I lost both of my grandparents in August. My dad's parents have lived in Price, Utah my whole life. I have many great memories as a child going to Price to visit them. I loved the small town and the almost, other-worldly feeling of the town compared to Salt Lake City. The last 4 years I have had the opportunity to take my kids to their house as we drove back and fourth from Denver a couple times a year. This has been a tender mercy for me and my children and I will be forever grateful they did know their great grandparents and knew their home.
My Grandma had been very sick for the last 5 years or so - with a very significant decline over the last year. We all knew she would pass any day. My grandpa was her primary caregiver and took great care of her. So you can imagine our surprise and sadness when we got a phone call saying my grandpa had passed away. It is hard to describe the type of man my grandpa was. He was hard, and difficult, and pretty rough around the edges. He was a marine and a life long coal miner. He never had a great relationship with any of his children or his wife. But in the last 5 years of his life (when my grandma got sick) he stepped into a whole new role that changed who he was and potentially his posterity. He became kind, and gentle, and loving, long suffering, dedicated, intentional, caring. Watching him the last few years has given me a new perspective on marriage, love, forgiveness, and Christ's atonement. Thank you grandpa for teaching me to step up to the plate and take responsibility for your life, to work hard, and that it is never too late to change and learn to love.
We went to Price as a family for his funeral. We stayed at a hotel (along with almost all other Hanna's from out of town). We had every single grandchild and their family at the funeral - I was really touched that they all came from all over the country.
We gathered in their home for a family prayer.
And my kids and their cousins played in the ditch, like I did as a child.
Isn't their home charming?
After the funeral we drove the motorcade past their house and my grandmother's nurses put her in the window as his casket drove by. It was very touching.
Some of his grandchildren rode in this model-t that he built.
I just love this picture of Brock and Noah.
3 out of my children's 4 great-grandpa's served in the US military - they have attend 2 of their funerals. We have enjoyed the bag pipes, Taps, and the 21 gun salute.
His kids: Dan, Kim, Joe, Becky, Trent
The same but with his sister, Aunt Carol, and her husband Dwayne.
My aunt Becky's family
My family
My Uncle Dan's family
Just across from his burial plot is his parents.
10 days later my grandmother passed away. We couldn't really understand at the time why he passed before her - but now with some hindsight it was beautiful and I think allowed the family to come together, heal, and talk about things in a way that we hadn't before. My grandmother is not my "real" grandmother - but she is the real definition of a mother and a grandmother than anyone else could be. I did not really appreciate the depth of her commitment and love for her "step" children until the funeral. She stayed with a difficult, very difficult, man because she loved those children, because they needed her. She saved generations in her love and sacrifice. It is always better to do things for other people and to be selfless. That is her legacy. She saved my dad, she saved me, she saved my children. I don't know what my life would have become if it weren't for her, if she would have left, if the kids would have gone back to Carol, if they only had grandpa as a caregiver. She played the long game, the very long game, and it payed off.
Since we had just been to Utah for my grandpa's funeral we decided that I would just go to my grandma's by myself. While I missed my family it was nice to be there alone and spend more time talking with my family that I haven't seen in years (a decade for some) and not worry about my kids. Although I did make the 8 hour drive in my husbands 15 year old non-air conditioned car. It was intense!! I had the opportunity to speak at her funeral and it was a privilege to have the opportunity to put my thoughts into words.
All the girls
Some of the grandsons and sons
After the funeral we went to their house and hung out all afternoon and evening. It was perfect. We sat on the porch while the children played in the yard and we just talked and laughed and stayed together. I will always remember that night and am so grateful I got it. It was a perfect way to honor my grandparents and their life and legacy.
While I was in Price I stayed at my uncle Trent and aunt Brandy's house. I honestly hadn't seen them in over a decade and didn't really have a personal relationship with them. Both nights I stayed up until about one in the morning talking with them and it was wonderful. I had such a great time and loved getting to know them better and creating a real relationship. They are such wonderful people and I hope this is the beginning of a relationship and not the end.
