Dear Friends and Family,
Dad's final entry was so beautifully written we didn't want to add too much. However, we wanted to share two links with you.
For those who were unable to attend, the recording from Mom's funeral service is at www.eileencheney.weebly.com (thank you, Jim Anderegg, for making this recording possible - it turned out beautifully).
Additionally, there's a wonderful YouTube video documenting the bathroom makeover Mom's many, many friends surprised her with shortly after her re-diagnosis in September of 2008. This was such a joy to watch again, and we thought you might enjoy it, too: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nzd-dfclPlM (thank you Andy Norman for putting this video together and sharing it with all of us).
With love and gratitude,
The Cheney Family
(Dad's entry from June 8th, 2010)
Dearest Friends and Family,
I have hesitated for some time to write this final entry. But now I must and I do it with a mixture of many feelings and emotions. The final chapter of Eileen’s life has now closed. Her journey on this earth is complete. She closed her eyes and took her last earthly breath on May 29th 2010. She was 55 years old and oh what a life she lived. It was full of so many marvelous vistas. For Eileen, she truly did see things from an eternal perspective. There were times of shadowed valleys but Eileen always found the green pastures, and refreshing streams. She saw the positive in most everything. Even though she did experience those moments as we all do, her focus was always on the mountain tops where she could see afar and gain insight in what lie ahead. She is now in another place, a place of peace and exquisite joy, preparing, serving, and especially loving. I have and will continue to have heartbreaking waves of sorrow and loneliness for my eternal sweetheart and companion. Waves of tears often wash over me. I feel as if my heart will break at times I miss her so. But then I will pray and plead with my Heavenly Father to comfort me and He does. That peace comes as if on the wings of angels. Like a cool, gentle, spring breeze it comes and dries my tears and warms my heart and stays with me awhile as the Savior promised. He said: “I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.” And He has, many times. And He will to you also in your times of sorrows and deep valleys.
So now Eileen’s earthly part of her journey is complete and mine and yours’ continues. I look forward to the years ahead, even though I will have to face them without Eileen at my side. I will take joy in being a grandpa, in loving and enjoying life with my dear children, in serving the Lord, in searching out my ancestors and continuing to work with Eileen, her on that side and me on this, in helping move Father’s great work forward.
I will close this final entry with the words of a hymn: “Does the Journey Seem Long?”
Does the journey seem long, the path rugged and steep?
Are there briars and thorns on the way?
Do sharp stones cut your feet as you struggle to rise
To the heights thru the heat of the day?
Is your heart faint and sad, your soul weary within,
As you toil ‘neath your burden of care?
Does the load heavy seem you are faced now to lift?
Is there no one your burden to share?
Let your heart be not faint, now the journey’s begun;
There is One who still beckons to you.
So look upward in joy and take hold of his hand;
He will lead you to heights that are new
A land holy and pure, where all trouble doth end,
And your life shall be free from all sin,
Where no tears shall be shed, for no sorrows remain
Take his hand and with him enter in.
The journey that began for Eileen on November 7, 1954 and ended on this earth just a short while ago really did not end at all. Her journey continues and so does mine and so does yours’ and will go on forever. I will not let my heart faint. I will listen and follow the One who beckons me and when I enter that place where He is, I know I will have my dear sweet Eileen there to embrace me and welcome me.
God bless you all dear friends and loved ones. We truly are family. I will always have the deepest gratitude and tenderness to you as you have joined Eileen and me on this marvelous and joyous journey. May the Savior’s peace and comfort abide with you. He always dearly loves you and will comfort and guide you as much and often as you will permit him and he will embrace you in the arms of his love now and forever.
With the tenderest of feelings
your friend and brother forever,
Joe Cheney
