpa, Daniel, and I would always shop for Grandma on Christmas Eve where we would get her a bottle of Wind Song, her favorite perfume, and a box of caramels. Carmels were one of the few indulgences that she would allow herself.

When Grandpa and Grandma were still independent, they would go out to social functions and sooner or later it would be time to go. Grandpa always “waited patiently” 🤷😜🤣 while Grandma spent a good 10 or 20 minutes at least saying her goodbyes and telling everyone how good it was to see them. Eventually Grandma would circle back to Grandpa and he’d say “Come on Stada, Už čhas do domu čhas!” which means “It’s time, it’s time to go home!” and she would always reply “Udž poidzeme!” which means “let’s go!”.

In the week before Grandma passed, she just wanted to go home. She’d ask “When can I go home?”, “Why can’t I go home?”. Or eventually she’d tell us “I’m going home!”.

Grandma passed away April 16th 2026.

I feel like this is fitting. My Grandpa passed at the end of 2022 and it took a little longer than 3 years for Grandma to say her final goodbyes and “it was so good to see all of you” while my Grandpa waited patiently for her up in heaven. I can imagine that when she passed, Grandpa greeted her up there with his typical “Come on Stada, Už čhas do domu čhas!” and she replied “Udž poidzeme!”. I’m sure they gave their little kiss and walked hand in hand together into heaven.

Memories will keep her in our hearts forever.

Memorial

Music

My brother and sister, Daniel Henry and Sarah Teitelbaum, recorded a CD of them singing hymns for my Grandpa and Grandma for Christmas 2007 and the hymns Softly and Tenderly, Whispering Hope, How Great Thou Art, and In the Garden were played at Grandma’s funeral.

Song	Audio Controls
Just a Closer Walk With Thee
I’ll Fly Away
Blessed Assurance
In the Garden
Whispering Hope
Old Rugged Cross
Amazing Grace
Softly and Tenderly
How Great Thou Art

Downloads

• Church Bulletin

Recipes

Grandma’s Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cake

Grandma loved to make this every time we came to visit after college.

Ingredients

• 1 3/4 c. boiling water
• 1 c. uncooked oatmeal
• 1 c. lightly packed brown sugar
• 1 c. sugar
• 1 stick (1/2 c.) margarine
• 3/4 c. chopped nuts
• 2 large eggs
• 1 3/4 c. unsifted flour
• 1 tsp. soda
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 1 Tbsp. cocoa
• 1 pkg. (12 oz.) semi-sweet chocolate bits

Instructions

1. Prep Oatmeal: Pour boiling water over oatmeal. Let stand at room temperature for 10 minutes.
2. Mix Wet Ingredients: Add sugars and margarine. Stir until margarine melts. Add eggs and mix well.
3. Add Dry Ingredients: Add dry ingredients and mix well. Add 1/2 package of chocolate chips.
4. Bake: Pour batter into a greased and floured 9 x 13 cake pan. Then sprinkle nuts and rest of chocolate chips on top.
5. Cook Time: Bake at 350° for about 40 minutes.

Grandma’s “Mississippi Mud” Cake

Grandma’s go-to for family picnics.

Cake

Ingredients

• 2 sticks butter
• 2 cups sugar
• 1 1/2 cups flour
• 4 eggs
• 2 tablespoons cocoa
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1 1/2 cup coconut
• 1 1/2 cups nuts
• 1 pint jar marshmallow cream (for topping)

Instructions

1. Cream Ingredients: Cream together the sugar, cocoa, and butter. (Note: The original card mentions cream cheese here by mistake—there is no cream cheese in this recipe!)
2. Add Wet Ingredients: Add the eggs and vanilla. Mix well.
3. Add Dry Ingredients: Add the flour, nuts, and coconut. Beat for 1 minute.
4. Bake: Pour into a greased and floured 9 x 13 pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 to 40 minutes.
5. Marshmallow Layer: While the cake is still hot, spread one pint jar of marshmallow cream over the top.
6. Frost: Finish by spreading the icing (recipe below) over the marshmallow layer.

Icing

Ingredients

• 1/2 box powdered sugar
• 1/2 stick butter
• 1/4 cup cocoa
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
• Milk (as needed)

Instructions

Combine the powdered sugar, butter, cocoa, and vanilla. Add just enough milk to reach a spreading consistency. Beat until smooth and spread on the cake.

Grandma’s Meatballs

Grandma’s go-to for potlucks.

Meatballs

Ingredients

• 3 lbs ground beef
• 2 cups quick oats
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 Tablespoon chopped onion (She uses onion powder)
• 1/2 tsp. garlic powder
• 1 cup milk
• 2 eggs
• 1 tsp. worcestershire
• 1/2 tsp. pepper
• 1 tsp. chili powder (opt.)

Instructions

1. Mix and Shape: Mix well. Make into 2” balls. Place in cake pan.
2. Bake: Bake uncovered 45 minutes. Drain off excess fat.
3. Slow Cook: Place in crock pot. Add sauce (on back) and heat for about 1 1/2 hrs to blend sauce into meatballs.

Barbecue Sauce

Ingredients

• 2 cups brown sugar
• 2 cups ketchup
• 1 teaspoon mustard
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon chili powder
• 1 teaspoon worcestershire sauce

Instructions

1. Combine: Mix all ingredients together.
2. Apply: Pour the mixture over the cooked meatballs (ideally in a crock pot as mentioned on the front of the recipe card) and heat for 1 1/2 hours to blend the flavors.

Grandma’s Mac & Cheese

Grandma didn’t really like Mac & Cheese, but she loved making it for all of us who enjoyed it.

Ingredients

• 1 pkg. Elbow or Shell (small) macaroni
• Water (for boiling)
• 2 Teasp. Salt
• 1/2 - 3/4 cup Velveeta Cheese (chunked)
• 4 Tab. Butter
• 1/2 cup Milk

Instructions

1. Cook macaroni in salted water until your desired taste (usually cook it for about 20 minutes).
2. Drain the water from the cooked macaroni.
3. In a microwave-safe bowl, combine the chunked Velveeta, butter, and milk.
4. Microwave to your desired consistency.
5. When the sauce is done, pour it over the cooked macaroni.
6. Stir to cover all macaroni and enjoy.

Grandma’s “Penny Puff” Rolls

Grandma would make these for special occasions like Thanksgiving and Easter.

Ingredients

• 1 c. milk
• 1 cake of yeast
• 2 teaspoons salt
• 1/4 c. lukewarm water
• 1 egg
• 1/4 c. sugar
• 1/4 c. shortening
• 4 cups flour
• Melted fat (for brushing tops)

Instructions

1. Prepare Yeast: Soften yeast in lukewarm water.
2. Scald & Mix: Scald the milk and add shortening, sugar, and salt.
3. Combine: When lukewarm, add 1 cup flour, the egg, and the softened yeast. Beat well.
4. Form Dough: Add the remaining flour to make a soft dough. Knead until smooth.
5. First Rise: Let rise in a greased bowl until doubled in size.
6. Shape: Punch down the dough. Pinch off small portions and put into greased muffin pans.
7. Second Rise: Brush tops with melted fat. Let rise until doubled in bulk.
8. Bake: Bake in a 450° oven for 12 to 15 minutes.

Grandma’s Potato Salad

Another summertime favorite.

Ingredients

• 7 or 8 potatoes (or more depending on desired quantity)
• 5 to 7 eggs
• Salt and pepper
• Onion salt
• Miracle Whip
• Mustard (a squirt of prepared mustard or 1 tsp. dry mustard)
• Paprika

Instructions

1. Boil: Boil the potatoes still in their skins. In a separate pot, hard boil the eggs.
2. Prep: Peel both the potatoes and the eggs, then cut them into bite-size pieces.
3. Season: Season the potatoes with salt, pepper, and a tiny bit of onion salt.
4. Mix: Scoop some Miracle Whip on top and stir until the consistency “feels kind of mooshy.”
5. Grandma’s Secrets: * Secretly smash a few of the potatoes while mixing.
6. Sneak in a squirt of mustard (or 1 tsp. dry mustard).
7. Finish: Sprinkle paprika on top before serving.