Robyn's Obituary

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

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

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

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.

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.

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.  

"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.