When I was a kid aunt Pat was an aunt who came to sporting events, plays, family gatherings and parties. When I turned ten my favorite color was purple. She knew that and she gave me a variety of purple items for my birthday present. She was so thoughtful. I had the opportunity to go with my dad to visit her when she lived in London. She took great care of me and showed us all of the sites. When she moved to Provo she hosted girls' nights, parties, and Thanksgiving.
When the minis were a few weeks old aunt Pat came and met them. She offered to come each week to help. When the minis were really needy she would come twice a week. There were a lot of feedings when she and I would each feed a baby and sit and talk about the minis. She faithfully showed up each week even if one of the other kids was sick. I thought she wouldn't mind for fear of catching their germs but that didn't stop her.
She loved bringing dollar store toys to the kids. She started bringing foam puzzles and once we realized all of the pieces connected she began to bring more and more so we could make huge puzzles and other shapes out of the puzzle pieces. We still have the laundry basket full of puzzle pieces and enjoy getting playing with them.
She babysat so we could go on date nights or take the older kids to do things that the minis couldn't do. She loved to bring cupcakes or cookies and frosting and sprinkles for the kids to decorate with. She would play games, read books or other activities the kids wanted to play. She loved to push the kids on the swings even in the coldest weather.
Every Christmas she hosted a party for my kids and Ali's kids. She served them dinner then played games, did a photo booth, and crafts.
One time we took the older kids to Disneyland and she made a packet of treats, crafts and games for us to do during the long drive.
When she was going to be out of town she would come more the week before to make up for being gone. She went to Europe and brought back souvenirs for my kids.
I knew I could set up appointments, go to the temple, help at the school, errands, etc on Wednesdays because she came faithfully and I could depend on her. She would come with us to the dentist and sit with the kids in the waiting room while went back with each kid.
When I worked at the hospital she would come earlier in the morning and get Lynnlee to the kindergarten bus so I could sleep. She loved taking the minis on rides in the wagon around our neighborhood. They also loved when she drove them around in our cul-de-sac in her car. She would do 12 or so circles around and around the cul-de-sac.
For many Halloweens she came to my parents and helped watch the minis while we took the older kids trick or treating. At Christmas time she would go with us to dinner and to see the lights at Temple Square. She came to my parent's house for family birthdays, dinners, and bowling on Christmas Eve.
She came to plays, soccer games, girls' nights, and dance festivals.
We built a close relationship with her over the last six years. After five years she was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease and couldn't travel safely to our house. We started visiting her every Wednesday. Through the warm months we mowed, trimmed and ate Creamies on the porch. We loved taking sack lunches and eating around her table while playing Uno or Boggle. We loved taking her to parks with us.
When her health started to decline I got to sleep over and make sure she was ok and give her the medicine she needed. The next week she went to the hospital for dehydration and I got to spend two days with her in the hospital. This was before we knew about the cancer. I thought she would have more time to live, maybe not living independently but maybe in a care facility. When I walked out of the hospital room I had a funny and strange feeling but I never thought it would be the last time I would see her in person in this life.
Sunday morning we found out about her stage 4 colon cancer. They said she had days to live. I was so sad that our flight was changed to an earlier time because it didn't leave me time to go see her. I was so torn on whether to go on our trip still. I was hoping and praying she would live until after my trip. By Monday I knew I couldn't pray for her to hang on for me to see her. It was so selfish. Then my prayer changed. I really wanted my kids to see her one last time but with being gone I didn't want to impose on Marshall's parents who were watching them. Thankfully we let both our parents know we wanted the kids to see her. She was fading fast so I felt like it needed to be Monday when she was still mostly aware. Thankfully things worked out perfectly for my parents to take my kids. Ali's family went, uncles, aunts and cousins were there. Ali filmed some of it and sent it to me. It was a sweet experience. One of my aunts sent a picture of my kids with aunt Pat. It was so hard to be so far away and made for some emotional times in Jamaica. Thankfully I got to FaceTime aunt Pat on Tuesday morning. That helped give me closure. That was the last time I talked to her. She passed away early Thursday morning.
It was such a huge blessing that we found out about the cancer and she was able to be home. If we had not found out about the cancer she would have died alone in a nursing home. God was in the details of her life.
We got home on Sunday night and the next day I got to go with my aunt Kathy and aunt Jane to put aunt Pat's temple robes on. Since I became very close with aunt Pat in the last six years this was a very special experience for me.
We had a viewing and funeral on Wednesday at Nelson Funeral Home in Provo. It was a beautiful service and celebration of life. My aunt Kathy, Ali and I gathered items and pictures for this table.
The funeral home was very bright inside and there was a huge windows in the chapel with a beautiful view of Timpanogos. Betsy did a great job of picking out this floral spread for our family to give.
She was buried at the Salt Lake cemetery next to my grandma and grandpa.
Knowing that the minis won't remember aunt Pat over time makes me feel really sad. She was such a huge part of their life. I'm hoping to put a memory book together to help them always remember her.
