Journal entry by Kym Van Duren —
Hello All,
I write this post, perhaps one of the last for this site.
It's been just over a month since we celebrated our wonderful mom during her magnificent 75th birthday and 1st birthday in Heaven. On a day that was supposed to bring clouds and a lot of rain, we instead were greeted with warmth, sunshine and even a bald eagle soaring above us.
Family and friends gathered from near and far to lay her to rest with Jack, her Hubbin'. Together we sang her favorite songs with members of the Anchorage Concert Chorus, shared stories of love, perseverance and kindness. Our day ended at The Musk Ox Farm, a place we felt recognized her love and passion for the beautiful state of Alaska, her true home. Everything about the day was perfect and I believe we did our mom justice.
This post also culminates nearly seven months of our lives continuing to move forward without her. Sometimes it feels like yesterday and other days she feels nearly out of reach. Birthdays have been celebrated, milestones reached, joy found in the everyday moments. As the Irish have said "Those we love don't go away, they walk beside us every day, unseen, unheard, but always near, still loved, still missed and very dear".
With that, I wanted to share that I finally took the time to gather the wonderful photos, program from both her service in February and celebration of life in July as well as the video we watched that captures her vibrancy and all that she lived for; her family and friends. If you're interested in downloading anything, please follow the link below to my google drive.
KYM'S GOOGLE DRIVE
There will never be enough words to thank everyone who has been part of this journey. Thank you to those that were with us in the immediate aftermath of her stroke, those that flew at a moments notice, visited, who gathered in person and from afar for her mass and celebration of life, those that sent cards, flowers, texts and calls.
Mom really wanted each of us to be happy, so let's do her proud. A quote that sums up how I hope to live and carry her memory, "Be the things you loved most about the people who are gone".
Love,
Kym (#3)
I write this post, perhaps one of the last for this site.
It's been just over a month since we celebrated our wonderful mom during her magnificent 75th birthday and 1st birthday in Heaven. On a day that was supposed to bring clouds and a lot of rain, we instead were greeted with warmth, sunshine and even a bald eagle soaring above us.
Family and friends gathered from near and far to lay her to rest with Jack, her Hubbin'. Together we sang her favorite songs with members of the Anchorage Concert Chorus, shared stories of love, perseverance and kindness. Our day ended at The Musk Ox Farm, a place we felt recognized her love and passion for the beautiful state of Alaska, her true home. Everything about the day was perfect and I believe we did our mom justice.
This post also culminates nearly seven months of our lives continuing to move forward without her. Sometimes it feels like yesterday and other days she feels nearly out of reach. Birthdays have been celebrated, milestones reached, joy found in the everyday moments. As the Irish have said "Those we love don't go away, they walk beside us every day, unseen, unheard, but always near, still loved, still missed and very dear".
With that, I wanted to share that I finally took the time to gather the wonderful photos, program from both her service in February and celebration of life in July as well as the video we watched that captures her vibrancy and all that she lived for; her family and friends. If you're interested in downloading anything, please follow the link below to my google drive.
KYM'S GOOGLE DRIVE
There will never be enough words to thank everyone who has been part of this journey. Thank you to those that were with us in the immediate aftermath of her stroke, those that flew at a moments notice, visited, who gathered in person and from afar for her mass and celebration of life, those that sent cards, flowers, texts and calls.
Mom really wanted each of us to be happy, so let's do her proud. A quote that sums up how I hope to live and carry her memory, "Be the things you loved most about the people who are gone".
Love,
Kym (#3)
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