Hi to our friends and family and community,

It is with complicated heart that I announce my mom, Jill Harlow's passing.

She passed exactly as she and we all hoped. At home. Comfortable. In her sleep. 

August 27th at 8:15 AM.

The past 2 weeks have been a roller coaster. She has been in and out of consciousness. Her friends, my friends, our friends sitting with her, praying with her, being with her. Jason and I have been sitting in silence with her, honoring her wishes for quiet after a lifetime of song, shows, and laughter. Max said his final goodbyes while she was sleeping as she was terrified he would be afraid of how she looked. All he had to say was, "She looks so cute when she's sleeping." 

I can get into all the details some other time and I will. But I wanted to let you know that she is at peace. She passed away the morning that her church was having a music of blues worship...some of my mom's favorite music. I wanted to let you know that she was surrounded by love and that I shared every single message of love that you sent and even more....so many letters, cards, flowers, offers of song and love and light. She received them all.

And we, Jason, Max, and I, have been so grateful for all the love you have showered upon us in these days, weeks, months, almost 2 years. We have been honored to be focused on my mom and her comfort and joy and to have been energized and supported along the way.

There won't be a dotted line because I have nothing hard to digest.

I bring you Harlow's Fun Facts

Harlow never got Covid!!

Harlow lived for 14 days without food, on her own wishes.

Harlow lived for 9 days with no water on her own wishes.

She had many moments of clarity which included:

Facial expressions of:

"Oh My Gosh I'm glad they're gone" (random nurses on call when her hospice nurse wasn't available.)

"What do you know, I'm still alive."

"What time is it? (while looking at her wrist that she often looked at when it wore a watch)."

"I love you, sweetie, but why am I still here?" (that was an absolute facial expression eyes, mouth, and breath).

Revelations about my mom:

She held us front and center....her entire craft room was focused on Max's birthday invitation posters, fabric for making us quilts, messages about how much she loved us (years before she had a diagnosis of glioblastoma), and her entire refrigerator was full of Max's school and sports pictures for the past 10 years.

Every single card that was sent to her  over the past 19 months she saved. Thank you. You brought her joy.

She had a LOT of friends, church, work, choir, volunteering, Lacey, Murphys, California, past jobs, past friends (who are always friends), my friends (who loved her so much), and Max's friends (who all called her Gram).

Celebration of Life (edited with new date):

We will hold her celebration of life at her church, UCC Fauntleroy, on Sunday October 8th.

I am not sure of the time yet but will update here. If you are traveling and need accommodations, let me know.  The 'inn' (my mom's place) is full but we can help you find a place nearby and help with transportation.

In lieu of flowers you might want to send, please make a donation to one of her favorite places:

UCC Fauntleroy

American Cancer Society

West Seattle Senior Center

and a place that brought her comfort her past few days:

King FM 98.1

We love you and hope to see you in October. If you cannot make it, we will set up a Zoom event that I will include you in.

Much love,

Katy

PS. The Beginnings: 

My mom has wanted to transition to the next phase of this life for weeks. I don't know what her new beginnings will be but I sure hope I see her in my dreams and get some insight into what comes next.