Family Reunion and Hard Good-bye

Last weekend was a bittersweet trip to my old hometown - San Jose, California for my Nana's funeral.  I was so glad that every one of my kids except our missionary who is in Oregon, decided to make the trip.

Hubby and I decided to fly out last Friday but most everyone else drove.  2nd daughter K, BBQ'r J, triplet M, M the runner and her daughter S, the female triplet all left in our Expedition on Thursday morning.  They stayed in Reno in K’s time share that night.   J, the 1st Cougar, S the superman runner, youngest daughter S, and her hubby J, the 2nd Ute, left around noon in our red truck.  They stayed with S’s uncle in Tahoe Friday night.  1st daughter A, flew out on Saturday. 

Nana's funeral was held at the same place as Papa's.  We got right over there and they let us into Nana's viewing a little early.  It's weird to say that someone's body looks nice after they have passed on, but she did.  I am glad that I understand where she really was and that I was just looking at a used shell of her.   

We met Grammy there at Oak Hills Cemetary where the viewing was taking place and where the funeral took place on Saturday.  I saw lots of cousins and other relatives.  It was very bitter sweet.  Here are some pictures:

This is Friday afternoon entering the funeral home.  M literally had a “monkey on his back!”

After the viewing we took Grammy to dinner.  We had a long wait so K played games with M.

 Grammy had been there on and off for more than a week and had taken care of lots of details.  She looked good but was very tired.

 We reserved rooms at a Residence Inn.  The first night M and S stayed with Hubby and I and K and J had their own room.  S loves getting in bed with me!

While I got ready for bed the rest got a story.  It was really cute.

Daughter S’s group got there about 10:30 on Saturday morning.  By then Hubby and I had changed rooms to a bigger unit where we stayed the next night.  I can’t remember why this pose was going on, but it’s typical J and S.

At the funeral, the pastor conducted, then Uncle Jerry took some time to talk about his parents. Then the rest of us were given a few minutes to say something.  I read a part of Elder B's e-mail and talked a little of Nana.  Grammy did a good job.

That’s Uncle Jack with Grammy.  When he spoke he laid a rubber chicken on the podium and explained that he and Nana had a special relationship, one that was jokey and funny.  So he put on a black wig for a second and told us that if it got hard to talk, we were to pick up the dumb chicken!  It worked.  Almost everyone that talked grabbed the chicken once or twice.

We followed an old-fashioned tradition of walking behind the hearse.  Brother Steve is in the blue shirt with the glasses on.

The family.  If you look close you can see all of our family that was there.
 

Following the internment we went up to the Church on the Hill for a luncheon.  I had found a handwritten “Remembrances of a Country Girl” that Nana wrote.  I offered to read it aloud and some people gathered around. 

Uncle Steve, M, J, K, and J.

Our nephew Forrest and M.  They had never met before now.  Forrest looks great.  It’s been years since his hair has been so short and he is now so grown up!  

This scene of playing basketball at Nana’s had been done many times before.  Later that night the backboard fell down, almost as if someone wanted it to!  That had never happened before, either.  Weird.

Wasn’t this a cute little cottage?

Between all the kids, we got lots of delicious oranges from Nana’s tree and S and M also found one avocado. 

Nana’s grandkids missing only one.

The children of Nana and Papa.  They took several smiling ones, but I like the silly one best!

 Everyone loves Uncle Jack!

Grammy’s birthday was Monday, but most people would be gone by then, so I got everyone to sing happy birthday to her on Saturday night.

One of the sleeping situations!  I had to get this picture!

Everyone but Hubby and I left on Sunday and then we drove over to meet Grammy at the grave. 

 On Sunday and Monday we spent our time scanning all the pictures that Nana had on her walls and a few in albums.  I’ll put them all together and plan to make a Nana Book for anyone who wants it.  We scanned hundreds!

As it got closer to the time we were to leave it got harder and harder for me.  The house was reversed mortgaged so that Nana could stay there, which she was able to do!  I am so proud of my mom for working with her siblings to make that happen.  But they have to turn it over to the bank in June and then I presume since it is so old, it will be torn down and something else built there.  I probably won’t see it again.  This is the room I used to sleep in when I stayed overnight.  It’s a very cushy bed and I used to love staying over.

Bye-bye 2959 Towers Lane.  I will miss you so much!

Nana was a beacon of light for me.  It is really hard to know that the only Nana in my life now is...me!  How can I ever live up to the high standard she set?  She loved unconditionally, largely and with all her heart.  I hope I get as much time as her to get better at that.  About 41 more years.