Grandma LaRue's Funeral

This funeral for my grandma was the very first funeral I have been to. I was very apprehensive about the whole thing especially with it being open casket. But the experience was wonderful and I loved being able to honor my sweet grandma and spend time thinking of her. Most of all, I loved being with my big and little family mourning her passing, sharing memories, laughing, crying, and feeling the bond we have. We all came together because of the love we have for one amazing women! The love we feel for her and the love she has for us unites my whole family together. Walking into her viewing and being together with family was the closet I have felt to heaven. It was a sacred and spiritual experience. In a way, it was the celestial kingdom right there in that relief society. This whole experience, especially with it being so close to Easter, has reminded me of eternal families and the great power of the atonement. It is because of HIM that I can be reunited with each member of my family. I kept on thinking over and over throughout the funeral "because of him death has no sting and the grave no victory". That means more to me know than it ever has before. 

Favorite Funeral Moments

1. My favorite moment was gathering around my grandmas casket with just my siblings and parents. It was our last goodbye before they closed the casket. We cried, held hands, and told her how much we love her. I felt her so, so close in that moment. 

2. Singing "Families can be together forever" with all my cousins at her memorial. During the song my grandpa teared up as he looked at each one of his grandchildren. 

3. Sitting next to my grandpa while sharing experiences/memories of grandma LaRue. My grandpa's brother, Gordon, stood up and said "this is a celebration of all your posterity and the wonderful life you have lived". My grandpa looked at his brother with teary eyes and it was a tender moment.

4. At the luncheon we all shared memories of grandma. I loved hearing all my cousins memories and realizing that she loved us all so much. Each one of us had a relationship with her and loved her best. We were all her favorite. What an amazing grandma.

5. Going into her house and feeling so close to her. 

6. After the viewing I felt so much peace and happiness. I was so nervous about saying my goodbyes but it ended up being such a positive experience. I loved being with my cousins and being connected by our love for grandma

My grandma was one amazing women who had the ability to make you feel so special and loved. She was funny, spontaneous, silly, competitive, and always up for fun. She would stay up so late playing games with us cousins and would never go to bed before us (she could never miss out). 

"the worth of souls is great un the sight of God" D&C 18:10. My grandma always made you feel and believe you were better than you were. That you were smarter, faster, stronger, more musical, and overall better than you ever could be. The "worth of souls" was great unto her and she never let someone come into her life without them feeling important (especially her family). I don't know how she did it but everyone single grandchild and child loved and adored her immensely. She was all of our favorites!! 

Spring Break and Easter

Spring Break was a crazy week!! The first friday we found out Doris past away, Saturday grandma LaRue past away, and then finally on Sunday Wilf past away.  It was a hard weekend for our little family to lose 3 beloved grandparents. Emily and I decided to go up to Brian Head for the week and then finishing driving up to Salt Lake to go to grandmas funeral on Saturday. Little did we know it was going to be such a hard week. Ski school needed up being all full ( which meant we skied with kids and then had them at the cabin a lot too), it snowed 18 inches and was a blizzard for 2 days, cars got stuck, we didn't sleep well, and to top it off we were dealing with grandmas death! I did not expect to mourn her death as much as I did. She past away peacefully and lived such a long and wonderful life. But her death had me dealing with the fleeting nature of life and how fast the wonderful years on earth go! Wasn't grandma just here dancing at my wedding?! Emily and I spent many hours after the kids went to bed sharing memories of grandma, our childhood, and all our cousins. Looking back on it, that week at the cabin with just Emily sharing those hours together and in many ways grandma were very, very special. It was our week to talk about her, grieve her passing, and renew our testimonies of the resurrection. 

But we also had a ton of fun with the kids. We went sledding, skiing, got new ski clothes, did Easter crafts, dyed eggs, and spent hours in the snow! The kids loved every second of it. On Friday we drove up to Salt Lake for the viewing and funeral and then came back to the cabin on Saturday night. Easter at the cabin was so fun with all the kids and they loved the egg hunt int he snow. This Easter will be one I never forget as I felt the power of the resurrection so strong in my life. I know that my Savior lived, died, and rose again. I know that my grandma lived and still lives and her body and spirit will be reunited one day. I am so thankful for the atonement and opportunity it gives me to repent of my sins. Because of the atonement I always have a way to return to my family and father in heaven!! That has so much more meaning to now that one of my loved people awaits me in heaven. 

Grandma LaRue

My sweet grandma passed away tonight. She was struggling with Alzheimers and I feel so much joy knowing she is free from that burden. After so many years she is together her parents, sisters and my cousin Landon. I know she is close by tonight and that knowledge brings we so much peace. I feel even more peace knowing that she past peaceful after seeing her children. She would always tell me "when I die I just want to fall asleep and never wake up". She past without pain and very quickly.  Her life was a testament to her love of God, family, and zest for life!

I just can't go to bed without writing down how much I love her. She always made me feel so special, to the point where I felt she loved me best! I find myself thinking about all her wonderful dinners she had at her house, the Easter egg hunts she would through with eggs buried in the grass, and the delicious breakfast of waffles and eggs. When we stayed at her house she always catered to us and made sure we felt so loved. Those memories are dear to my heart. 

When I turned 28 she called my on my birthday to say how much she loved me and wished she could spend the day with me. When I hung up the phone I just started to cry. I knew it would be the last time she remembered my birthday (it was just a few months after that she really started to show memory problems). She always sent me a card on my birthday with a sweet note and I have saved most of them. Last valentines day I had the girls make a card for her and grandpa. We mailed it to them and sure enough a couple days later I get a call from her. She wanted to call me and say how special that made her feel. It was the last time she ever called me and I feel so much happiness knowing that I made her feel loved that day. Just a few weeks ago she came into town for the weekend. As she was about to leave I hugged her tight and said "I love you grandma". I expected no reply as her memory was very far gone but sure enough she said "I love you Jill". I felt a love for her in that moment that I had not felt before. She was so strong and had endured so much and I knew she had a lived a life worthy all the blessings of celestial glory. She was such a perfect example of never ending faith and I watched her endure her trials gracefully. This quote reminds me of my grandma every time I read it as I watched her say morning and evening prayers everytime I was with her.

" There is nothing more powerful than the prayers of a righteous mother"