Fort Snelling National Cemetery

On Friday, November 22, 2024, Mom and Dad were buried at Fort Snelling National Cemetery. 

After Dad passed away in October of 2018, we decided that we'd wait to bury both him and Mom together when that time arrived. Their plan was to be buried at Fort Snelling National Cemetery, though there were a couple of times when we considered the possibility of using another cemetery that was located closer to us. 

Dad enlisted in the United States Army Air Corps at the age of 17 years, and ended up serving in both Word War II and the Korean War. His military occupational specialty was as a Radio Service Technician, and he was honorably discharged from the Air Force in 1952 as a Staff Sergeant. 

Both Mom and Dad were patriotic, and proud to be citizens of the United States. Looking through papers, we found a post it note that Dad had attached to his military discharge papers that stated, "My Ticket To Ft Snelling National Cemetery." We decided to honor that request. 

The volunteer veterans were very professional as they conducted Dad's military honors ceremony. We followed in our cars to the shelter where the service would be held, and as we drove up, we could see the color guard and rifle squad waiting for us. After a gun salute, bugle taps were played. Then a folded American flag was presented to Mark and me. The whole ceremony was surreal to experience, but the tenderness of this veteran as he handed the flag to me made me so emotional. He had such a gentle manner. 

22 spent bullet casings were then given to us to keep in a little blue velvet bag. A certificate signed by President Joe Biden on behalf of the Department of Veterans Affairs arrived later in the mail. 

Although engravings on their headstone won't be completed until warmer weather arrives, we look forward to seeing it once it's done, and we do have confidence that their burial site will be kept up quite nicely! Also, a special thank you to Diana for helping take pictures, and then treating us all to lunch at Perkins afterwards. 💕

 

Celebration Of Life Service

Mom and Dad's Celebration of Life Service was held on Saturday, November 9, 2024 at Christ Community Church in Excelsior, Minnesota. 

Bruce sang Just A Closer Walk With Thee

We weren't sure where to have the service at first, but then remembered Mark's church, and it turned out to be the perfect place for us. Pastor Jon had come to Chapel View to pray for Dad before he passed away in 2018. And after Mom went on Hospice at Mount Olivet Careview, Pastor Jon prayed for her, also.

We wondered how many people might show up for the service. It does seem that as people age to a very old age, the less family and friends are around to attend. Plus, Mom and Dad had moved away from their long time community and church home in Fridley to be closer to us as we cared for them. But, as it turned out, there were enough folks who showed up for the service. Flowers magically showed up, too. It was a beautiful service.

You could tell that the people of the church really cared for Mark, and everybody there was so kind and giving of their time for us. People stepped up to share memories, some familiar, some new memories I hadn't heard before. I did worry some about the planning of the lunch, but the women of the church knew what to do, and it all went smoothly.

I wish that we could have snapped a picture of the food after it was all arranged on the tables! But, I did see it with my own eyes, and it was a very pretty picture. I think Mom and Dad would have been pleased. Dad loved to eat, and we made sure to have a Chocolate Chocolate cake there in Mom's memory. That, and a double recipe of her Cherry Cinnamon Applesauce Jello! 

And since this blog is pretty much dedicated to being a keeper of the memories, I'll list the food we served: artisan sandwiches from Costco, quinoa vegetable salad, potato salad, veggies and dip, assorted chips, cherry cinnamon applesauce jello, a chocolate mousse sheet cake, assorted bars, cookies, nuts, and chocolate kisses, bottles of water. The church provided coffee. We had quite a bit of food left over, and were able to bring some home, but also able to give back to the church to use.

The service was recorded, and we had a photo slide presentation with music from Old Brother, Where Art Thou!

I'm thankful for all my family and friends who have supported us during this long journey. I can't even put into words just how much their love and care has meant to me. 

Red roses from Aunt Jeanie's Family

Book Club Beauties Christmas Gathering

just a pretty napkin

so many goodies

yum

The Book Club Beauties had our annual Christmas gathering at Mona's on Sunday, December 22nd.

We briefly discussed our book of the month, The Sentence by Louise Erdrich, and having mixed thoughts about it, decided to revisit our original plan of reading all of Jodi Picoult's novels (of course, we do reserve the right to change our minds about this at any time). We settled upon Small Great Things, another novel that's been banned in the past at some schools, and is a book dealing with issues of race and prejudice.

We spent the rest of the afternoon enjoying being together, eating delicious food, and practicing spinning candy canes on our fingers to see how dangerous this could be in a crowded room since Mona was planning a game of it at her family's upcoming Christmas...

We also saw the cardinals that tend to hang outside Mona's window, so beautiful, and which then reminded me of Mom and Dad. Our next meet meeting will be at Cathy's at the end of January.

Christmas 2024

Christmas Wreath from Mom

And just like that, Christmas came and went. It was the first Christmas since Mom passed away, another first of many firsts for a while, I suppose. It did take a bit more energy to put out decorations, but what helped I think, was trying to make it special for the kids and grand babies.  

Vintage Santa Candle of Mom's

Nobody got a kiss under the mistletoe this year!

Vintage Avon perfume bottles of Mom's

yep

Mom's vintage ceramic Christmas Tree

Jake's Biscochito Cookies

Let the fun begin!

Patrica, also known as Pa

Christmas Appetizers

Aaron watching Pa open his gift to her

Sweethearts

One of my gifts from Secret Santa, Brianna

Christmas Eve was here in our home, with our tradition of appetizers plus calico beans and homemade macaroni and cheese. Pa stopped by. Pop Pop and Aaron wrapped up the Nut Can Crew (little plastic cats and dogs) for Pa to open up, and the sweet smile on Aaron's face watching her open the gift was so cute. Little boy has a crush on Patricia ...

This year's festive lights

Candlelight Service

Tradition of luminaries in the neighborhood lives on

In the evening, Bruce and I went with Mark to the Christmas Eve candlelight service at his church. It was the perfect ending to the day, peaceful and calming. We would always go to the 10:30 pm candlelight service at Redeemer Lutheran Church in Fridley with Mom and Dad, so it was another nice reminder of them. 

Pretty

Katie's Christmas Ham Dinner

Wearing Christmas softies from Nama Nama PopPop

Katie and Avi invited us over to their place on Christmas Day. We had a delicious ham dinner, with Katie having made many of Grandma Joyce's cookie recipes. It was a relaxing afternoon, and we watched How the Grinch Stole Christmas, the one with Jim Carrey as the grinch. 

Although not really on Christmas, Aaron had his first preschool Christmas program the week before, and Nama Nama Pop Pop were able to go, one of those things that grandparents live for! Aaron looked festive wearing his red sweater and green arm cast, too. 

Our little loves 💕