Saying goodbye to a favorite aunt

We got up at 3 a.m. on Saturday, Harry picked us up at 4. We got to LAX at 5. We landed in SLC at 9 a.m., Utah time. It was overcast and chilly to us - the natives were in shorts and flip flops - they thought the 48 degree temps were warm!! We were bundled up!!

Frances and Dee met us, and we drove to Orem for Virginia's funeral service. It was a lovely service. All four kids spoke. Jack and Thailia sang, Stacy, Susan's daughter, played a Chopin Nocturne on the piano. All the grandchildren and great grandchildren sang "A Child's Prayer," and it was very touching, as most singing by children is. I think Virginia would have been pleased.

Steve and Susan at the luncheon after the service. In true Mormon style, we had ham, funeral potatoes, green jello with fruit, rolls and cake!! (And we were glad to have it, since we'd only had juice and peanuts on the flight up!)

Frances with Julie and Stacy, Susan's daughters. Julie is a marathoner too - and one year we ran into her with her parents at Boston.

Bill Taylor came, as did Mary and Genieve. We were able to go over to Mary's for a brief visit also.

Trudy came, as did Doug, LaDenea, and children. It was nice to visit with them.

It was great to see Jack and Thailia again.


Chuck with his kids Ethan, who is standing, Jean Ann and James.

Dad was pretty tired, but I don't think that's why his eyes are shut!! This shot includes Virginia's 4 kids.

Steve and Susan with their kids: Julie, Emily, Stacy, John, Adrianne. John and Julie are twins.

I remembered to have someone take a shot of us - so you'd know we were there. Karen had planned to drive down, but the time got away from all of us. As it turned out though, our 6:06 p.m. flight got delayed and didn't leave until after 8 p.m. We could have met them at Temple Square, taken a tour, and still made our flight!! (There's a shuttle service at the airport that can do just that for you!!)

We did run into our good friends Larry and Ginger - who were on our flight - and knew it was delayed so they didn't arrive until after 7!! But we didn't have a way home, so they graciously took us and Grandma Terrill home. Truly a tender mercy!

It was indeed a "quick trip," but really worth the effort and resultant fatigue. It's too bad we only seem to gather for funerals!

Sad News to Note -

We got word today that Dad's Aunt Virgina died. We will be going with Grandma Terrill to the funeral in Utah, but it will be a very quick trip.

Virginia was Bill's first wife. After the divorce, she moved with her kids to Provo. When we were engaged, Dad rented a room from her in her basement. She was as funny and sweet and cheery as she looks in this picture!! She had wonderful laugh, a beautiful singing voice, was a great cook - and since her kids would not touch leftovers, Dad and I went every Sunday after we got married and harvested a week's worth of leftovers for ourselves!!

At first she was a bit aloof with me. Then I discovered that Bill's second wife was named Barbara. Virginia soon warmed to me, and we'd laugh about the shared name.

We didn't have a TV when the astronauts landed on the moon, so we went to Virginia's house to watch it. I can still see us all curled up on her couch, watching in awe.

In the picture above, she is shown with her brother Larry, whom she raised after their mother died. She took good care of everyone.

Her divorce was not a pleasant one and there was much acrimony. But at Jack's missionary open house, she stood and bore testimony that she had forgiven Bill, so she expected her kids to also.

She dealt with a lot of sorrow and heartache and came out of it stronger. After her kids were out of high school, she went back to school and got a teaching credential. She taught elementary school in Orem for many years until she retired over 25 years ago.

The last time we visited her was a few years ago. She wasn't well, but she was a spunky as ever. Her son Mike, who suffered a severe injury while on his mission, lived with her for many years and was with her when she died.

It will be good to go and see family. It will be even better to celebrate the life of a wonderful woman, a woman who made the world a better place for having been in it!