We will miss you, Grandma Wakefield

For months now, as I have received my mother in laws phone calls, I had waited for the news that Grandma Wakefield had finally passed away.  She has been blind the last 10 years of her life.  She had been really sick and in lots of pain in the last few months and all of her children took on the nursing home type care as they took turns spending days, nights and days. On the morning of Aug. 16, Jeanne called with the sad news. Grandma had passed peacefully in her sleep.  It was a sad day. My heart ached for my husband, his mom and siblings and his sweet little grandpa.  They had very well organized the funeral arrangements and we had a beautiful ceremony.

 We left Breck with Grammy Nickle.  Probably should have left the other two also. :)They were not so great.  But they had a part in the program.  All the grandchildren (Justin and his siblings, etc. See the pic below) sang the Primary song,"I see my mother kneeling". Then all the great grandchildren (Jensen and Drew) joined them on the stand and sang the Primary song,"A Child's Prayer". It was so touching and beautiful.  Most everyone was in tears.

 This is ALL the grandchildren surrounding grandpa.  Everyone was there.  They flew in from all over the country to be there and some sacrificed the help everyone be there.  This family is unreal, truly amazing.  There are close to 200 people and we all know each other and are well acquainted.  The gospel is strong throughout and marriages and missions have blown away all the national statistics.  Grandma and Grandpa all played a huge part in that.  They consistently put forth every effort to get the family together, stay together, and bear testimony. All shared several stories of their support for every event.  Grandma always would send cards and money to everyone, even the new baby great grandchildren for their birthdays and Christmas.  Just incredible.

This is the 8 children of Grandma and Grandpa Wakefield.

Cute mother and son.

 

Poor Grandpa will miss her dearly.  They were married for 68 years and were in love always.  Grandma expressed one of her sweet concerns about dying to my Mother in law, Jeanne.  She was sad about the fact that grandpa could get remarried. Jeanne reassured her, "mom, he is 90, I think that is unlikely." But grandma replied, "he already is a flirt with all the ladies." I hope that is OK to share.  I just want to have it for my own memories.

 We will miss you Grandma Wakefield.