Grandpa Frank's funeral

Here we are after dinner with our Lindor truffles, to celebrate (with) Grandpa Frank, who loved Lindt chocolates:

Uncle Matt said that the last time he took Grandpa Frank shopping, Lindt chocolates were high on his list of necessities, so his kids decided they should have a bowl of Lindt chocolates for the funeral attendees to enjoy. We didn't get to go to the funeral, but we did get to watch online...and Andrew picked up some chocolates while he was out grocery shopping.

Here's the bowl at the funeral:

And here's Uncle Matt holding up a bag while he was speaking:

I have lots of pictures from this event because although I didn't get to attend in person I had lots of spies! Of course all of Andrew's siblings and aunts and uncles went. Rachel went, too, as did my mom and Josie. And Darla was there as well, making sure all the pictures got taken!

Uncle Matt expressed gratitude for everything Grandpa Frank's ward had done to serve him the past few years. They'd been bringing him meals three times a week, doing his yard work, putting his garbage cans out, and so many other things. Uncle Matt went through his journal and found that six days a week Grandpa Frank was writing out a little shout out to "his own personal mailman," a sweet neighbour who hand delivered Grandpa Frank's mail every single delivery day. 

He spoke about Grandpa Frank's dedication—that he still carried an active temple recommend even though he hadn't physically been able to go in years.

He recited John Milton's sonnet 10:

When I consider how my light is spent,

   Ere half my days, in this dark world and wide,

   And that one Talent which is death to hide

   Lodged with me useless, though my Soul more bent

To serve therewith my Maker, and present

   My true account, lest he returning chide;

   “Doth God exact day-labour, light denied?”

   I fondly ask. But patience, to prevent

That murmur, soon replies, “God doth not need

   Either man’s work or his own gifts; who best

   Bear his mild yoke, they serve him best. His state

Is Kingly. Thousands at his bidding speed

   And post o’er Land and Ocean without rest:

   They also serve who only stand and wait.”

and spoke about how Frank was very service oriented (he loved the scouting program and was a scout leader for years and years) and that it bothered him to need to be served a little bit, it bothered him that he couldn't be out and doing. And yet he was diligent in standing and waiting to the very end. 

Uncle Rod delivered a wonderful message about how Grandpa Frank was very good not being lost. He had only seen him "lost" three times: when their house burned down, when he and Grandma Pat divorced, and after Grandma Sharon passed away. The gospel—and the daily rituals he created to keep his oil lamp trimmed, so to speak—was his guiding light, so he rarely felt lost.  For example, he read a chapter of scripture every day, first in English and then again in German, and he dutifully wrote in his journal every day, and he reached out to his neighbours and family (Uncle Rod made a special mention of Grandpa Frank's "singing telegrams"). He noted that his "father found what was precious in his life" and valiantly worked to not lose sight of it.

Here is Grandpa speaking:

He denied Rod's allegations that he and Matt were bullies as big brothers; rather, he insisted they were "brutally kind." (Later, back at Grandpa Frank's house, Uncle Rod told Rachel the story of being tied up to the garage door by Reid and Matt...and that they then opened it with him on it just to see whether they could). Here are those three brothers laughing about something when they should have been singing:

Grandpa spoke about feeling the sting of death (with Grandma's death a handful of years ago and now Grandpa Frank's death just weeks ago) and how his grief has ended up being a "conduit to God," turning it sweet.

It was a wonderful service, about 45 minutes long.

Oh, Uncle Matt also held up Grandpa Frank's Eagle Scout award (below is a picture of his sash), which he mentioned was 80 years old (which...it just seems incredible that Grandpa Frank was a teenager 80 years ago):

My sister sent me a picture of the program:

And I got so many pictures from my mom, Josie, and Darla throughout the day. It was good to see the family together (even if we weren't there). Rachel represented our family well though—here she is holding Andrew's high school graduation picture in a little family photo:

Back (L to R): Sarah, Darla, Grandpa, Rachel, Katharine; Front (L to R): Jacob, Emily

Here's Grandpa with his girls—Emily, Katharine, and Sarah:

Here are some funeral attendees...

L to R: Josie, Nicki, Naanii, Rachel, Grandpa, Matt, Becky...and Bob (the builder (he's a contractor) and Grandpa's best friend growing up)

And here they are again with a few more people:

Josie, Nicki, Naanii, Rachel, Grandpa, Matt, Becky, Marie, Rod, Bob, Josh

After the funeral they had a luncheon back at Grandpa Frank's house. We had many Sunday dinners here before Grandma Sharon passed away! I hear Rod was the chef for this event—he grilled some wonderful chicken (and apparently there was a delicious salad that no one was eating...except my mom). 

Rachel video called us and walked us around the house to see if there was anything we wanted (and there wasn't really much that we wanted that would have been transportable, but I trust that the very capable record-keepers will make good decisions about what to keep and what not to keep). Rachel took some dishes from the kitchen to help her get set up in her dorm, and she also took some food storage.

Guys—I have a draft of a poem sitting in my folders about food storage and the quest for potato pearls (which have been discontinued so you can't buy them anymore). These aren't just potato flakes or dehydrated potatoes, but, like, deliciously prepared mashed potatoes that are dehydrated. They taste so good! And Rachel found four big bags of them in the storage room. 

She wasn't sure if she could really eat them...but the can our family is still working on (our very last one) is from 2006 and it's just fine. Her potato pearls are newer than that, so she should be good.

Those will certainly be nice for quick dinners as a starving student!

And this picture doesn't have much to do with anything except for the fact that I was moderately upset that no one had taken a picture of the kids with Grandpa Frank when they were out in Utah. Let this be a lesson to you all!! Always take the picture. Always. But especially if the subject in question is 96 years old! 

Anyway, Grandpa had this picture of the kids' visit to Grandma Pat just sitting on his phone. Darla made him send it to me, so I got it the day of the funeral:

Currently Grandpa and Darla are helping Rachel move into her dorm. It was really pretty great timing that they were back out there for this—they took her shopping and out to dinner and she feels like an unemotional princess (she was all worried that she'd be the "crying roommate," but she got her tears out of the way weeks ago).

My mom and sister might be helping, too...but my mom also fell the other day and hurt her wrist, so she won't be very much help (another reason it was good timing for Grandpa and Darla to be there)!