Grandma Helen

My Grandma (my dad's mom), passed away a couple of weeks ago. Although she had been ill and was not doing well after her fall, I was still saddened by her passing. I was planning to take my girls up to see her two Sundays ago (on the 15th) to visit. She died Saturday night (the 14th). My family (including my two sisters, Holly and Heidi), and friends had just come out of the Draper Temple Open House when we received word of her passing. I was so sad that we "missed" her by one day. Darin was nice enough to take ALL the girls to dinner and then home South while I and my sisters went north to Grandma's house. We needed to say goodbye. We knew her spirit would still be there.

As we arrived at the house, the mood was quiet and somber. Other family members (including most of my Dad's siblings) were already there. The other would arrive shortly. My dad, who is in Las Vegas, would not be there until the next day. We were representing him. Grandma lay in her bed, having just taken her last breath not even two hours before. We cried, patted her hand, stroked her hair, and whispered "I love you's" in her ear. It was extremely hard on Holly. She and Grandma were little buddies. Holly didn't live too far from her in Salt Lake City, so she would often visit Grandma after work, watch movies with her, sing songs, and sit with her. Before Grandma got really sick, Holly learned to can tomatoes, sew, make favorite recipes, etc. They had really been close. It was harder to watch her say goodbye than it was to say goodbye myself. My cousins little girl, Brooke, kept going back into "Helen the Great's" room to check on her. That's what she called her...very fitting.

We continued to chat with visiting family members, re-visited Grandma's room several times just to say goodbye again, and sang to her some of her favorite songs. She loved hearing us sing together and we always loved singing for her. One of my last memory of Grandma was last Thanksgiving. My family had come up from Vegas for the Holiday and went to see Grandma that weekend. My sisters and I, of course, came with our newest songs in our repretoire...including "Could I Have This Dance" (Anne Murray) and "Seasons of Love" from Rent. The most precious thing happened as we sang, "Could I Have This Dance". (My Grandma loved to dance, especially with her Pete - who passed on eight years previous). She would often remenisce about Grandpa teaching her to dance. As we sang the song, the first time she just listened. We were asked to sing it again. As we did, she rose up out of her chair (oxygen and all) and pulled my dad out of his and made him dance with her. There they swayed and twirled around together. We kept telling Dad to hold on tight to her so that she wouldn't lose her balance. Soon, my Uncle Bob (Dad's twin) tapped him on the shoulder and cut in. He now danced around with her. She had the BIGGEST smile on her face and had more energy than I've seen her have in a long, long time. I think she led the dance for most of it. When that was over, we sang the other song. Then, Grandma asked if we could sing "Could I Have This Dance" again so that Uncle Steve (who was downstairs) could dance with her. Steve came up, with some resistance, to dance with Grandma. All resistance faded soon, however, as he supported her frail body as they moved around the room. Grandma was in heaven, litterally. That was the last time I sang for her; the last time I saw her.

Her viewing was the following Tuesday (March 17th) and the funeral on March 18th. Everyone attended (except Darin, who had his paid tuition art class all week). The services were very nice. All of the grandchildren had been asked to sing "How Great Thou Art" for her funeral. Almost all 28 of us got up to sing; others were singing from their hearts in the audience. We had also been asked to sing during the luncheon following the dedication of the grave. My little ones sang "Grandmother" (Primary Song) and Holly, Heidi, and I sang "Could I Have This Dance" (for Grandma, one last time). There were not too many dry eyes, including our own. That song now has more special meaning. We are sure that dancing with Grandpa Pete was probably the first thing she did when she reunited with him.

I am so grateful for the knowledge that families are forever. That death is not an end. I am thankful for the memories I have of my grandparents. I love you, Grandma.

Below are pictures from our last visit with Grandma.
HERE is a link to a photo album of the funeral. (I didn't want to rebuild it again for blogger.)