Grandma's Funeral

Not only for posterity, but my brother Ryan who wasn't able to make it from Australia...

~Mockingbird Hill~

Performed by my beautiful cousins (l to r): Erica, Wendy, Amy and Katie accompanied by Wendy's husband Tory)

Grandma's funeral was Tuesday, July 5, 2011, in Deweyville, Utah.  The viewing was at 9am with the funeral following at 10am.  It was an unfortunate reason to get us together, but what a lovely reunion of sorts we had with cousins I hadn't seen in years.  The funeral was the most beautiful tribute to my Grandmother.  I of course was emotional through my entire section of memories, luckily Becky held it together or it would have been quite the scene. My uncle Rob gave the best talk I have ever heard at a funeral. It was very touching and comforting.  My cousin Michael shared Grandma's life sketch and my Unlce David shared memories of their childhood with my Grandma.  There was a song by the great-grands, then Becky and I shared memories of Grandma, and my cousin Aaron sang a beautiful rendition of 'O Divine Redeemer', and that was followed by my Uncle Rob's tribute, and the Bishop.  We shared a delicious lunch while we enjoyed a video of pictures of Grandma, that I had put together from everyone's photos.  Then it was off to Bedford, Wyoming, for the internment at 5pm.  Becky and I left our little ones with our very kind and capable husbands and rode up with my parents.  We knew after 3 hours in the car, there would only be chaos with the kids at the cemetery.

 Other than being sure we would end up in a ditch somewhere along the way (my dad is a 'slightly' aggressive driver :) the trip was wonderful reminiscing with my parents about trips to my grandparents beloved cabin in Star Valley. This was my first time to the cemetery to see where my grandpa is buried and my grandma would soon be.  I was at my grandpa's funeral in Bedford, but due to a complication (an ectopic pregnancy), had to leave to the Star Valley Hospital for emergency surgery, and missed the funeral and internment...and all my cousins. So this was a special occassion to be there visiting with cousins and seeing the view from where they are buried...

 The View overlooking Beford, Wyoming.

 The back of their headstone...

Grandma loved flowers, decorating cakes & baking pies,  and our very favorite of all things: Grandma's homemade bread and jam.

Grandpa built chariots, and loved the horse races (with those chariots) and any and every old tractor.

 The service at the gravesite was so peaceful. It started off with the absolutely beautiful song 'Mockingbird Hill'{above} performed by my cousins. This was one of my Grandma's favorite songs, and what she named their cabin... Mockingbird Hill.

 My dad, cousin Derek, cousin Ben, Russ & Liana 

 My cousin Robert E (aka.Robbie) who performed the dedication of the grave.

He is a very eloquent speaker...gave me goose bumps.

 cousins: Brittney, Katie, Wendy, me, Amy, Becky and Erica

 Robinson Cousins

 My grandparents cabin: Mockingbird Hill

My grandpa sold it to his nephew years ago, so we haven't been there in awhile.  It brought back so many fun memories of time spent with my Grandparents.

My grandpa's old tractors and farm equipment is still there!

It was such a nice day spent with family and sharing memories.  It was especially neat to reconnect with my cousins. Hoping to see them all again soon, under better circumstances... a Lichfield Reunion?!

Now to get planning it ;)...