Ma Flier Back

The Nurnburg family lived over the hill during my childhood. i had not seen Gary, my age, since 1970..... he phoned saturday night after reading of ma's death in the newspaper, to share a story of our parents that he had cherished in his heart all these years. It was 1963, the weather warm; daddy was puttering in the garden west of the lawn. A friend of Gary's older brother had left a blonde wig at their house, very stylish, and Gary thought he'd bring it up for ma to try on. He said she was always so sweet and kind to him, and remembers daddy being just the same.............. Ma was in the livingroom and beaconed to Gary, ‘come in!’ They went to daddy's little bathroom for a fitting, Gary helping hide the dark hair, then walked out on the lawn. Ma stood looking at daddy for awhile, then called his name. Gary was standing in the back, and said the look on daddy's face when he first saw her was something he will never forget, such a beaming, joyous smile........ then she said, ''I hear blondes have more fun'' and sauntered over to him in a Mae West fashion........ Daddy took her in his arms and gave her a huge romantic kiss (Gary remembers thinking, wow, people in their 50s still have romance). Then she asked if he would love her more as a blonde and he answered, he'd love her no matter what color her hair was.......

For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, Nor angels nor principalities nor powers,

Nor things present nor thing to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing,

Shall be able to separate us from the love of GOD which

Is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:38-39

Ed and I were talking this evening about the GREAT blessing of growing up in our family!!! How ‘’normal’’ and fabulous was our childhood, how full of love and understanding, of humor and warmth, of kindness and joy!! How much our dear parents loved one another and loved us, how we not once knew condemnation nor bitterness nor unforgiveness…. was it because they were parents later in life and had so many life experiences of their own, and understood what it meant to guide, encourage, support and mentor another human being to his/her greatest potential? Add to that their inherent sense of goodness, fairness, and honesty, passed on from their own ancestors. The one great tragedy of our lives was losing our beloved daddy at such a young age…… his AND ours…… one GREAT blessing of our lives is having had our beloved mamacita with us for 93 ½ years, healthy and happy, active and alert, full of humor and love and grace. And still living in the home she and daddy built in 1948…as Tom said, how many people can first-handedly say that even the best Kitchen Aid dishwasher should be changed out after 50 years!!!! Once Tom has said something about changing some of the original wiring on the house, and ma was quite offended; after all, it was state of the art wiring in 1948! And how she forever was a gorgeous woman with gorgeous skin & hair; (even in death, the pearl-glow of her lovely skin) and that perfect smile of hers that wowed each person who met her….and every outfit she wore smiled sunny and bright with her!!!!! All of her life, no matter how badly she felt, she dressed and fixed her hair and face….always composed and elegant even when casual!!!!! Only a few days of last weeks of her life were spent in her nightie. She, like Will Rogers, never knew a stranger….. they were only friends she had not yet met!! (And a special blessing….Denise Vosburgh, whose help these weeks was such a blessing!!!) Ma was equally loving and kind to all she knew, and in the last couple of years of her life, she had many new adopted daughters…… wonderful women who had lost their own mothers too early, but again felt the love of a special mom who drew them close to her heart, and she close to theirs. And my darling Tom once again had a ma to cherish (and how Blessed she was knowing I at last had someone to love and care for me the way daddy had for her!!!!!!!). And the final greatest blessing for Ed and for me……. Being her CareGiver at the end of her life. Yes, a few frustrations and trials, but greatly outweighed by the giving and loving and serving we were able to give to her as final gifts…….. And such a great gift, holding her and loving her, right up to the instant when she drew her final breath, knowing she followed those angels that she saw in her final moments, followed them to her Eternal Home with our Heavenly Father……. Thank You LORD for drawing us near to her and near to YOU through that entire experience……….. I pray that each and every one of us is surrounded by loved ones at the time of our Home-Going, that we are held closely and warmly when we, too, draw our final breath on this planet, and with its exhalation have the name YHWH on our lips!!!

MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND (May 29-31, 2004) .celebration of the life of Olive Whitney

To be held in the yard and home she loved so much……… 10am till we tucker out…….. potluck, casual, fun fun fun, visiting, sharing memories, come early, come often!

Huge THANKS to each and every one from Odyssey Home Health Care, you became family!!!!!!!!!

annie whitney, annieokl@aol.com 505-780-1766 or634-4031 ed whitney whitneyed@juno.com 303-399-5549

{Olive gave an Anatomical Gift to Univ.of Colo.Health Sci. Center. For more info. Visit http://www.uchsc.edu/sab/ }