Seattle, WA - One of the last things Beth Dahlstrom said before she died was, "I love you all." At the time, only my husband and I (her daughter) were in the room so we think she meant it for all of you. If she knew you, she loved you. And if she didn't know you, she probably still would have loved you.

Mom made people feel safe with her love. She was accepting of everyone, from all walks of life, and her house was always open to anyone who wanted to come for dinner. She looked for the good in everyone and almost always found it.

My mom was the best woman I have ever known, the epitome of unconditional love, support and encouragement. Although she was soft spoken and physically petite, she was also strong, mighty and fiercely protective. (I believe she died still upset with a college boyfriend who did me wrong.) People loved her deeply right back and, in her last weeks, she was surrounded by those who cared about her, including her favorite person on earth, her grandson, Gabriel Anderson.

She was born Beth Eldeen Breakey on November 7, 1929, the youngest of nine full- and half-siblings. She grew up on a farm in Bellingham, Wash., where love was abundant, but money was tight. She played with cats instead of dolls, often dressing them in clothes and pushing them in a baby carriage, the start of her lifelong love of cats.

From a young age, she was a talented artist, but as she grew up, she needed to pick a profession with a reliable paycheck, so she became a nurse. She was a truly great one, according to many who worked with her. She put patients first, even if it meant going against a doctor, which wasn't done at that time, and she saved lives because of it. She worked for many years as the director of nursing at Anaheim Memorial Hospital in California. When she badly fractured her hip and could no longer physically be a nurse, she became a professional cake decorator, using her artistic talents to bring joy and beauty to any occasion where there was cause for cake.

She met the love of her life, David Dahlstrom, when they were both attending Simpson College. Decades later, both still recalled the exact moment when they first saw each other in the cafeteria at lunch time and immediately were drawn together. They were married for 46 years before he died in 2003. She kept writing him love letters for years after that in a notebook she kept beside her bed.

She was a fantastic mom to me and my younger brother, Steve. Our house was always the one where our friends gathered; it was filled with love, fun and a lot of cake. She had a strong faith in God, which she never preached about but instead quietly lived — God's love in action.

In her later years, her passions included her 19-year-old grandson, Gabriel; her cat, Lucy; and pastries, in that order. She loved that Gabriel shared her talent for art, and she proudly wore shirts and buttons bearing his designs, whether it was a custom cat he'd made for her or one of his metal logos.

Nearly seven years ago, Mom agreed to move in with Mike, Gabriel and me. Her quiet, steadfast love was an anchor for all of us. She also cooked, baked and took care of us in many ways. Even after her age-related dementia progressed, one of the things she most often repeated was, "What can I do for you, honey?"

She died at home with us at age 96, peacefully and without pain, minutes after her hospice team honored her with a "Nightingale Ceremony," where her nurses Yoli and Shawnelle recognized her for her work as a fellow nurse and officially released her from the duty of caring for others.

She is survived by her daughter (me, Linda Dahlstrom Anderson); beloved son-in-law, Mike Anderson; adored grandson, Gabriel Anderson; sister-in-law and dear friend of 70 years, Mary Piper, and a list so long of family of the heart or blood (or often both) it would have added $1,000 to the cost of this obit. No joke. You know who you are.

She was preceded in death by, and is now reunited with, her husband, Dave; her son, Steve; her grandson, Phoenix; her parents; her siblings, many great friends and cats.

Her memorial service is 1:00 p.m. on April 11 at Magnolia Presbyterian Church, 3051 28th Ave W., Seattle, WA 98199. All are welcome.