Breaking the bond with traditional living to find a better life for her children was very brave in those day, many times shunned.
Learning from your Grandmother sounds like your childhood memories were wonderful spending time experiencing life felt would benefit you throughout life.
Most grandparents tend to spoil the children, we too had to learn to help with chores, certain rules never broken, memories like this is precious, you fortunate to still have something to remember this brave lady by.