Hello and Goodbyes

I got back home late on Saturday and was drained.  On Sunday afternoon, we picked up the boy and took him and his neighbor friend out for dinner and a movie.  The Lego Movie 2 was showing in the next town.  And that had been his birthday party plans all along, so the Birthday that Never Was Happened.

Finally!

The boys had a great time and I actually enjoyed the movie!

Meri helped me fill our bulk salt and pepper shakers for the funeral dinner.  

For something that I was dreading doing, it only took 5 minutes...  We also collected roasters, drink dispensers, table clothes and I found 40 yards of black tulle leftover from Meri's grad party.  I cut it into 10-11 foot lengths and got enough to use as the table runners for all the tables.  

My family is the epitome of the DIYers.  One sister took charge and came with a car loaded down with food and to-do lists.  Another rented the hall, another and my brother organized appetizers.

The viewing on Tuesday afternoon and into the night was a wonderful remembrance of Mom.  Meri arrived with me early and helped me hot glue all the photos with me onto the coffin  lid.  I accidentally backed into her while she was holding the hot glue gun and got a glob on my back.  That stayed with me all day...  

My sister and her husband had put together a great slideshow of Mom's life as well as the 50 year anniversary video done 11 years ago.  

I saw so many friends and family that I hadn't seen for over 40 years in some cases.  And they all had wonderful things to say about Mom.  The pastor gave a brief sermon and then handed the microphone to whoever would like to say something.  My nephew stood first, then an aunt, and the passing of  the mic kept going.  Meri kept wanting to stand up and go next but someone else always beat her to it.  So I stood up with her and we both went.  Meri had a sweet story to tell about how Mom always made each of her grandkids feel special and about the infamous tea party under the dining room table.    I told about how Mom could talk to ANYONE and find a connection of some sort.  I told about how when Mom came with me to one of my church functions and met the oldest member of our church, Marie.  Mom asked where she was from and Marie told her the town in Northern Minnesota.  Mom said that her father's first church as a minister was there!  And Marie remembered coming home from college and meeting the new pastor and his young wife and their first little baby, my mom.  

So yep, my mom knew everyone.

My best childhood friend, Valerie, told how my parents had stopped to buy sweetcorn from Val's family when she was 4.  My mom talked with her mom and invited them to church.  A few months later, Val and all her siblings and family were baptized and her siblings and my siblings were all about the same ages and became close family friends.  She and her brother came to the viewing.  

The passing of the mic lasted almost an hour.  Lots of hugs and tears later.  Since the church is a smallish one and Tuesday evening already was standing room only, there were concerns of space for the actual funeral, the viewing evening was for everyone, family and friends, but the funeral the next day was mainly for family.  We're a big crowd!

Leon had a blast with all his boy cousins, but especially my nephew, who is around his age.

EARLY the next morning, my sisters, some nieces, nephews and even my brother's "girl" friend (they don't label things...) met at the hall and got the tables set up, food started and everything organized for later.  

And then we filled up the church yet again with just family.

My oldest sister and her son.

You can see the hand print quilt in the background.  It will be buried with Mom.

My dad gave her a kiss and said Goodbye.  Oh my...  

The funeral director hustled all the immediate family upstairs for a quick prayer before the service began.  Wow, there were a lot of us.  Then a final goodbye to Mom as we walked back in.  Two other sisters and myself walked in with Dad and sat with him throughout.  It was a beautiful service.

Afterwards, we walked with him outside as the oldest grandsons carried Mom out to the hearse with a crowd of the younger ones following.  Then we hustled over to the hall and prepared to feed almost 200 hundred people.    

The internment will be in another month or so.  The family cemetery is out in the country and several grandkids weren't able to make it to the funeral, being the middle of the week.

So this will be perfect.

 I have no pictures of the dinner as we were pretty rushed.  Lots to do...  But suffice it to say, everyone got food and a place to sit.    There was only one extra table left unused!  Amazing!  I finally sat down with Robb, Meri, my brother and his girl.  Ryan had been sick that morning and had missed the funeral, but he put in an appearance at the dinner and then went to sleep in the car.  

Afterwards, everyone stuck around and helped clean up and pack up the cars.  We came away with a huge tray of fried chicken and a large bag of grape salad.  We've been thawing one bag at a time and it'll feed us for probably another day or so.  Ryan's been making tacos.  

My mom had a great send off.  

There are no more tears in heaven, so I know for a fact that she's not looking down on us.  It would break her heart.  She's having a wonderful time and I just have to wait to see her again.