Mom

Exactly one week ago tonight, we got a phone call letting us know that my husband's mother, my sweet mother-in-law had been killed in a tragic accident in Rexburg. This post I am writing for her.




My mother-in-law Deloris was one of the most Christ-like people I knew. I called her Mom. This past Christmas, she gave each of the daughter's and daughter's in law a necklace with a pendant of an actual widow's mite mounted in silver (made by my sister-in-law Christine). She was buried in her widow's mite necklace. This was very symbolic to the family. One, because she was a widow herself and two, just like the widow in the story in the Bible, Deloris gave all that she had.

Deloris loved her family and the Gospel more than anything else. She served everyone around her, often putting her needs last. The outpouring of love displayed to us this past week by neighbors, members of the community, and family was overwhelming and a tribute to her from the many, many people that knew and loved her.

Here are some memories from this past week.

When we woke up in Rexburg the Monday following her death (Columbus Day) we looked out the front window and saw her lawn lined in American flags:





The day of the funeral was perfect. The funeral services were beautiful. Andy and Brian wrote and gave the life sketch. Christine and her 10 year old daughter Karen read "The 70 things we love about Grandma" (a list of things we gave her on her 70th birthday). Catherine played a beautiful arrangement on a folk harp. My husband Bill gave a talk referencing the story A Christmas Carol and also talked about the story of the widow's mite and Jesus Christ's life of service. The funeral program cover had a picture of the Rexburg temple that Bill had taken. Porter and his boy cousins were pall bearers and honorary pall bearers.

She was buried in a beautiful hardwood casket that was identical to her husband Brian's:

Looking on.

Son and grandson.

My sweet husband's eyes tell it all.

Bill with Aunt Pat and Uncle Hal (Two of Deloris' siblings).

The back of Brian's and Deloris' headstone.

Little Evelyn asleep in the arms of Aunt Ginny at the family luncheon.

Evelyn and I relaxing after the funeral and luncheoun back at the house.




A white rose from a huge bouquet sent to the family from BYU I.

I know that even through all the tears, stress, emotion, lack of sleep, etc., we all came away knowing one thing for sure: that families are bound together for eternity through sacred temple covenants. Last night, after we put Evelyn down for the night, Bill took me on a walk around the Rexburg temple. We didn't even have to step foot inside to feel the overwhelming reassurance of where Brian and Deloris are.