I don't know the exact date that things started happening, but not long after my birthday I got a text from my mom that Grandma wasn't doing well and she was flying out to see her one last time. Talk about a stab to the heart! Grandma was 93 years old and had suffered from the effects of age for a while. She had frequent infections and had fallen and had spent some time in a rest home that focused on physical therapy and had seen some improvement, but when she went home to my aunt's house she went downhill pretty quickly and the siblings determined that they needed to put her in a rest home because they couldn't physically provide the care that she needed. According to my mom, she was at peace with that decision but she really wasn't in the home that long before another infection wiped her out pretty good and then she passed away.
That week after receiving the news from my mom that she was going out was terrible. I was glued to my phone and carried it everywhere with me and was an emotional wreck. She finally passed away on a Thursday night and it as upsetting but also something of a relief to know that she was free from her body and having a joyful reunion with all of her family members who had gone before.
This past weekend I did a quick trip to Utah (oh the jet lag!) to attend her funeral. I flew in on Thursday and out on Monday and had the most wonderful time! All of my siblings were there and both of my sisters-in-law and so many extended family members. From my Grandma and Grandpa there have been 7 children (and their spouses), 42 grandchildren, 97 great-grandchildren, and 21 great-great grandchildren so far. My Uncle Bill counted 70 of that posterity who were able to visit her in the nursing home before she died and I wish that I could've been one of them!
Not only is it a large family, it's a close family. For the most part, the family has lived in Utah (Salt Lake Valley) or California (Los Angeles area) and so I would say that the majority of the cousins know each other pretty well. Our family is kind've an exception because we moved to the east coast when we were young and I know that my brothers felt a little awkward but I loved seeing cousins that I grew up with and spent time with until we moved. Friday, Saturday, and Sunday were all with family having dinner, the funeral of course, and just spending the time together talking.
Grandma's funeral was on Saturday and it was beautiful! She loved music and requested that it be all musical - although two wonderful eulogies were given! I have a lot of talented family but then all the grandchildren and greats sang "Families Can Be Together Forever" or at last tried to. There were a lot tears shed! After the funeral we went out to the cemetery and then back to the church for a family dinner where we filled the cultural hall at the church.
I could write a lot about my Grandma and my relationship with her. I was blessed to have that relationship on both ends sort've! As a child, she lived for a while in Utah about a half hour from us. We would drive down frequently on Saturdays and spend the day. She had a whole closet space full of toys and we would play while she and my mom hung out and Grandpa snored on the couch with the tv at full volume. My cousin Emily and I played for hours with her tubs of Barbies and we also dressed up in her clothes and jewelry. Sometimes I would get to spend the night and in the mornings for breakfast she would make us coffee cake and we drank orange juice out of a pair of pink rose goblets that she gave to us when she was no longer able to live on her own. We would beg to see her baby dolls that were kept up high - she loved dolls - and I would read all her books. I honestly think that her house (and then borrowing of course) is where I read The Secret Garden and The Little Princess for the first time. She introduced me to so many good books and old movies! About once a year she would take Emily and I into Salt Lake for the day and we would watch the brides come out of the Temple and then visit the Beehive house and eat lunch at the Lion House. I remember her peach pies and she would stock up on Creamies ice cream bars in the summertime.
But what I will miss the most is the relationship I've had with her as an adult. I've been writing to her and sending her pictures for years now. She loved to read also and we've sent books back and forth and of course as I've lived in Europe I've sent postcards from nearly every place we've been. I brought a stack home of cards and pictures that she had saved and I'm going to miss her letters so much. Chopper suggested I write to my mom but when we talk on the phone a few times a week there's nothing to write about! With Grandma's hearing so bad, writing was a wonderful way to communicate and I'm so glad I did because it built a relationship between us as adults that I wouldn't have had otherwise. I loved her so much and I miss her.
At the viewing -- I have pictures of lots of family but I won't post them all individually. Mark and Adrienne's girls are adorable and sadly this was the first time I've seen Zoey! It was nice to spend time with them.
The "kids" - from left to right Quentin (oldest), Linda (oldest girl but #3), Laura (5), Shirley Ann (4), my mom Lennea (6 - baby girl), Ron (2) and Keith (baby boy, #7)
All the grands - 1st cousins. Not everyone is here of course but that's a lot of us!
Another at the viewing
Yes we took some nice pictures at the cemetery but we also took these of course!
Zoey!
Danny and Denise's youngest came with them (the older boys stayed home with babysitters). Tom is adorable as all her boys have been!
I made him wear the wings that I made for the girls. He was find with it!
Ok these are the nice ones! I think we're a good looking bunch!
