Here is a link to my mother's obituary which is posted on the mortuary website.
http://www.horancares.com/_mgxroot/page_10780.php?task=Current&listing=All
Monday, October 31, 2011
Saturday, October 29, 2011
Funeral Information
Viewing
Thursday, Nov. 3, 2011, from 6:00-8:00pm
Horan & McConaty Family Chapel
5303 E. County Line Rd., Centennial, CO 80122
Friday, Nov. 4, 2011, from 9:30-10:30am
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
1939 E. Easter Ave., Centennial, CO 80122
Funeral Service
Friday, Nov. 4, 2011, at 11:00am
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
1939 E. Easter Ave., Centennial, CO 80122
Interment
After funeral services at Chapel Hill Cemetery
6601 S Colorado Blvd
Littleton, CO 80121
Memorial Donations
Thursday, Nov. 3, 2011, from 6:00-8:00pm
Horan & McConaty Family Chapel
5303 E. County Line Rd., Centennial, CO 80122
Friday, Nov. 4, 2011, from 9:30-10:30am
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
1939 E. Easter Ave., Centennial, CO 80122
Funeral Service
Friday, Nov. 4, 2011, at 11:00am
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
1939 E. Easter Ave., Centennial, CO 80122
Interment
After funeral services at Chapel Hill Cemetery
6601 S Colorado Blvd
Littleton, CO 80121
Memorial Donations
Robyn always had a love for education and sharing her learning, a passion that continued to grow throughout her life. She also enjoyed serving in the Temple for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and was grateful to have the Denver Temple nearby.
In honor of Robyn and her lifelong commitment to education and temple attendance, donations may be made to the following charities:
~Perpetual Education Fund
(The Perpetual Education Fund provides loans to young people in selected developing nations to assist them in their efforts to "step out of the cycle of poverty". The recipients utilize the loans to receive training and education that lead to employment. Recipients of the funds are required to repay the loans allowing the funds to be re-circulated for future recipients.)
Information Link: http://www.ldsphilanthropies.org/perpetual-education-fund/
Donation Link: https://secure3.convio.net/ldsp/site/Donation2?1480.donation=form1&mboxSession=1320080078173-288032&df_id=1480
~Temple Patron Assistance Fund
(The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has established the General Temple Patron Assistance Fund to provide financial assistance to those who otherwise could not afford the travel expenses associated with attending a temple.)
Information Link: http://www.ldsphilanthropies.org/temple/funds/temple-patrons-fund.html
Donation Link: https://secure3.convio.net/ldsp/site/Donation2?1661.donation=form1&mboxSession=1320076555590-404568&df_id=1661&JServSessionIdr004=3l35aly4n8.app331a
In honor of Robyn and her lifelong commitment to education and temple attendance, donations may be made to the following charities:
~Perpetual Education Fund
(The Perpetual Education Fund provides loans to young people in selected developing nations to assist them in their efforts to "step out of the cycle of poverty". The recipients utilize the loans to receive training and education that lead to employment. Recipients of the funds are required to repay the loans allowing the funds to be re-circulated for future recipients.)
Information Link: http://www.ldsphilanthropies.org/perpetual-education-fund/
Donation Link: https://secure3.convio.net/ldsp/site/Donation2?1480.donation=form1&mboxSession=1320080078173-288032&df_id=1480
~Temple Patron Assistance Fund
(The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has established the General Temple Patron Assistance Fund to provide financial assistance to those who otherwise could not afford the travel expenses associated with attending a temple.)
Information Link: http://www.ldsphilanthropies.org/temple/funds/temple-patrons-fund.html
Donation Link: https://secure3.convio.net/ldsp/site/Donation2?1661.donation=form1&mboxSession=1320076555590-404568&df_id=1661&JServSessionIdr004=3l35aly4n8.app331a
Friday, October 28, 2011
Memories
Many of you have asked if there is something you can do to help. Reading many of the memories you have sent of our mother has been tender. We would love to compile an informal sketch of our mother's history from the memories of many of the people who loved her--so her grandchildren can know her and so we can have a history of her over the coming years.
We invite you to help us celebrate her life by sharing a short, detailed memory of her--it could be humorous, tender or ordinary. You can post it here on the blog or you can send it by email jennielinton@yahoo.com.
We invite you to help us celebrate her life by sharing a short, detailed memory of her--it could be humorous, tender or ordinary. You can post it here on the blog or you can send it by email jennielinton@yahoo.com.
Home
Our mom slipped peacefully away this morning about 10:30. We were all gathered around her bed, and my Dad was holding her hand; there was a sweet spirit there. We will miss her, but we are so glad she is finally able to rest. We have all been imagining the tender reunions she is having on the other side.
Funeral details will follow.
Funeral details will follow.
A Holding Time
After a day of lots of resting and discomfort, yesterday our mom awoke with a little bit of new energy. She was very alert during the nurses visit and told her she was very excited to see her sister Natalie who had just flown into town, and her nephew Zach who had just returned from a two year LDS mission to Australia. When our Aunt Natalie and our Uncle Chris and Aunt Kate arrived with their children, we were all able to gather up in her bedroom around her. My mom savored every minute of hearing Zach share about his service teaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Aunt Nanny came and curled up beside our mom, and kissed her hand. She was very aware and even participating in the conversation--this was a miracle as she had hardly been able to move from her position on the bed the day before.
A little later Lindsay was able to bring Jordan up. Our mom held him and asked if anyone had a camera.
The rest of the day she was quite tired and rested most of the day--we took turns being with her. It was a holding time. A time of holding still, holding her hand, holding her presence as we knelt by her or helped her try to get comfortable. We sat by her and read many of the memories and sentiments many of you have sent to her. Many of them made her laugh and us cry.
We have been held in the arms of love through all of your prayers, faith, love, meals, and words. As we look back on this time we feel that God has cradled our family with a very thick spirit of peace.
Thursday, October 27, 2011
"Dancing" to the Bathroom
The nurse told us the other day, "people often die as they live." Just as my mom has approached each challenge with all her energy and strength, the same is proving true now. Her strong constitution has surprised us.
The other day as we gathered around her for a family prayer my Dad asked all of us to kneel. My mom (who was obviously excused from this request) immediately dragged herself over with great effort and let herself fall to her knees by the side of the bed. We all watched with open mouths, floored at her devotion overriding her physical pain, especially since she could hardly lift her head off her pillow that day, and she wasn't even able to stand up afterwards without help.
Yesterday she was quite weak and in and out of alertness. Much of the day was uncomfortable, and she was in bed all day. It's given us the privilege of attending her with hot towels for her legs for cramping, keeping her lips moist, covering her with blankets, bringing her food, and just being with her as she endures.
One of the sweet experiences this week has been to watch our dad care for my mom. He'll often kiss her as he places the blanket over her. The other day he eased the tension by saying, "Mom and I will dance to the bathroom together." It made her smile.
My mom wrote this a few years ago about my Dad. "One of the sweet miracles of cancer has been having a best friend for the journey – I could not do this without Lane’s constant optimism, thoughtfulness, and support. Cancer has brought us even closer together. Marrying him is the best decision I ever made."
Give Me Chocolate
Last week it became apparent that the things she was doing were not keeping the cancer at bay. She went into the doctor to assess exactly where things were and develop another treatment plan that might include some chemo. After reviewing the tests and talking with her doctor she discovered that the cancer had spread quite extensively throughout her body. She looked directly at her oncologist, who has provided all the expertise as well as love and support one could ever hope to have from a doctor, and raised her hands and said, "Okay, I call uncle." They discussed plans to help her be comfortable for the remaining time she had--the doctor thought she had likely somewhere between 3 weeks and 3 months. Almost from that moment it was clear that she was very at peace, that it was time to go home.
Over the next 4 days, her health declined so rapidly it's taken our breath away. By Saturday the nurse said she thought my mom had only 24-48 hours. Our family was able to gather around her bed on Saturday night and share some sweet exchanges. We held her hand and she shared how much she loved each one of us and asked us to be true--because in the end all we have are each other and our covenants.
Since that time, her decline has slowed and the nurse has said she may have a little more time. Although she's quite weak and resting a lot, she hasn't lost her sense of humor. The other night Kristen offered her a piece of chocolate. She looked like she was enjoying it so much Kristen offered her another one. She said, "Well, I'm going to to dogs anyway, I might as well go up in flames!" After all her healthy eating it's been delightful to watch her relish some of the good foods of life. The other night she asked for some ice cream. She polished off some of her own bowl AND all of my Dad's. :)
We've all been able to enjoy a little time sitting with her each day. She hasn't been up to lots of talking, but yesterday we brought baby Jordan in to sit next to her. He was babbling, and my mom babbled back. He gave her a huge smile. She rested smiling for several minutes.
She seems to feel a lot of peace about going. Although it's hard to imagine life without her, we have felt a lot of peace about her going as well.
Wednesday, October 26, 2011
A Brief History Of Robyn's Cancer Journey: Going For A Miracle
Robyn was diagnosed with Ovarian Cancer 4 years ago. Her response when the doctor told her was "We're not cancer people!" But true to her character she tackled cancer with her same energy and thoroughness and faith she's applied to other challenges of her life. She said, "I feel there is a miracle in store for me." My Dad jumped in with both feet, standing by her side through each decision and each step.
She underwent surgery just before her 50th birthday. Soon after she began chemotherapy. She included us all in the adventure of shaving her head, and collected wigs so we could all stand with her in solidarity. She even admitted her wig was her "best hair cut ever." Each of her daughters and her sisters had a chance to come and help with a round of chemo. Meals, gifts, service, hugs, emails, letters, prayers, faith and love all poured in from every corner of the globe from family and friends. This created a beautiful spirit for our family during this time.
The chemotherapy gave her about a year of reprive during which time she worked hard to change her diet and try a variety of other treatments. She always loved the picture of her father with one foot in one solution, another in a different one, something around his shoulders, trying several different treatments at once. She kept the same open mind that there was all sorts of truth out there--she was willing to try all sorts of things. She began reading books--books about healing, books about cancer, books about nutrition, books about just about everything. Her cancer book library now stacks up to over 2 1/2 feet high. She tried several other things which helped extend her remission. In the process she taught many of us about nutrition and started a green smoothie revolution around her as well. Most importantly this time was a precious gift during which she could enjoy lots of family time with her immediate family as well as her extended families, time with friends, put on a wedding, see the birth of two grandchildren, teach relief society and nutrition lessons, play tennis with good friends, enjoy hiking and being outdoors, sing and enjoy all the people and things she loved.
Around September of that year her cancer had spread quite extensively and again she said, "I'm not afraid to die, but I don't feel it's my time." Although things look critical she again rallied her faith, and courage, and energy and did another round of chemo simultaneous with some other treatments. During her second chemo she planned two more weddings! It was a hard road, but interspersed with some beautiful miracles, lots of love and service to our family. People washed her vegetables, planted our front flowers, came to take the trash out, brought meals and the if you could weigh and measure the quantity of faith and prayers that went upward in her behalf I'm sure it would far outweigh all the organic vegetables that floated through the house during her last four years--and that is saying a lot! During the next few months she helped with the birth of another grandchild, had more time to go on walks and enjoy my Dad, and more time to raise her children still at home.
She kept her sense of humor during this time as well. One Christmas, true to tradition, we all marched into our parents room with instruments to coax them out of bed to open presents. When we jumped on the bed and threw back the covers we realized the lovely locks were just two of mom's wigs and my mom and dad were hiding in the bathroom as joke on us.
As it became apparent that the cancer was spreading again, she began some new treatments. She had a severe reaction to some of them--which threatened to take her life. She was in intensive care for several days. My dad sat by her bedside holding her hand and hardly left. We weren't sure if she was going to pull through--but she did. Our family felt that God preserved her life. The doctor said she shouldn't have lived through it. Her oncologist called her her "miracle girl." The hospital happened to have a very rare drug on hand and available to treat her quickly, another miracle. After a slow recovery, she regained enough strength that this summer she was hiking Angel's Landing in Zion's park, and doing flips on a giant trampoline during our family reunion. The treatments had reduced the cancer enough to give her a beautiful summer. We were able to gather as a family in Utah, and she was able to enjoy a trip with her sisters, enjoy family reunions and savor her grandchildren. She enjoyed another summer of rigorous tennis games, and sweet conversations with sisters and friends. Her motto this summer was to really live and focus on the people and things that mattered most to her. And she did even though the cancer was slowly growing again.
She underwent surgery just before her 50th birthday. Soon after she began chemotherapy. She included us all in the adventure of shaving her head, and collected wigs so we could all stand with her in solidarity. She even admitted her wig was her "best hair cut ever." Each of her daughters and her sisters had a chance to come and help with a round of chemo. Meals, gifts, service, hugs, emails, letters, prayers, faith and love all poured in from every corner of the globe from family and friends. This created a beautiful spirit for our family during this time.
The chemotherapy gave her about a year of reprive during which time she worked hard to change her diet and try a variety of other treatments. She always loved the picture of her father with one foot in one solution, another in a different one, something around his shoulders, trying several different treatments at once. She kept the same open mind that there was all sorts of truth out there--she was willing to try all sorts of things. She began reading books--books about healing, books about cancer, books about nutrition, books about just about everything. Her cancer book library now stacks up to over 2 1/2 feet high. She tried several other things which helped extend her remission. In the process she taught many of us about nutrition and started a green smoothie revolution around her as well. Most importantly this time was a precious gift during which she could enjoy lots of family time with her immediate family as well as her extended families, time with friends, put on a wedding, see the birth of two grandchildren, teach relief society and nutrition lessons, play tennis with good friends, enjoy hiking and being outdoors, sing and enjoy all the people and things she loved.
Around September of that year her cancer had spread quite extensively and again she said, "I'm not afraid to die, but I don't feel it's my time." Although things look critical she again rallied her faith, and courage, and energy and did another round of chemo simultaneous with some other treatments. During her second chemo she planned two more weddings! It was a hard road, but interspersed with some beautiful miracles, lots of love and service to our family. People washed her vegetables, planted our front flowers, came to take the trash out, brought meals and the if you could weigh and measure the quantity of faith and prayers that went upward in her behalf I'm sure it would far outweigh all the organic vegetables that floated through the house during her last four years--and that is saying a lot! During the next few months she helped with the birth of another grandchild, had more time to go on walks and enjoy my Dad, and more time to raise her children still at home.
She kept her sense of humor during this time as well. One Christmas, true to tradition, we all marched into our parents room with instruments to coax them out of bed to open presents. When we jumped on the bed and threw back the covers we realized the lovely locks were just two of mom's wigs and my mom and dad were hiding in the bathroom as joke on us.
As it became apparent that the cancer was spreading again, she began some new treatments. She had a severe reaction to some of them--which threatened to take her life. She was in intensive care for several days. My dad sat by her bedside holding her hand and hardly left. We weren't sure if she was going to pull through--but she did. Our family felt that God preserved her life. The doctor said she shouldn't have lived through it. Her oncologist called her her "miracle girl." The hospital happened to have a very rare drug on hand and available to treat her quickly, another miracle. After a slow recovery, she regained enough strength that this summer she was hiking Angel's Landing in Zion's park, and doing flips on a giant trampoline during our family reunion. The treatments had reduced the cancer enough to give her a beautiful summer. We were able to gather as a family in Utah, and she was able to enjoy a trip with her sisters, enjoy family reunions and savor her grandchildren. She enjoyed another summer of rigorous tennis games, and sweet conversations with sisters and friends. Her motto this summer was to really live and focus on the people and things that mattered most to her. And she did even though the cancer was slowly growing again.
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