Jean

Thursday, April 14th, 2011 Jon’s grandma passed away. She was one of the greatest people I’ve ever known. I wish I could claim that she was on MY side of the family! She did make me feel just like one of her own. She truly had the ability to LOVE. She made everyone feel so welcome and special. She will be sorely missed.

We had the opportunity to visit her somewhat often over the past year or so. Here are some of the photos we took with her.

February 2010:

 

May 2010

September 2010

This is a picture of a statue that she loved and was printed on the back of the funeral programs:

Here we are after the funeral:

It was a beautiful Spring day and the service was lovely. Lots of happy memories were shared. The girls and I wrote a poem.

In Memory of Jean

A poem for the poet,

With eyes of brilliant blue,

Gentle hands and auburn hair,

A heart so kind and true.

Little Mary Leona,

Her Daddy called her Jean,

And paid her brothers to do the same,

To her mother’s eyes unseen.

Secret money giving,

She learned it while so small,

She’d tuck some in your pocket,

Before you knew at all.

Love at first sight struck young Jean,

They’d dance the nights away,

Then run away to marry,

His name was Norris Kay.

Never forgot a birthday,

Or special occasion missed,

Each child lit up her face,

As their tender cheeks she kissed.

Around her table they’d gather,

Played Go Fish or Slap a Jack,

Out at the pomegranate tree,

They’d gather some in a sack.

We loved her potato salad,

Only she could make it right,

We also loved her happy smile,

It was so big and bright.

She always loved the movies,

To the theater she’d go,

Or stay home with warm milk,

And settle in for a show.

So much fun to be with,

Always made a clever joke,

She’d drop her head and laugh,

Then sip her mug of coke.

Caught between two worlds,

As her time was drawing nigh.

So many here would miss her,

When they had to say goodbye.

The children and the grandkids,

A loving husband most.

Who would eat the nightly mush,

And perfect piece of toast?

“Who will love me like she did?”

She had the magic gift.

Each felt like her favorite.

Her words, their spirits lift.

The duty left to each of us,

She showed us what to do.

She learned from the Master,

Love as I loved you.

Encircled in His loving arms,

Health and beauty hers again,

With daughter, parents, countless more,

Welcomed home by waiting kin.

Now she watches over us,

Sending signs of love,

A hummingbird in Springtime,

A pair of mourning doves.

By Amy, Paige, and Haily Askerlund

These doves came and perched in the tree of her front yard after the funeral. We thought it was a tender moment and looked into the symbolism of these birds:

..."DOVE - reminds us how important peace is. The peace symbolized by Dove is that of the deepest kind. It quiets our worried and troubled thoughts, and allows us to find renewal in the silence of mind. In such moments of stillness we are able to appreciate simple blessings. It reminds us that no matter what is happening in our lives, there are always new possibilities open to us..."

The dove is a universal symbol of peace and innocence. In ancient Greek myth it was a bird of Athene which represented the renewal of life.