Two funerals and a road trip….

I should probably apologize for my heading-it sounds depressing and somewhat disrespectful, but I’m not going to because both funerals were wonderful celebrations of long lives lived fully and honorably.

My father-in-law, Reed Luke Clegg passed away on June 2, 2015.  He was a month and a half shy of his 97th birthday.

He outlived his sweetheart by three years and had maintained his independence until just the last few days of his life. 

He was still driving his car at age 95.

He was a veteran of World War Two, serving in the Navy in the Pacific.

He loved this country!

If I could sum up his life in a few words, I would have to say he tried to live perfectly.  He did his best with everything he attempted.  Oh, how we will miss him!

You can read his obituary by clicking here.

♥

I’ve often blogged about “Aunt Mardene”.

Mardene Hall was the perfect aunt, living next door to us as we were growing up.  She was selfless and kind.

Everyone loved her!

She passed away on June 13, 2015 (early on the morning of dad’s funeral).

She never married, so we invaded her life and claimed her as our own (sorry cousins).

When our parents got sick and passed away, Mardene held our family together and became grandparent for our children and  their children. 

She loved the outdoors:  gardening, riding her bike, watching sports, enjoying the sunset.

She loved children!

(My grand-niece Karli made this beautiful flower arrangement for Mardene’s bike.  It was perfect!)

Mardene was also independent until the last few days of her life.  We moved her to an assisted living center, but she was only there a few days.  She quietly passed away at age 91.

You can read Mardene’s obituary here.

While we will miss them both, how comforting it is that they are both free from the ailments of aging bodies.  We know we will be reunited with them again some day.

Can you imagine the happy reunions they are experiencing right now?

♥

 

(The family-minus Ovidiu and some of the young grands.)

Since the funerals were back to back our daughter Heidi and family were able to be here for both.  (That is quite a blessing, don’t you agree?)

Her husband had to fly home to work after the first funeral, so I drove Heidi and the kids home to Oregon and then spent a few days with them.

We took two days to drive and had a nice long little road trip.

I didn’t take one single picture.

It has been a busy and draining start to my summer, but I feel very blessed that things worked out the way they did.

Now, if I could just do something about the HEAT!

(104 degrees today.)

JoAnn

 

Saying good-bye.

After record breaking rainfall in May (which meant postponing yard work until June), closing up my classroom for the summer, and trying to catch up at home (neglecting everything because of school) it has been crazy around here.

The last week of school is always a physical and mental endurance test.  Students don’t want to work anymore, it is often too warm in the classroom, and teachers have to sort, organize, and box up everything.

While I enjoyed my students, we were all ready for the change.

I will miss their hugs, cute comments, wonderful stories, and creative art work.

(And the fact that they don’t have a clue how old I am!)

My kind father-in-law passed away right before the school year ended.  His ninety-six (almost ninety-seven) year old body just wore out.  After falling several times, we admitted him to the hospital.  He was then put on Hospice and within a few days he passed away.  We celebrated his funeral on Saturday.  We feel blessed that he was able to go quickly and not suffer for a long time, but we will miss him a lot, especially sharing Sunday dinners with him.

My sweet Aunt Mardene had been living alone and was quite independent, but a week ago she suffered some mini strokes (we think), so we moved her to an assisted living home.  We fixed up her room and had it so cozy and comfortable.  Within a few days she also passed away. 

We are planning another funeral. 

She leaves behind a void in many lives, too.  She never married, but has loved, cared for, and supported three generations of nieces and nephews.

We flipped around our summer travel plans and daughter Heidi and family flew here instead of our going there.  I will soon be driving them back to Oregon.  We have enjoyed catching up with their children and don’t look forward to having to say good-bye to them.

We feel  blessed that both Mardene and Ken’s dad were able to be with us as long as they were (187 years combined), and that they were in pretty good health until the very end, but it has been surreal losing them both within a week of each other.

Even though we know they are now free from physical limitations and pain, and are reunited with loved ones who had gone before,

it is never easy saying good-bye.

We will miss them!

JoAnn

P.S.  The yard is getting prettier now with Day lilies blooming, the Daisies starting to open up, some annuals planted for color, and little Zinnia sprouts popping up.

Now, if I could only stay ahead of the weeds!