 |
| Frances Garner |
Dear
Faith Family,
|
My
sister, Frances,
had hoped she would make it to Thanksgiving and she did. However, her Thanksgiving dinner of
gravy, bread, sweet potato casserole (our mother took the nuts out of the
casserole for her since Frances was having trouble swallowing), and diet
Coke was eaten in her bed with all of us around her. Her daughter, Angie, continued to care
for her and encourage her to eat but she had no appetite. Angie’s oldest daughter, Jessica, and her
husband and daughter, Autumn, were there.
|
Frances Garner
November
10, 1946 – December 2, 2014
Autumn has always loved grandma Frances and Frances loved
her. A couple days before Autumn
arrived, Angie said Frances was taking an extra long shower and she checked on
her to find that Frances used up a half a bottle of shampoo “washing Autumn’s
hair”. Frances had been a cosmetologist
in her younger days and loved washing the grandchildren’s hair when she could.
They loved it too. Autumn would not
arrive until a couple days later.
Frances was so excited that Jessica and Autumn were coming. Her mind went in and out of reality however,
it stayed in the loving and caring mode.
Autumn is a very loving and intuitive child of 14. Frances started calling Autumn’s name and
Angie woke her up to see Grandma Frances at 4:00 AM since none of us was sure
if Frances would recognize her later in the day. Autumn joined Grandma Frances in her bed and
said, “I love you, Grandma.” Frances
looked at her and said, “I love you, Autumn.”
Autumn fell asleep in her arms and Frances awakened on and off caressing
and kissing Autumn over the next four hours.
Frances
Garner resting with her first granddaughter, Autumn Brown.
Later in the morning different family members visited her
or telephoned her and she responded acknowledging each one. Angie and Mom had to interpret for everyone
since she could hardly speak. She said
each person’s name and, “I love you.” It
was a special and moving time.
The day after Thanksgiving, Frances was much worse and
Hospice recommended taking her to the Hospice facility. We all had mixed emotions. Angie and Mom needed to have some time to
rest, yet we all knew the time was getting shorter and shorter to be with
Frances. Mom was worried that Frances
would get hysterical when taken to Hospice since Frances wanted to die at
home. What a good God we have! The ambulance techs put her on a gurney and
got her into the ambulance. They left
her sitting up instead of making her lay down.
Just before they closed the ambulance doors she waved at all of us as if
she was going off on an adventure. What
an adventure! Mom was so relieved she
went peacefully.
After getting to Hospice, Frances hardly acknowledged
anyone. Sometimes she was coherent and
we simply told her we loved her and gave her permission to go to Jesus. That night I stayed with her and about 11:00
PM her son, Evan, arrived at Hospice. I stayed until the AM when I went home to
get some rest. Evan was later relieved
by Angie and Mom as he rested. He stayed
with Frances the next night and said his good-bye and Frances recognized him. It is so important for us earthbound folks to
acknowledge each other before loved ones pass on to another more peaceful realm
of life. It tells me we need to be more
kind to one another in our healthy days.
The last three days and nights my mother, Angie and I
kept vigil by her side until Frances passed
away December 2 about 11:00 PM. It was
a hard vigil. She cried out often in
pain and we could hardly stand it. Most
of her last day she was more at peace and we had already sent word asking
everyone to agree in prayer with us that she would let go and go to Jesus. It reminded me of Jesus agony before his
death on the cross. How Mary must have
agonized.
But then it was resurrection time! Mom had lay on the sleeper bed and gotten
comfy. I was cleaning up a few
things. Angie was again talking to her
mother telling her many times how she loved her and thanked her for all she did
for her and Evan growing up. She told
her Mom again that she forgave her for the times life was hurtful growing up
but told her that the hard and the good times were what made her who she was
today. She thanked her for the good and
the painful experiences and begged her to let go. Angie was holding her Mom in her arms. “Let go, Mamma! Let go!”
I joined her in loudly telling Frances to let go. Then Angie told me to get the nurse. Frances had finally shed her bodily and
mental pains. The nurse confirmed that Frances was now with Jesus in the
spiritual realm of her life. She was
gone to us in one form, but now with us in the spiritual realm with Jesus and
all our relatives and friends and all the saints in heaven. I have no doubt that Frances is in
heaven. She suffered enough pain to
bypass any purgatory. (The Church no
longer teaches about purgatory, but if there is such a place/plane, I
personally believe that she had her purgatory time during the days she suffered
so terribly.)
Angie said it was a privilege to be holding her mother
when she passed. Angie said, “Mom held
me when I was born and I had the gift of holding her as she went to
heaven." My mother was up by
now. We were all relieved that Frances had
finally let go, yet we cried and cried and held each other tightly.
So, you see, I was honored to be with my sister as she
was in pain her last days and suddenly the decorations, gifts, and feasts are
not so important. Mary and Joseph walked
until they found a stable or cave in which Jesus was born. Frances walked in pain until she was re-born
into the spiritual realm. It was a great
gift to have the honor to walk with her and our family. I thank my God for each of you who has prayed
for us during this difficult time. I
know I would not have been able to endure the pain and loss or be able to see
the blessings were it not for your prayers.
I thank you! Our family thanks
you!
I pray each of you has a spiritual preparation for the
celebration of the birth of our loving, forgiving, and compassionate
Jesus. Jesus came to tell us how to live
in the kindom of God right here on earth and how to be reborn into the
spiritual heaven with him.
Frances is at peace and pain free. I pray for your freedom from whatever holds
you from taking that spiritual walk
toward the celebration of the birth of Jesus.
Love and peace,
Wanda Russell, ARCWP
Inclusive
Catholic Ministries Newsletter
Northeast
Florida
December 2014 Palm
Coast, Florida 32164
Rev. Miriam Picconi 386-569-7311 miriampicconi@gmail.com
Rev. Wanda Russell 502-320-6814
wandayrussell@aol.com
Association of Roman Catholic Women Priests
INCLUSIVE
CATHOLIC MINISTRIES
What is "Inclusive
Catholic Ministries?"
We want to maintain the
best of our Roman Catholic heritage
and traditions. We want to invite EVERYONE
to participate in God's love and our ministries and we use inclusive language. We want
to offer what you the people of God want and need. We are starting several ministry outreaches. Come and see if this is the faith community
you are seeking.
DECEMBER
CUP
CAKE MINISTRY OF GRATITUDE Friday, December
5, 2:00 P.M.
MONTHLY
MASS in PALM COAST Saturday,
December 13 at 4:00 PM (USUALLY 2nd Sat. each month) Hospitality follows. Place:
2 Westmill Ln., Palm Coast, FL 32164
MONTHLY
PRAYER TIME AND COMMUNION Thursday, December 18, 7:00
to 8:15 PM at 2 Westmill Ln., Palm Coast
INTERFAITH
THEOLOGY CLUB NOT MEETING THIS MONTH
NOTE DATE CASTLE OTTTIS – INTERFAITH WORSHIP AND
COMMUNION SERVICE Sunday,
December 21, 10:00 AM at 103 3rd Street St. Augustine See http://www.castleotttis.com/
JANUARY
CUP
CAKE MINISTRY OF GRATITUDE Friday, January
2, 2:00 P.M.
ORDINATION
IN KANSAS Saturday,
January 3 at 2 PM
MONTHLY
MASS in PALM COAST Saturday, January
10, 4:00 P.M. (USUALLY 2nd
Sat. each month) Hospitality follows. Place: 2 Westmill Ln., Palm Coast, FL 32164
INTERFAITH
THEOLOGY CLUB NOT MEETING THIS MONTH
MY MOM’S
90TH BIRTHDAY! January 15
MONTHLY
PRAYER TIME AND COMMUNION Thursday, January 15 from
7:00 to 8:15 PM at 2 Westmill Ln., Palm Coast
ORDINATIONS
IN ORLANDO Saturday,
January 17
CASTLE
OTTTIS – INTERFAITH WORSHIP AND COMMUNION SERVICE Sunday, January25, 10:00 AM
at 103 3rd Street St.
Augustine See http://www.castleotttis.com/
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