Saying Goodbye

October was a busy month. We finally got our sod in--a huge, dirty, exhausting job (about 7000 sq. feet). It was nice to finally not have so much dirt blowing in the house. We majorly underestimated how much we needed (only ordered 4000 sq. feet) due to my poor measuring skills, and Mike being out of town and not able to check my math! Although, in my defense, he estimated we needed about 4000 sq. feet too. I am still nursing a painful tennis elbow from all the raking, lifting and trimming sod edges.

The major event this month was that my mom passed away on the 8th. She had fallen and unknowingly broken her hip. It wasn't discovered until about 5 days later, and by then she had blood clots all up and down her leg. She signed the paperwork not to have surgery, so they just made her comfortable at the hospital (this was Wednesday the 5th). She passed away early on Saturday morning (the 8th). It was a sad time, but also somewhat of a blessing because she didn't suffer for a long time. She wanted to go on her own terms, and she did exactly that--nobody telling her what or how to do it. She was able to make up her own mind.

Of course, being how my mother was, there was no funeral. She was cremated and wanted her ashes scattered. So Chris and Doug decided just to have an open house at her home. Danika, Brooke and I drove to Vancouver, Washington on the 14th and arrived around 9:00 pm. It was really great to see all my siblings and nieces and nephews whom I had not seen for quite a few years. The next day we held the open house. The bishop and his wife, mom's visiting teachers, and my cousin Stan Pace who lives close by came. It was nice, but very informal, and I have to say didn't really feel like there was closure or respect paid to my mom. But, that's how she wanted it, so who can argue?

I didn't get a lot of pictures, but here are a few...

My brother Rick and his wife Tricia came from Tucson.

My niece Megan hanging out with Danika and Brooke.

 

All the cousins that came: (back row L to R) Jillian (Trevor's fiancee), Trevor, Andrew, Ian, Monica, Danika, Brooke. (front) Megan and Alex.

I had to write my mom's obituary, which wasn't very easy since she was so non-traditional. She wouldn't have wanted an obituary that listed all her church callings and missions, etc. So I just focused on some of the things that people would remember her for.

Audrey Jeanne Arnold Harding Haymore

Audrey Jeanne Arnold Harding Haymore passed away peacefully October 8, 2011 at the age of 89 in Vancouver, WA. Audrey was born in Bad Axe, Michigan on April 17, 1922 to Robert Parks Arnold and Margaret Dora Dye. She lived a busy, vibrant life filled with interesting experiences and people. Over her lifetime she lived in Manhattan, Detroit, Ann Arbor, Tucson and Paradise, UT. She married Douglas C. Harding on October 12, 1943. Their three sons were born in Ann Arbor. Doug preceded Audrey in death in 1962. Audrey moved to Arizona in 1959, where she later met and married F. Lant Haymore on May 19, 1967. They were the parents of one daughter. Lant passed away on March 4, 1994. Audrey was a lifelong learner, creative thinker, talented potter and connoisseur of the arts. She is fondly remembered as an accomplished cook and she enjoyed collecting and preparing new recipes. Anyone who knew Audrey could attest she was a great lover of animals. She was the kind benefactor of dozens of stray cats and wild raccoons, as well as many other creatures. Audrey was a devoted wife and proud mother and grandmother who taught her posterity they could accomplish anything they set their minds to do. Her enthusiastic spirit and zest for life influenced many and will be greatly missed. Audrey is survived by her brother and sister, her four children and two stepchildren. She has 22 grandchildren, 23 great-grandchildren, one great-great-grandchild. An open house for family and friends will be held Saturday, October 15, 2011 at 15212 SE 24th St., Vancouver, WA from 1:00 p.m.-3:00 p.m. Arrangements by EVERGREEN STAPLES.

I don't love the picture we used for her obit. Oh those 80's glasses! But here are some pictures I love of my mom:

This is Audrey around age 19 or 20. She is looking at some latex dolls her mother cast and made outfits for. These dolls were the predecessors of Barbie.

Mom holding Rick, and Doug (seated) in Ann Arbor.

 

This is my mom seated with Rick, and her 1st husband Doug holding Chris. (Ann Arbor)

Grandma reading to Danika

Grandma and Brooke (Troy is getting attacked by Danika!)

I have a lot more pictures that I found at her house that I need to scan and put onto a photo CD for everyone. I will post more as I scan them, but this one I took at her house when I was there for the services pretty much captures my mom to a tee (the "cat lady")...