Wednesday, July 30, 2008

Aunt Lezlie's Funeral

I was so glad that I got to go to Aunt Lezlie's funeral. I flew into Salt Lake and drove with Marianne (7 hours) to Reno. We spent the night with Aunt Beverly's sister Carol and were able to visit with a lot of relatives! We had such a good time, it was sad that it took another funeral to get together. I am hoping that this next summer's family reunion will be the first of many get together's that are not at funerals :). I was thinking that every three years might work. Anyway, below are some pictures I got of the different people who came.

Slade Porter (Jared and Vanessa's) and Mali Su Shillig (Jake and Caroline's)
Caroline and Mali Su Shillig

Mali Su and Uncle James

Beautiful Carley

Cute Slade

I don't remember their names, but I believe they are Aunt Lezlie's cousins on the Turner side. And of course that is Aunt Lark in the middle.
Mali Su was just so cute and everyone held her so much that she ended up in a lot of my pictures. Kurt Shillig is holding her. He flew in right before the funeral and flew out right afterward. We sure were sad we didn't get to chat much, and we didn't get to see his cute family, but glad he got to be there for some.

Joelle (15) and Carley (14) (Joelle is Jason and Jennifer Porter's daughter)

Christi (Neville) Nelson (Me!), and Marianne (Neville) Brady

From left to right starting in back: Westley (17), Jason, Jennifer, Joelle (15)
Front: Naomi (11?), Celestial (13), Jonny (9), and Doug (22)
Fun tidbit about Doug, he is engaged! Him and his fiancee Hillary will be married Octover 3, 2008. I wasn't able to get a picture of Christine (28) and her family, but she came for the funeral. Heidi (31) and Jenna (19) were the only two of Jason and Jennifer's that were missing. It was so fun to meet their beautiful family.

Carley played Hymns for us while we waited in Relief Society room before we were led into the Chapel for the funeral.

Laney Porter and Brett's darling wife Sarah.

From left to right: Bob Johns, Terry (Johns) Madsen, Chad, Lark, Clyde and James
Bob and Terry are Aunt Jane's children. (Aunt Jane is Granpa Neville's sister)

Lindsay, Uncle James and Jessie. Sunni, Lindsay and Jessie were on their way to Colorado and decided to take a detour just for the funeral. It was so fun to see them and get to hear two pieces of exciting news! Tyler is getting married! In about three weeks! And Chelsea and Chad are expecting their first baby very soon! I will try and get pictures of both of our newest family members soon.

Brett "fire player" Porter and his fire cracker wife, Sarah. Sarah was such a doll! I had fun talking with her while we were in line for lunch.


Lance, Dana, Chad, James and Lark
Uncle Jon and his wife Beverly wished they could have come. Jon was with Aunt Lezlie earlier that week and was with her when she passed away. We were sad we didn't get to see him, but glad he got to see her when she was still alive.
Jessie, Sunni, Chad and Lindsay

Christi, Margaret (Bob's wife). Marianne, Lindsay and James

Jessie, Lance, Laney, Dana, Clyde, Lark and Chad

Aimi Lark, Jake and Mali Su
Aren't those matching dresses adorable?

Caroline, Aimi Lark, Jake and Mali Su
I think I can safely say that Jake is the biggest guy in our family (and I don't mean fat). He is massive! I wouldn't want to get on his bad side. Good thing the Shillig kids are all so well tempered :).
That would be Uncle Chad trying to kill himself, and Uncle Clyde telling him how ;). Just kidding. Uncle Chad enjoyed his jaunt out on the bike and came back in one piece.

Off he goes! Be careful!

I love this picture!!! Aunt Lark and Aunt Dana. Aren't they beautiful?!

Carley was away at girl's camp when her Mom passed away. Her Dad came up and told her the night her Mom died, but she stayed at girl's camp and still had a good time. Vanessa, Melinda, Joelle, Carley, Marianne, Caroline, and I had a good time singing camp songs and hearing about the things that Carley got to do. My Dad was there but avoided singing songs like, "The Cutest Boy." Although he did admit it was entertaining to watch us.
Carley is sporting her belt she one for getting to know 150 new people and one thing about them at camp. That should tell you how outgoing this gal is. She is amazing!

Melinda Wiggins (Vanessa's sister) . It was so sweet of Melinda to come and help out. We all loved getting to know her. She fit right in with out family.

Brett, Laney and Jared
Christi, Marianne and Laney
I want you to notice the table behind us. It was never empty, and known as the computer table. There were rarely less than four laptops and people sitting here.

Jake, Christi and Marianne

Terry and Bob

Jared and Laney created a wonderful slide show of Lezlie through all her years. It didn't work at the funeral but we all got to sit around and watch it at home. It was a beautiful tribute to an amazing woman.
Okay, I will attempt to name everyone in this picture.
Back left: Windy (Clyde's siter), Nancy (Clyde's sister-in-law), Sarah (Brett's wife), Celestsial, Naomi and Joelle (Jason and Jennifer's girls)
Front left: Helen (Windy's daughter), Carley, Caroline and Aimi Lark, Brett, Jared, Vanessa and Laney

The cousins that were at the house after the funeral (Kurt, Lindsay and Jessie had already had to leave)
back from left: Jared, Marianne, Carley, Brett
front from left: Jake, Christi, Jason, Laney

The cousins with the spouses who came.
back from left: Jake, Brett, Jason and Jared
center from left: Caroline, Sarah, Jennifer and Vanessa
front from left: Laney, Christi, Marianne and Carley

The models j/k. Actually, when I first met them I kept mixing them up. They look so much alike!
Vanessa and Melinda

Melinda has a beautiful voice and plays the guitar very well. Chad broke out another guitar later, and I am hoping to get those pictures soon.
Jonny and Doug watching videos on Doug's laptop.
Mali Su very interested in a teddy-bear.
I loved this picture of Slade! Check out those adorable rolls! He will be one in November.

The Funeral was wonderful. A couple of Lezlie's friends (who Lezlie had asked to speak at her funeral before she died) apoke first. There were two classical songs played, the first on French Horn and the second on Piano. I don't remember the names, but the piano one was by Chopin, whom I love! Clyde spoke next and then all the kids spoke. That was where most of the waterworks started. Lezlie has certainly led a full life in her short 60 years. She has left behind a beautiful legacy of love and commitment to family, friends, and in what you believe. She will not be forgotten.

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

good job at documenting all of these things! amazing!