Seat Family: 2011

My aunt JoAnn (my mom's sister) passed away on December 21. Her funeral was today. She had been living in a rest home for many years in St. George. My mom and her brother Mike gave tributes. It was fun to hear things about her life that I didn't know.

Cousins Jenny, Jason, Jerry and his family Candie and DakotaHanley & AshleyErika & SavannaMy mom's cousin and his wifeMy Grandma's sister Blanch and her husbandMy Mom's Aunt Ann and cousin Davey and her husbandThe pallbearers

My Mom's tribute to JoAnn:

JoAnn was born in the LDS Hospital in Salt Lake City on May 29, 1950. Mom & Dad had an apartment in SLC for a short time, but Keith was anxious to get back to Richfield. When they moved to Richfield, they lived with Keith’s mom Manila for a few months. Aunt Barbara loved having JoAnn there and always carried her around.
Every Sunday we all went to Grandma Manila’s with our Aunt Ann and Uncle Randall and cousins to eat or have dessert. JoAnn looked forward to going there to be with family. It was a place that she loved to be.
We also would go to Ann and Randall’s for the 4th of July and eat and watch the fireworks. We had a lot of good memories there. Aunt Ann was always good to JoAnn.
Grandma Manila taught JoAnn to knit. She knitted a blue sweater and she did a really nice job and wore it for a long time.
The MIA (Young Women) had June Conference where lots of wards and stakes were putting on a dance festival. Everyone had to learn a dance to do together. JoAnn learned the dance and didn’t miss a step.
She enjoyed going to seminary and learning and studying the Book of Mormon. She had a spiritual side to her that many of us never realized. She really enjoyed working on her Treasures of Truth Book when she was in MIA. My mom still has it.
One of JoAnn’s special friends was Marilyn Waters, who lived close by when JoAnn was young. She was always kind to JoAnn and would visit her often. JoAnn also enjoyed visiting with Marilyn’s mother, Betty Waters. A lot of people were good to her and took the time to be her friend.
She did get her driver’s license and this was a big accomplishment for her. One time when mom and dad were out of town, Sue and I wanted to go to the drive-in movie. We didn’t have driver’s licenses, but JoAnn did. Even though she had her license she normally never drove, but she did drive us there.
Once when mom and dad went to Las Vegas to some kind of convection, John and I and Sue and JoAnn decided we would like to go to Las Vegas too. John used to live there and said he would drive us there. It was already evening and we drove to Las Vegas went in a casino and put some coins in the slot machines and before long we got kicked out because we weren’t old enough to be there and then drove right home. We should have at least gone to dinner. JoAnn thought that was really fun.
JoAnn really liked John because he would tease her. She just wanted to be treated like everyone else.
Last year John and I picked up JoAnn to take her to my mom’s for Christmas. She loved Diet Coke. As soon as we got in the car she said, “John did you get me a Diet Coke?” And he said, “We’ll go to the service station and get one right now.” So we went there and he came out with quite a big bottle, because it was cheaper than the smaller size. JoAnn said, “That’s a big bottle.” John said, “Well you don’t have to drink the whole thing” and JoAnn said, “Oh yes I do.” JoAnn had quite a sense of humor.
When JoAnn was in high school in Mr. Dean Isbell’s class, she stayed up all night studying for a test and she got the highest mark. There were a lot of bright students in that class, and this was a time when she was starting to have some health problems, so this was a great accomplishment for her. She graduated from Richfield High and Seminary and that is something she can be very proud of because it was harder for her than others.
For the last 40 years or so, JoAnn has lived at Porter’s Nursing Home in St. George where it became home to her. She had lots of good friends there and they took good care of her. They would do fun things and even went to Mesquite every month. She finally got to gamble.
JoAnn even had a boyfriend a few years ago. A lady that cooked at the rest home had a son named Gordon that would come and see his mother, and got to know JoAnn. They would walk down the street holding hands and go to the movies.
He even wanted permission from Clara to ask JoAnn to marry him in the temple. That was a good time for JoAnn. He died of a heart attack.
Once John and I went to see her and took her for a ride and she said, “It’s almost 2:00. I have to get back to play Bingo.”
But she always loved coming home to visit family whenever she could—usually on Christmas holidays and her birthday.
If JoAnn was here she would want to tell her mother “Thank You” for all she had done for her. Mom would drive down to St. George every month from Richfield to visit her until a few years ago when my mom broke her hip. Mom wrote two letters to JoAnn every week, every Monday and every Wednesday. And included a little money in each letter so she could get some Diet Cokes.
JoAnn has not had an easy life. I am thankful for the gospel and for my knowledge of the plan of salvation, that through Jesus Christ and his sacrifice and atonement, all men and women can have eternal life. Faith in Him means believing that even though we do not understand all things, He does. We, therefore, must look to Him, “in every thought; doubt not, fear not.” (D&C 6:36)
Even though we would have loved to have JoAnn with us still this Christmas time. We are glad that JoAnn has found peace. She is happy and free from pain and suffering and without the pain and suffering her physical body she will soar to new heights and achievements in the spirit world.
I would like to read a poem called:
THE EVERLASTING LIGHT
Those we love must someday pass beyond our present sight…..
Must leave us and the world we know without their radiant light.
But we know that like a candle their lovely light will shine to brighten up another place
more perfect….. more divine.
And in the realm of Heaven where they shine so warm and bright,
Our loved ones live forevermore in God’s eternal light.
Some years ago the general primary of the Church, in teaching our children, coined the expression “A Forever Family”. Nothing ever written in any language brings greater comfort to the soul than does that simple phrase, “A Forever Family”. I share with you my personal testimony that the concept is real; and that these relationships which we treasure, more than life itself, can and will be preserved if we live worthy.
In closing I would just like to say – JoAnn indeed- Did make it home for Christmas. I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ Amen.