What is it people say about deaths coming in multiples? Well, Here I am on number 3 so I am done for now right? lol
On a more serious note, my Great Aunt Ann passed away last Monday. Her funeral was on Friday the 25th and I took the kids and attended. My dad always says that the best family reunions are funerals and I tend to agree. People always make a great effort to be there for funerals even more so than weddings, which we have not had any of in our family lately, so this funeral was a neat experience for me. My dad and his siblings all attended so I was able to catch up with the extended family and find out what everybody is up to.
The viewing was down in Nephi and of course like a ding dong I decided to be on time. the viewing was at 10 and by 10:30 we were done "viewing" and consoling and then we had a two hour wait until we headed over to the cemetery for the grave side service. On my way through Nephi my gas tank signaled that I was empty but I figured there were gas stations around and since I didn't want to be late I would just gas up later. While we were waiting for the viewing to finish the kids and I sat out on the grass underneath a huge tree and ate crackers with my sister's kids. We had a fun time chatting and enjoying the shade but it was a scorcher of a day so even with the shade it was hot! At last the viewing and family prayer were over and we drove to the grave side in Mona. Yep, for anybody who knows Mona you know that there is nothing out there. Here we were driving out to the middle of a field and I kept thinking a) I am on empty, running on fumes, and driving further away from any semblance of civilization and b) where in the world was this graveyard? It was a funny thing and quite quaint to pull up to the graveyard which was this tiny little outcropping of trees in the middle of fields of nothing.
Everyone had assumed that since there wasn't a service at the church that there wasn't going to be a service at all. We were sadly mistaken. Not to say that there shouldn't have been a service but that we were hoping because of the heat that the outside portion would have been kept to a minimum. When we arrived we quickly realized that not only was there a program but it wasn't going to be short. There were 3 speakers,and 2 musical numbers. The funeral home had set up chairs underneath a tent for people to sit on but unfortunately there were about 1/3 more people than chairs and due to the age of my Great Aunt there were also a lot of elderly people in attendance so most of us got the pleasure of standing in the grass next to the tent. Once again we were lucky enough to have the shade of a tree but an hour and a half later we were all sweating and longing for liquid relief. The best part of the service was the kids laying on the ground right in front of the podium that was used for the speakers. My sister's little boy kept wandering in front of the crowd and at one point he picked a fake flower off of one of the grave sites and carried it around with him. With all of that being said it was still a beautiful service and I was blessed to be able to be there.
After the closing of the service I hunted down the bishop for Mona and found out where a gas station was. Luckily the station was right across the street from the church where the luncheon was and I, with my sister following me and prayers being made by me and others on my behalf, was able to make it into town and put a few dollars of gas into the tank.
The biggest bummer of the day was the lack of decent food at the luncheon. I say this with the utmost respect for the ladies who prepared the food. They worked hard and will be blessed for their efforts but can I tell you? 1 ham for 100 people, a potato salad that I didn't touch, a mystery salad, and a pasta salad with ham, olives and peas in it that wasn't warm and wasn't chilled. Kind of nasty really. The best part was the bundt cakes that my Aunt Carmen's daughter donated. She owns a place in Sandy called Nothing Bundt Cakes and her cakes were amazing!!! My favorite was the lemon and my mouth waters just thinking about it!
Great Aunt Lil talking with Great Aunt Carmen at the grave side service.
The pall bearers lowering the casket.
Great Uncle Tom and his sister Great Aunt Carmen reminiscing about Ann's life
Great Aunt Carmen was the first speaker at the service.
Musical Number
Ann's Bishop
My Dad who offered the dedication prayer
Uncle Tom and my brother Reed
Andrew completely famished by the time we got to the family luncheon.
My dad's brother Uncle Chuck
Mark directed me to the middle of nowhere through Goshen in order to get home. There was the tiniest winding road that led through the middle of sage brush and weeds with cows just wandering on the side of the road.
On a more serious note, my Great Aunt Ann passed away last Monday. Her funeral was on Friday the 25th and I took the kids and attended. My dad always says that the best family reunions are funerals and I tend to agree. People always make a great effort to be there for funerals even more so than weddings, which we have not had any of in our family lately, so this funeral was a neat experience for me. My dad and his siblings all attended so I was able to catch up with the extended family and find out what everybody is up to.
The viewing was down in Nephi and of course like a ding dong I decided to be on time. the viewing was at 10 and by 10:30 we were done "viewing" and consoling and then we had a two hour wait until we headed over to the cemetery for the grave side service. On my way through Nephi my gas tank signaled that I was empty but I figured there were gas stations around and since I didn't want to be late I would just gas up later. While we were waiting for the viewing to finish the kids and I sat out on the grass underneath a huge tree and ate crackers with my sister's kids. We had a fun time chatting and enjoying the shade but it was a scorcher of a day so even with the shade it was hot! At last the viewing and family prayer were over and we drove to the grave side in Mona. Yep, for anybody who knows Mona you know that there is nothing out there. Here we were driving out to the middle of a field and I kept thinking a) I am on empty, running on fumes, and driving further away from any semblance of civilization and b) where in the world was this graveyard? It was a funny thing and quite quaint to pull up to the graveyard which was this tiny little outcropping of trees in the middle of fields of nothing.
Everyone had assumed that since there wasn't a service at the church that there wasn't going to be a service at all. We were sadly mistaken. Not to say that there shouldn't have been a service but that we were hoping because of the heat that the outside portion would have been kept to a minimum. When we arrived we quickly realized that not only was there a program but it wasn't going to be short. There were 3 speakers,and 2 musical numbers. The funeral home had set up chairs underneath a tent for people to sit on but unfortunately there were about 1/3 more people than chairs and due to the age of my Great Aunt there were also a lot of elderly people in attendance so most of us got the pleasure of standing in the grass next to the tent. Once again we were lucky enough to have the shade of a tree but an hour and a half later we were all sweating and longing for liquid relief. The best part of the service was the kids laying on the ground right in front of the podium that was used for the speakers. My sister's little boy kept wandering in front of the crowd and at one point he picked a fake flower off of one of the grave sites and carried it around with him. With all of that being said it was still a beautiful service and I was blessed to be able to be there.
After the closing of the service I hunted down the bishop for Mona and found out where a gas station was. Luckily the station was right across the street from the church where the luncheon was and I, with my sister following me and prayers being made by me and others on my behalf, was able to make it into town and put a few dollars of gas into the tank.
The biggest bummer of the day was the lack of decent food at the luncheon. I say this with the utmost respect for the ladies who prepared the food. They worked hard and will be blessed for their efforts but can I tell you? 1 ham for 100 people, a potato salad that I didn't touch, a mystery salad, and a pasta salad with ham, olives and peas in it that wasn't warm and wasn't chilled. Kind of nasty really. The best part was the bundt cakes that my Aunt Carmen's daughter donated. She owns a place in Sandy called Nothing Bundt Cakes and her cakes were amazing!!! My favorite was the lemon and my mouth waters just thinking about it!
Great Aunt Lil talking with Great Aunt Carmen at the grave side service.
The pall bearers lowering the casket.
Great Uncle Tom and his sister Great Aunt Carmen reminiscing about Ann's life
Great Aunt Carmen was the first speaker at the service.
Musical Number
Ann's Bishop
My Dad who offered the dedication prayer
Uncle Tom and my brother Reed
Andrew completely famished by the time we got to the family luncheon.
My dad's brother Uncle Chuck
Mark directed me to the middle of nowhere through Goshen in order to get home. There was the tiniest winding road that led through the middle of sage brush and weeds with cows just wandering on the side of the road.
Comments
Small world - I've had the lemon bundt cake from Nothing Bundt Cakes and you are right - it is delicious!