Grandma Rita's Viewing
Friday, September 25, 2009
*** It is so amazing to reflect upon a person's life. I was able to put together a slide show of pictures of Grandma Rita. There were beautiful pictures of her as a baby and a young girl in England, pictures of a school girl in America with an accent and then pictures of a young bride ~ so in love! The family pictures that followed year after year with child after child added to this great family were so great. Rita always had the greatest coifs and looked very much like Jaquelyn Kennedy!
*** They had a special viewing for Dan's little brother Josh. After Grandma Tooman's death they were worried that he might react badly, again. We got to be together with just Dan's family for about an hour and She looked so beautiful and peaceful. *** At the funeral Dan's Aunt Jennifer had small stirring straws for everyone in the congregation. During her talk she shared that the Doctors told her if she wanted to understand how hard it was for Grandma Rita to breath just plug your nose and breath through a small coffee straw, all day long, after running around for an hour. After trying it sitting there in the church we all came to the same conclusion that we would pass out if we actually tried this. Grandma has struggled for breath almost as long as I've known her. She has been on oxygen for the last ten years.
*** While holding that straw in my hand I imagined Rita running around for an hour and envisioned what Sue had told me at the viewing the night before. She had been riding in the car and had a quick flash of Grandma Rita hand in hand with a little girl with long, dark curly hair. She thought this little girl looked to be about seven years old. What a reunion. Not only the million of people she has helped through her many, many hours of service in the family history and name extraction programs. Not only her loving parents. Not only her Son Bruce. But my baby girl Dayna. I can imagine each one took her in her arms and welcomed this great lady home.
*** It was so interesting to see Chloe and Seth understand and question all that they witnessed. The funeral director brought the children up to the casket and told him it was a special treasure box and that their Great Grandma Rita was in fact a great treasure. He talked about her temple clothes she was dressed in and the veil they would place on her head before closing the casket. When he asked if any of them knew what the veil is Chloe raised her hand and very expertly told him all about veils and when they are lifted over your head ~ when you are ready to be kissed! Seth was mostly interested in the hole that Grandma would be in. After asking if it was time to 'dig her' over and over, it was finally time to follow the hearse to the cemetery and bury the beautiful treasure box. After insisting to loudly that he needed to see the hole, I clutched this little mans wrist very tightly and escorted him over to the plot. He leaned over and looked in. I was so grateful he didn't try to jump in. He just nodded to me like he approved ~ funny boy! Afterwards we had a nice luncheon and took many, many pictures. I can't wait to see them.
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*** It was so interesting to see Chloe and Seth understand and question all that they witnessed. The funeral director brought the children up to the casket and told him it was a special treasure box and that their Great Grandma Rita was in fact a great treasure. He talked about her temple clothes she was dressed in and the veil they would place on her head before closing the casket. When he asked if any of them knew what the veil is Chloe raised her hand and very expertly told him all about veils and when they are lifted over your head ~ when you are ready to be kissed! Seth was mostly interested in the hole that Grandma would be in. After asking if it was time to 'dig her' over and over, it was finally time to follow the hearse to the cemetery and bury the beautiful treasure box. After insisting to loudly that he needed to see the hole, I clutched this little mans wrist very tightly and escorted him over to the plot. He leaned over and looked in. I was so grateful he didn't try to jump in. He just nodded to me like he approved ~ funny boy! Afterwards we had a nice luncheon and took many, many pictures. I can't wait to see them.
