Journal entry by jeff hans —
Please accept my sincere apologies for the time it has taken me to write. My sweet beloved bride of almost 33 years (we knew each other for 42) went home to be with Jesus early in the morning of Wednesday June 19th. Son (Corbin), Daughter (Brittany) and I were with her at the hospital when she breathed her last here on earth before she took her next breath in heaven.
Looking back over the last month, it is easy to trace the fingerprints of our loving and gracious God as he paved her way to the steps of heaven. She was able to visit with 6 of her 7 siblings that are still with us out of the 12 that were born into the Franklin clan. John and wife Cindy's family in from Jakarta, Indonesia; Tom and wife Ashley from Denver, Ruthie and Christina from Arizona and Julie & husband Chris and Joe & wife Janice who live here in San Diego.
She attended Brittany's graduation from Georgetown in Washington DC with her Master's in Women's Health/Midwifery (Nurse Practitioner) - a glorious 48 hour turn-a-round trip filled with great joy.
She was able to visit our beloved Life Group with the Church at Rancho Bernardo (we've belonged to this group for almost 16 years) on the Thursday evening before she passed. We had been unable to attend for several months because of her chemo and radiation treatments. That morning she wakened with a desire to go and we surprised the group to find that all 22 were in attendance - a blessing to be sure.
Fathers Day I posted how perfect the day had been with our whole immediate family spending the entire day together. She was a week and a half without chemo and radiation and was feeling better everyday - her smile said it all! The Tuesday before she passed she had a beautiful lunch with Lenora and Tricia from the Life Group, took a healthy walk in the sun and we had Taco Tuesday on the back patio.
Sadly, in the wee hours of the morning due to complications from radiation and the weakened state of her tissues caused in part to the familial gene disorder she carried, she passed away shortly after being transported to Palomar Hospital by the paramedic team (they were amazing). Corbin, Brittany and I were able to be with her and as we all hugged and prayed at the foot of her bed, she took the gentle hand of our powerful Lord and stepped into life everlasting in the glory of God.
On January 3rd, Corbin's life was transformed by the same amazing God and he has been living at home with us caring for mom (and dad) with a love beyond description. Brittany has been a stronghold of love and support throughout this journey. Her completion of school and decision to work part-time gave her the opportunity along with Corbin to spend precious quality time with their mom. Mom and daughter were bound at the hip enjoying every possible moment together. With Brittany's amazing and loving husband/son-in-law Bucky and the grandkids (Taz and Stella) less than a mile from our home - the entire family created a treasure chest of wonderful memories together for Loretta to enjoy.
Even though my new position at RE/MAX kept me busy, my beloved broker Mike, admin. Holly and beautiful family of warm and caring agents provided me the extra time I desired to be with my beautiful bride. Loretta was my everything. She was my joy, my best friend, my caring lover, my spiritual partner, my dancing partner, my funny valentine .... my adoring and faithful wife. God has blessed me beyond measure with the number of days I got to share with her.
May God shine his light upon you as you think of Loretta's smile and know that she is with us always. We are blessed with family and friends who have shouldered this burden of loss we have been wading through. We are comforted by the assurance of God that she is fully restored to a physical and spiritual health that is beyond a joy that we could ever fathom. I speak to her daily, and while I still have joy and love to shower on my children, grandchildren, family and friends....I long for the day that we'll be reunited in heaven surrounded by an even greater outrageous love of a magnificent God.
Looking back over the last month, it is easy to trace the fingerprints of our loving and gracious God as he paved her way to the steps of heaven. She was able to visit with 6 of her 7 siblings that are still with us out of the 12 that were born into the Franklin clan. John and wife Cindy's family in from Jakarta, Indonesia; Tom and wife Ashley from Denver, Ruthie and Christina from Arizona and Julie & husband Chris and Joe & wife Janice who live here in San Diego.
She attended Brittany's graduation from Georgetown in Washington DC with her Master's in Women's Health/Midwifery (Nurse Practitioner) - a glorious 48 hour turn-a-round trip filled with great joy.
She was able to visit our beloved Life Group with the Church at Rancho Bernardo (we've belonged to this group for almost 16 years) on the Thursday evening before she passed. We had been unable to attend for several months because of her chemo and radiation treatments. That morning she wakened with a desire to go and we surprised the group to find that all 22 were in attendance - a blessing to be sure.
Fathers Day I posted how perfect the day had been with our whole immediate family spending the entire day together. She was a week and a half without chemo and radiation and was feeling better everyday - her smile said it all! The Tuesday before she passed she had a beautiful lunch with Lenora and Tricia from the Life Group, took a healthy walk in the sun and we had Taco Tuesday on the back patio.
Sadly, in the wee hours of the morning due to complications from radiation and the weakened state of her tissues caused in part to the familial gene disorder she carried, she passed away shortly after being transported to Palomar Hospital by the paramedic team (they were amazing). Corbin, Brittany and I were able to be with her and as we all hugged and prayed at the foot of her bed, she took the gentle hand of our powerful Lord and stepped into life everlasting in the glory of God.
On January 3rd, Corbin's life was transformed by the same amazing God and he has been living at home with us caring for mom (and dad) with a love beyond description. Brittany has been a stronghold of love and support throughout this journey. Her completion of school and decision to work part-time gave her the opportunity along with Corbin to spend precious quality time with their mom. Mom and daughter were bound at the hip enjoying every possible moment together. With Brittany's amazing and loving husband/son-in-law Bucky and the grandkids (Taz and Stella) less than a mile from our home - the entire family created a treasure chest of wonderful memories together for Loretta to enjoy.
Even though my new position at RE/MAX kept me busy, my beloved broker Mike, admin. Holly and beautiful family of warm and caring agents provided me the extra time I desired to be with my beautiful bride. Loretta was my everything. She was my joy, my best friend, my caring lover, my spiritual partner, my dancing partner, my funny valentine .... my adoring and faithful wife. God has blessed me beyond measure with the number of days I got to share with her.
May God shine his light upon you as you think of Loretta's smile and know that she is with us always. We are blessed with family and friends who have shouldered this burden of loss we have been wading through. We are comforted by the assurance of God that she is fully restored to a physical and spiritual health that is beyond a joy that we could ever fathom. I speak to her daily, and while I still have joy and love to shower on my children, grandchildren, family and friends....I long for the day that we'll be reunited in heaven surrounded by an even greater outrageous love of a magnificent God.
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