bitter-sweet november

Let me preface this, first, by saying that my in-laws are unconventional to say the least, and second, that as a nation, as a culture, I think we are a bit too removed from death. (Click here to read a good article about personalizing funerals.)

On Sunday, November 23rd, four days before Thanksgiving my father-in-law passed away. He had been in the hospital for a couple of weeks, but appeared to be improving and I think most of us expected him to return home. However, before church, we received a phone call saying that he was failing rapidly and that we needed to come right away. He passed while we were en route. My husband's siblings & their families quickly gathered around their beloved dad and spent hours reminiscing & comforting one another, finding it hard to leave. Years ago, while the family was gathered in grandma & grandpa's frontroom, we were talking about funerals and such. Someone had asked my father-in-law what he would want & how he would want his funeral to be handled. He said "Just build me a pine box, put me in the back of a pick-up truck and drive me up to Idaho" (where he was born & raised).

So. That's what we did.

Now, like I said it was not your typical funeral, but I will say this: I've never seen a more personal, intimate funeral process in my life. There has to be something said about my father-in-law, Sirren, and the life he lived that so many people would be willing to go to such lengths to grant him his last wish. I will always remember him as the perfect example of patience, humility & spiritual endurance. I'm so thankful that he was a great father to my husband, and that Gene now can pass down many lessons learned from him. We will miss grandpa sorely!

The family gathered in the VA hospital room, just moments after Sirren passed.

I don't know about you, but being surrounded by loved ones is a pretty sweet way to go.

Barbara holding her husband's hand.

After 53 years of marriage I'm not so sure that I could let go either.

Grandpa's "pinebox" in the back of Verle's pickup truck.

One of the requests Sirren had made was to have his "life's road map" etched on the top of his casket. This depicts his journey from Soda Springs, Idaho to his mission, service in the Army, the various places his children were born & various homes they lived in.

The whole family, adults & grandchildren alike, traced their hands and left grandpa messages as well as traced some of the wood crafts that Sirren had made (moon).

The grave side service in Soda Springs. Nicole & Jennifer sang "O Danny Boy" a capella beautifully (I wish I had a recording). Memorial services were held later in the week, back home, in which Gene and some of his siblings gave beautiful talks about their dad.

We'll miss you dad, grandpa!