Saying Goodbye

The days following were filled with activity.  Lance and his Dad and his siblings were amazing.  They were so strong and such a great team making decisions and arrangements.  At 34 years old you don't expect to be writing your Mom's obituary, calling and telling people the news, picking things out, and working on a talk and grave dedication.

Things started pouring in almost immediately- phone calls, emails, texts, messages, flowers, and tons of food.  There were tears but there was also sharing of happy memories.  The kids were pleased to be reunited with cousins and we even had a beautiful night watching fireworks as a family at Tyler's house on Pioneer Day. 

The line at the viewing wrapped around and around the building.  Michelle and Hattie Wadsworth even drove down from Idaho to be there which was so sweet.  There were hugs from the Wirthlin's and Wilkinson's there too who both also did much to support us throughout these days.  Lance was even able to grab a quick lunch one day with his good friends from growing up Wes Boyack and Joe Gardner.  And again the emails and calls and more from those who couldn't be around us in person were such encouragement as well.

Kimberley, Kirsten, and I had found matching Hawaii looking dresses for all the girl cousins to wear.  The little boys all had suits and boutonnieres and were honorary pallbearers.  Tyler, Lance, and Dave all spoke at the funeral and did a beautiful job.  Again, I'm not sure how Lance was able to have to composure to write and give such a touching talk.  I said the opening prayer.  Kirsten played the piano and Kimberley conducted the grandkids in "I Often Go Walking".  It was very sweet.  Grandma Whitney flew in the day of the funeral and helped with Zuri which was such a blessing- more on that in a later post.  The entire Chapel and overflow were full of people.

Lance dedicated the grave and then we all released balloons to Grandma up in Heaven.  The balloons headed straight for the Mountains which seemed fitting.  Some have said that they will pretend that one also made its way to the Big Island.  We've decided as a family that we will call the cemetery "Grandma's Park" from now on as it does seem more like a park with all of the flat markers.  After the dedication the Relief Society had a nice lunch set up for extended family back at the Church.  We felt much love that day as well.

The next day we all decided to go up to Silver Lake and walk, fish, and have a little picnic around the lake.  It was nice and peaceful to be all together up in the Mountains that Grandma loved.  We spent Saturday and Sunday morning going through some things and preparing to head back to Las Vegas.
 

July 21, 2012

The last 10 days have been a rush of emotion, tears, love, and shock.  We miss Grandma Utah so much already and keep hoping to wake up and find that this all hasn't been real.  The outpouring of love we have felt in so many forms has been incredible. 

As we understand it- Grandma had gone to the Cabin in Bear Lake with her sister Wendy on Friday.  Grandma loved the Cabin and she and Wendy had done a sister trip like this many times before.  Wendy heard her moving around in the early morning hours- we now know that she had a horrible headache and was up taking some medicine.  A bit after that she called out to Wendy and told her about her headache and that she was having a hard time seeing.  She suggested that she might need Wendy to drive her to the hospital and Wendy said she was calling 911.  Grandma laid back down and never regained consciousness again.  They took her by ambulance to a hospital in Logan, UT, and then shortly after flew her to the hospital in Ogden, UT.  She passed away at 11:33pm.  The doctors have told us that the initial headache was the aneurysm happening (which later caused a stroke) and even if she had been at a hospital at the very beginning they wouldn't have been able to do anything.  This has no warning signs or symptoms and Colleen had been in good health.  She was always on the go and filling life with the next adventure so this was truly a shock to all.   

On Saturday, July 21 we slept in a bit later than usual.  We were quickly throwing some clothes on the kids in anticipation of going to a Pioneer Day parade when the phone rang.  I could tell by Lance's tone while he was talking to his brother that something had happened.  After he hung up he turned pale and sank down to his knees.  I immediately worked on booking him a flight to SLC while he quickly jumped in the shower and got dressed.  More phone calls took place- to his Dad, his sister.  We explained briefly to the kids that Grandma was very sick and that Daddy was going to fly to Utah.

Within an hour we were in the car, dropping off Lance at the airport, and then the kids and I returned home.  I put Zuri down for a nap, put a kids show on for the kids, and then called my parents for the first time.  I knew that I would lose it when I told them and so I had waited until I knew that Lance was off, we were safely back from the airport, and the kids were out of ear shot.  I talked to my Dad, then later my Mom, then a few more calls with Lance's sister Kirsten who was trying to get on the fastest flight out of Seattle.  I spent the next few hours packing everything up.  I dread trip packing regularly, so this was really a challenge with my brain in so many places.  I got the kids in the car and we were on the road.

Driving to SLC is always long and this was my first time doing it alone with all 3 kids.  I tried to stay focused on the driving and on the kids.  There were lots more phone calls.  I desperately wanted to get to Lance.  Leaving Vegas we saw some dark clouds in the sky, after St. George there were more dark clouds and some rain, then as we drove out of Provo there was a beautiful sunset.  I wondered if the sky was matching Grandma's feelings about it all. 

Just as it was getting really dark we pulled in to Tyler and Kimberley's house.  I quickly got the kids in the house and put them in beds.  Kimberley's sisters were there to watch over them for me which was such a relief.  I kissed them goodbye and headed back to the car and drove on to Ogden.  My own parents helped direct me to to the hospital by phone.  Lance called a few more times and  I told him I was almost there.  And then I was there and I was with all of them- Grandpa, Tyler, Kimberley, Kirsten, Lance, and Wendy.  Others had been there earlier in the day.  There were hugs, and tears, and I got to say my goodbye too.       

Grandma Utah

Colleen Rae Flynn Sorenson (February 3, 1943-July 21, 2012), wife, mother, daughter and grandmother, passed away peacefully this past Saturday, one week after escorting her mother through the LDS Temple. Her family thanks the dedicated health professionals at Logan Regional Hospital and McKay-Dee Hospital who helped her and them following her sudden brain aneurysm and hemorrhagic stroke.

Colleen was the eldest of five children born to Richard and June Flynn and she never stopped serving her parents and siblings with affection, thoughtfulness and generosity. She grew up in Salt Lake City, graduating from South High and Brigham Young University. Colleen married the love of her life, Brice K. Sorenson, on August 6, 1965 in the Salt Lake Temple.

Following five years of work and service in the Bay Area, Colleen and Brice returned to Utah to raise their children. Colleen epitomized the best elements of selfless motherhood, partnering with her husband and her Father in Heaven to rear three children who love her and miss her dearly.

Colleen inherited from her mother the philosophy that life is an adventure, and she made the most of it. She and her husband decided early in life to not delay until retirement experiences that could be had today. For this reason, she continually sought opportunities to discover new places to visit and foods to try – which discoveries she was always quick to share with her loved ones. Her children had difficulty keeping up with her.

One of Colleen’s unique gifts in life was to recognize the needs of those around her. She was fervently dedicated to serving others, especially her family. The brevity of life does not permit time to recount the thoughts, words and deeds she shared for the betterment of those with whom she came in contact. Colleen truly lived according to the admonition of James to be a doer of the word, practicing a pure and undefiled religion. She lovingly fulfilled many church assignments throughout her life in her wards and stakes, in addition to serving her neighbors and community. She conducted her service wholeheartedly, with a keen sense and insight of how to best comfort and help those in need, with no thought for herself. She continually expressed her testimony of God through serving others as Christ would.

From 2006-2011, Colleen and Brice worked tirelessly as welfare service missionaries in the Ensign 20th Ward, donating their time, talents and energies to helping many of God’s children who, although lost to the world, were not lost to God or them. Colleen spent the last week of her life helping her father adjust better to life’s daily challenges.

Although Colleen’s death leaves a gaping hole in the lives of her friends and family, they are encouraged and strengthened by her own testimony in the reality of God and the joyous reunion that awaits them.

Colleen is survived by her husband, Brice; her parents, Richard and June Flynn; her children Kirsten (David) Mullins, Tyler (Kimberley) Sorenson, and Lance (Ashleigh) Sorenson; her grandchildren Jake Mullins, Kennedy Sorenson, Emmeline Mullins, Malakai Sorenson, Jack Sorenson, Katherine Mullins, Rori Sorenson, Ella Sorenson and Zuri Rae Sorenson; her siblings Dennis (Johanna) Flynn, Cortney (Jeannie) Flynn, Wendy Rodriguez, and Tracy (Sandy) Jensen; and many other friends and family. She is preceded in death by her parents-in-law Keith and Maxine Sorenson and a brother-in-law, Joseph Rodriguez.

Colleen loved flowers, but would be delighted if, in lieu of flowers, donations were made to LDS Humanitarian Services, The Road Home, or the Utah Food Bank. A viewing will be held Wednesday, July 25 from 6-8 p.m. at Wasatch Lawn Mortuary, 3401 S. Highland Drive. Funeral services will be held Thursday, July 26 at 12:00 noon at the LDS Chapel at 4407 Fortuna Way, Salt Lake City, 84124, with a viewing from 11:00 to 11:45 prior to the services. Internment will follow the services at Wasatch Lawn Memorial Park, 3401 S. Highland Drive.

Weekend Fun

This past weekend was full of fun things for all of us.  Thursday night Lance jumped on a plane all by himself and headed back to SLC.  Over the next 3 days he fit in some business calls, meals and hanging out with friends, bbq dinner with his parents, and even a little hike in the Mountains.  The most important part of his trip though was a trip to the Temple with his grandma.  Grandma Flynn went through the Temple for the 1st time at age 87.  We were all so excited for her.  What a neat thing!

A few hours after Lance left us on Thursday night my parents and Whitney arrived at our house.  The kids thought they weren't coming until the next day (which was the original plan) so they were thrilled.  We had so much fun playing with them and even got to take them to a few new places they had never been.  Another highlight was Grandma and Grandpa took Kai and Rori to see Ice Age while Whitney, Zuri, and I got to stay home and play/ rest which was great.  It actually rained some and was in the 80's while they were here.  It was crazy but wonderful weather for July in Vegas.  I was glad that they didn't have to melt with us while they were here.  We had a great time having them here.  They took off on Sunday morning and Lance flew back on Sunday night so we were never alone for long. 

We each had a great weekend, but it was nice to be back together again with Lance Sunday night.  We all might have been a bit ready for a nap after all the fun- see the last picture of Zuri falling asleep in her highchair Sunday afternoon.  Grandparents can be a bit exhausting!  Much thanks to both of our families for a wonderful weekend.

Happy 4th of July

We celebrated the 4th in Vegas this year for the first time.  We swam, grilled, checked out some fireworks, and lit some sparklers of our own.  It was a nice easy going day.  Much thanks to Grandma Utah for the girls fun dresses.