JPR

A few weeks ago my dear, sweet aunt Janet passed away from ALS disease. We knew it was coming but never thought it would happen so soon. I have never had anyone really close to me die before, so this was a new, painful experience. 

I was at work, one more hour left of my 12 hour shift, when I had a feeling to call Jesse, who was at an overnight ROTC camp. He said he was just about to call me and tell me that Janet had passed away. Apparently my mom had got ahold of him and said she was going to come to work and tell me in person. I was in shock; then instantly started bawling, finding my boss, and telling her I needed to go home. I made it to the Rife's right after Janet's body was taken away… the whole family sat together, hugging, crying, and talking. We were all feeling so many emotions, especially Rich, my uncle, and all my cousins. The days went on. We watched and played with all the kids so the Rife's could plan the funeral. Michael came home just in time for the viewing. 

The funeral was incredibly beautiful, which is how Janet wanted it to be. The spirit was so strong the entire time. Rich and the girls gave wonderful talks, tributes to their wife and mother. I couldn't help but cry the whole time. It was a new type of cry, and sadness, I have never experienced. I am so grateful to know that families are together forever. It's trials like this that remind you of that. I cannot even imagine what it feels like to the Rife family, Janet's immediate family. 

Janet is someone I hope I can be like one day. Someone I have always looked to as an example of a loving wife, mother, grandmother, and Christ-like qualities. I loved Janet's quirks; the things she loved, how she said each person has their own color, same with the days of the week, how beautiful her home always was. I feel so sad for Rich and the family's loss… I cannot even imagine losing my spouse or mother. I know everyone on earth is mourning her loss, but heaven sure received an angel when she passed. I cannot even imagine how happy and excited Janet was to get out of her body that was slowly dying while her spirit was so alive! 

I am grateful my family has lived just down the street from the Rife family our entire lives. Janet would have done anything for me, I know that. She even breast fed me once when I was little, for heaven sakes! ;)  I love you Janet, always will, and will forever look to you as an example.

Janet put this poem on her blog a little while after she found out about her disease. I read it in a talk I gave in sacrament a few weeks back, talking about being grateful for what we have, even when those things are perfect.

ALS is so limited… 

it cannot cripple love

 it cannot shatter hope 

it cannot corrode faith 

it cannot destroy peace 

it cannot kill friendship

 it cannot suppress memories

 it cannot silence courage 

it cannot invade the soul

 it cannot steal eternal life 

it cannot conquer the spirit.

Janet endured her trial faithfully, courageously, and willingly. She never let it get her down, she was always smiling and wanting to serve the Lord. Now, that, is an incredible woman. 

 Janet was the ultimate "accessorizer". She always matched and looked good, no matter what. Janet told her daughters that when she passed, she wanted her family and friends to have her accessories to remember her by. I love wearing her earrings, bracelets, and scarves to remind me of her. Everyone wore her favorite color to the funeral, navy. 

 Matching bracelet to go with the earrings, of course! :) 

 My sweet daddy saying bye to his second sibling who passed away:( 

The beautiful, strong, loving Rife family 

 JPR. In loving memory, indeed.