OtterPops: Grammy's Passing

Grammy in the heart of her home

The past two weekends we went to Cache Valley to spend time with my Dad's family. We heard my Grammy's health was failing due to complications with pulmonary fibrosis, exacerbated by a fall earlier in the week. When my cousin Marci called me and told me it was time I threw all the kids and some clothes in the car late Friday afternoon, picked up Jared from work and, as we were on our way to Logan, we received the news that my Grammy had passed away. Exactly 4 years and 1 week after my Grampy passed away. I am so grateful the kids and I had taken a day trip last month to visit with her, take pictures, etc. I felt like I had good closure, but still we pressed on to Logan to see my parents (who were 15 minutes out when they received the news after traveling from CA for 12 hours), Kelsey and other extended family. It was so healing to be able to say goodbye to her before they took her body away and to spend the weekend surrounded by loved ones. Jared even took the kids home Saturday night and let me stay one more day at Aunt Lori's to visit with family, read through Grammy's journals and spend some time reflecting on Grammy's life, especially the last week with cousins, aunts and uncles. It was especially fun to see how my kids made instant friends with my cousin's kids. Especially Lillian and Brynli (marci's daughter) hit it off from the first moment.

Visiting Grammy last month

Me with my Dad over the funeral weekend


The Cabin (aka Grammy's House)

During a small family gathering the first weekend

Lillian and her 2nd cousin Brynli

I wrote this the Monday I returned from Logan: I am feeling emotional as I remember my Grammy who passed away on Friday. I am so grateful for a healing weekend at her cabin surrounded by loved ones and looking forward to seeing all 28 cousins together at the funeral next weekend. My Grammy was one of my biggest cheerleaders, a leader among women, my home away from home during college, always had time to talk with me, made her home feel like a haven, a spiritual giant, always had a home-cooked meal and homemade bread waiting, the first to introduce me to Aggie Ice cream, a talented seamstress,and she unconditionally loved all she met. I can only hope to someday be at least half the woman she was. I am so glad she was able to pass in her home surrounded by family and I am sure she is now having a wonderful reunion with grampy and all her loved ones as we mourn our loss. ‪#‎familiesareforever‬

All 28 cousins lining up in age order to re-enact a photo our parents made us take 25 years ago

The following weekend we were able to host Emily and Lara for a night or two before they headed up to Logan. Kelsey, the kids and I took Emily to the Tulip festival at Thanksgiving Point. It was gorgeous!! Such a beautiful afternoon on top of which we found a $10 bill on the ground and after asking around to find out the owner, decided we better treat ourselves to some italian ice and ice cream :) Lucky since none of us adults brought our wallets in! We picked Lara up at the airport late Thursday night and all us sisters visited Kelsey at work the next day. What a rare opportunity to be all together. The kids had a blast with their aunties in town buying the salt water taffy and visiting them at school!

Starting out at the Tulip Festival

Jocelyn and Lillian with their aunties

Kids on the way to the waterfall where we spotted an owl

Friday night we headed up to Logan again and stayed with my cousin Kimi to attend the viewing, funeral and burial for Grammy. As we entered the viewing I saw this display which made me instantly tear up. Grammy wrote her own obituary (which my cousin Therese touched up) and this was a line she had in her self-written obituary. We all knew she truly meant it and treated us as such. Although it was emotional, I was so grateful to be able to take part in the celebration of Grammy's life. My talented cousins sang, played violins and spoke along with the aunts and uncles. After the luncheon all us cousins took pictures to re-enact age order pictures our parents took of us 25 years ago!! We followed it up that evening with a hilarious and happenin' cousin party (kids with babysitters) while the geriatric party stayed at Grammy's cabin. What a treasure to have such amazing, fun people to be related to!! My cousin Cortney put together all the media like Grammy's journals, the funeral video made by my cousin's daughter Kayla, and a video we had all submitted to grammy last Thanksgiving. It has been difficult but really great to browse through all of the pictures, videos and journals. What a treat to have my whole family all together for a quick weekend. Of course we could have spent a week visiting and catching up and enjoying each other's company but at least we had a few days!