After the Funeral

 

After the cemetery we all picked up some food and went to Derrell and LaNore's house and had lunch.  It was fun to relax and talk to family and friends.  I gave Sterling a sparkle bracelet to match the sparkle in her eyes.

LaNore, Natalie, Brad, Maryann and part of Derrell and back of Harold's head!

Same people - more of Derrell - part of Ben.

Sam telling everyone about hunting on Adak!  Ben told us fun stories of being a police officer.  

Delicious food and wonderful company!

Derrell and Dianne - love and respect - so grateful to be able to be present and supportive at a sad time.

At the Cemetery

 

This is the casket being lowered into the vault - never seen that done in front of the family before.  

After Derrell said the dedicatory prayer the workers are getting ready to lower the casket into the ground.

Pallbearers bringing the casket to the grave.

Getting the casket from the hearse at the cemetery.  

View of the gravesite - beautiful sunny day in Anchorage.  Wonderful view of the eastern mountains.

Christopher funeral

 

Pallbearers putting coffin in the hearse.  Dad and Sam, Nick and Brad, Ben and Cory - a long time friend of Chris's.

Derrell taking pictures of the coffin, Sterling in front of him.

Sam, Nick and Harold.  Ben teased Dad later and said - let us help you almost did the whole thing yourself!  Dad said it as heavy and he was glad to have younger backs to help.

Preparing to move the coffin.

Funeral home just before the funeral.

1. The coffin and flowers.

Maryann and Natalie setting up the zoom for the funeral. Ben and Nick and funeral director also.

Derrell requested a time to be alone with the casket and Chris.  So we all waited in the lobby of the mortuary.  Here are Sam and Allie under Native drums.

Old dog sled displayed at the mortuary. 

Old native canoe also displayed.

Alaska trip January 2021

 

On Dec. 30th Derrell's oldest son, Chris died of a heart attack.  Sam had frequent flyer miles and bought us tickets to come to Anchorage -to honor Chris and support Derrell and LaNore - so grateful to Sam. He picked us up at the airport and it is fun to see all the snow - here is Lucy in the back yard.

Aurora the cat on top of her tower - like a Queen.

Demolition of the old Salt Lake Airport...pretty interesting.   

Christmas and New Year's 2020

I like our small tree - the top star Toni Rae Peterson (Halladay) made for me when I mentioned to her that we didn't have a star for our tree - 1985!  Jennie made the paper one when she was seven and we were living in Eugene, Oregon - again I mentioned that we didn't have a star - and she made us one!  I've loved having it on our tree ever since. 

Primary Nativity Scene that I have had for for 60+ years - one piece missing but the wise men didn't come that night, right?  Lamb with Love One Another - we have that as a Christmas Decoration for many years also.

Polly and Chris gave us this giant Peanut Nut Roll - so much fun!  We cut it into pieces to share with anyone who visited!

Scooter came over for a couple weeks, he looks like he is part of our Christmas decorations!  It was fun to have him for a few days - and he seemed to like coming back to visit us.

Kroeber's house in the throes of being remodeled!  They are working so hard inside to finish rooms so they can work outside when the cement is all poured.  

Sad end to the year - Jeff Davis's brother Chad died at his house.  He fell and hit his head, they think.  Jeff came from AZ and we met him outside the Wheeler Mortuary in Springville. Private funeral for family - we watched on zoom.  It was great to see him and he thanked us for coming.

Jeff, Lisa and two of their four children, they have another boy and girl older.  The funeral was Dec. 30th, and on the 31st we drove to Murray for the viewing of Kenneth Kunz's wife.  He is a friend from grade school, Junior High and High School!  It was nice to catch up a little bit.  

I have been helping out Heather's job by being a caregiver to older ladies.  This one is pretty bad and doesn't remember much.  I brought her some puzzles she likes and in reading some of the magazines to here I found this page.  It made me remember circling in the Sears book what I wanted - she likes nuts and had circled these two nut trays.  It made me realize that she is really just a child again and it made it easier to care for her.  I also helped another lady who had bad crippled hands from arthritis - she is only four years older than I am.  I found myself praying for both of them after just one day helping.  I may continue just filling in for the college nursing students that usually take care of them.

 

Last of the Dec. 24th fun

 

Briella came for the last little bit of our Christmas Party - she had to go all the way to West Valley to get a rapid test for covid - she was exposed at school and Kreober's are planning a vacation after Christmas.

The children made Christmas trees of ice cream cones - lots of candy to decorate and eat!

Sweet Millie and her creation!

Reid thought you were supposed to decorate it and then eat it!  

Lots of fun - with frosting and candy - usually fun!

It has been fun to be with little ones at Christmas time ... anytime really.   I miss having neighbor children come over to give their Mothers a rest, maybe next year!  Loved have my own grandchildren!

More Dec. 23 and 24th

 

We made pine cone bird feeders - - you put the peanut butter all over the pine cone and then roll it in bird seed - yes it is messy!  Sadie was the best at it!

Reid just wanted to eat the peanut butter!! and cover his toes!

We hung several out in our yard and then they put some in bags to take to the birds up at the cabin.

Fun to have grandchildren to take the place of the traditional Children's Party.

Grandpa made yummy waffles for breakfast on Christmas Eve Day!

Grandma got out mint Oreo's for a snack!

Tait took a picture of both the inside and the outside of our fridge!!

All the kids like to play with the magnets on the door of our fridge.

I loved that Tait took pictures of our Nativity set from Jerusalem under our tree.

Kacey made the sign - Joy to the World, the Russian Nativity is a favorite.

Tait took a couple pictures of the Nativity Cards I have saved for years and put up each year.

Our Christmas Card mirror!

Reid playing with the Olaf!  

Reid would climb up the bunk bed ladders, and then jump like a trampoline on the top bunk!  Not too safe!!  We got out the small tramp for him to jump on instead.

Millie playing with the small Amish doll and Olaf.  She is very imaginative with her play and I love it.

Olivia tring to get some rest!  It was fun to have company and made the holidays merrier!!