I went to visit my parents in Oregon at the beginning of February, before Kent and I went to Houston. We didn't do anything exciting while I was there, so I didn't take pictures, except for the one below.
I had taken the sweater Mom knitted for me many years ago and we wore our matching sweaters. Fortunately, I had a neighbor take the picture below. It was taken on Monday, February 4th, before I left to return to Virginia.
I didn't have a clue that this would be the last time I would see her alive, and it was probably the last picture taken of her. It's clear that she still had good coloring and looked pretty healthy.
While Kent and I were in Houston I received a call from Dad on Saturday evening, February 9th, saying that Mom had been rushed to the hospital with an infection. Dad called again shortly thereafter to say that the doctor's said Mom probably only had a few hours left to live because her lungs were filling with fluid. (I think that's what was happening. I may have that wrong.) So he put the phone up to her ears so I could tell her good-bye and that I loved her.
Less than an hour later Reed and Myra called to say that Mom had passed away--it was very quick. I just couldn't believe it! I'd just seen her five days previously and she was doing about the same as usual. I was glad that she hadn't lingered while in pain, but I was shocked at how quickly she went.
Dad had already made arrangements at a local funeral home for his and Mom's funerals. It was held on Saturday, February 16th. I arrived in Oregon on the 14th to help, along with Myra and two other women from Mom's ward, dress Mom's body for burial in her temple clothes, It wasn't as sad as I expected it to be for me, but I'm also glad I'd done it before for Jennifer Johnson.
On Friday evening the family started gathering at Reed and Myra's house for a dinner. Lissa and Jason brought both their daughters.
The sisters/sister-in-laws.
There was a viewing at the funeral home on Friday night, but a closed casket before and during the funeral.
My responsibility at the funeral was to play the piano while the grandchildren sang "I am a Child of God" and to deliver the eulogy along with Jill. We each read a paragraph.
I brought lettering with me from home to make this sign, and bought the posterboard and flowers at Michael's.
From the local family members we gathered up some of the dozens of teddy bears, blankets, sweaters, scarves and dolls that Mom had made over the years to give to her grandchildren and great grandchildren.
We also gathered up photos from Mom and Dad's apartment to put on display.
Here's a pictures of the family members who attended from Mom's side of the family, plus Dad. My aunt Norma, who is the oldest child of the Abbott family, is now the only living member. Her daughter, Gail, and two sons, Kieth and David, both came, as well as my Aunt Paula's two sons, Eric and Paul.
The remaining five of the original Christensen seven.
Tyler wasn't able to come because he was deploying to Afghanistan a few days after the funeral, and needed to be with his family. I assured him that Grandma Christensen would understand.
I'm so grateful for those members from our immediate family who were able to attend!
Dad took all of his posterity who had come to the funeral out to dinner that night at his favorite local restaurant. We had a picture taken of everyone before we left the restaurant, which was the only we took of those who attended.
On Sunday after church, Dad, Reed, Jill, her daughter, Zoey, Kent, Garrett and I loaded into Dad's Pacifica and drove the eight hours to Spokane, Washington, where Mom would be buried the next day. We spent the night in a hotel and were ready for the service at 10:30am. It was cold, as can be seen in the pictures, but the service didn't last long.
There had been an obituary that ran in the Spokane newspaper, so several people who had known Mom years ago came to pay their respects.
I recognized a few people from the ward they'd faithfully attended for many years.
Afterwards we went to my Uncle Steve Bates' house where they'd provided a lunch for us. It was nice to see cousins and aunts and uncles in Spokane that I haven't seen in a while since I don't have a reason to go to Spokane anymore.
We weren't able to stay too long since Garrett and Kent and I had afternoon flights from Spokane to return home. Garrett was the only one of our children who was able to stay long enough to attend the graveside service in Spokane.
