Celebration of the Life of Janet Woolington Simonson
July 10, 2011
Phil. 4:8-9
And now, brothers, as I close this letter let me say one more thing: Fix your thoughts on what is true and good and right. Think about things that are pure and lovely and dwell on the fine, good things in others. Think about all you can Praise God for and be glad about it. Keep putting into practice all you learned from me and saw me doing and the God of peace will be with you.”
These words were book marked and underlined in Janet’s Bible—the first verses I read shortly after she passed from this life. It, to me, embodied all I knew Janet to be in the 43 years I knew her as a mother-in-law, mentor and friend. These verses embodied especially what she shared with me the last week of her life.
I was privileged to be one of those to be able to be by Janet’s side in her last days, honored to share intimate moments with her and be enriched by her words of wisdom and abiding faith in Christ.
On Monday we thought we had lost her…I am convinced that on that day she was given a glimpse of Heaven. Later that day she was exclaiming, “WOW—WOW—WOW”. I asked, “What is WOW?” She responded, “It was so surprising, so surprising.” I asked her if she had gone somewhere. She quickly responded, “Yes”. I asked her to tell me about it and she told me, “There was Light, Light…and …Freedom”. I asked her if she thought she saw Heaven and with a tender smile she responded, “I think so…”.
Another time, as she was saying, “Let me go…please let me go”. In attempt to make sure we were not misunderstanding her intent, Rick asked, “Go where Mom?” She paused, almost incredulous, opened her eyes and in a firm voice said, “Heaven of course!!”
Janet had so much to share that last week:
* She told Carleen, “Love Makes the Path Straight.”
* She told my children, “Spread your talents around.”
* Of the little children, likely her favorite group of people, she said "The little children—they are the best—their minds are just discovering. I love the little children.”
One of her most fervent messages was, “Each One Teach One”. Over and over again she told us, “Each one teach one.” Seeming to want to be certain we got the message and it’s importance.
The day she was welcomed into Heaven, afterwards, I took a walk along the beach with my children. Stephen started digging for sand crabs. A young boy-about the age of 11- asked Stephen to teach him how to dig for sand crabs. Stephen took the time to teach him and be sure he was successful. We continued our walk and later returning to the same spot, we saw that same young boy teaching 2 younger boys to catch sand crabs! The 11 year old yelled to Stephen, “Look- I caught a big one!”
As the rest of us watched, we all said, “Each One Teach One…this one is for you Grandma!”
One of the times I was alone with her, she told me, as she was pulling off her oxygen mask, “Medicine is NOT an exact science.” She then chuckled slightly and I asked her, “Are you cracking yourself up?” Janet quipped back, “Sometimes you just have to crack yourself up!!!”
On Monday, when Janet was struggling through this transition of her life, I leaned close to her ear and quietly began to sing, “Amazing Grace.” And immediately she calmed and began singing along with me, knowing words and verses I had forgotten. She sang from the depths of her soul. For the next four days that song carried her through. At times of agitation we learned that she was asking for us to sing “Amazing Grace” again. In the last hours of her life, when she could hardly speak- her voice still rang clear with the words, “And Grace Will Lead me Home.”
She prayed often those last days and asked often for prayer. “Take my Hand, set me Free” she would pray. Jesus was her Light. She asked Him to show her “The Way” and He did. She wanted her family to know of her Faith in Jesus Christ, her Lord and Savior. He is the LOVE that makes the crooked path straight.
I was with Janet, holding her hand, as she drew her last breath- peacefully in the Huntington Beach condo she so longed to return to, --- the Grace of God Led Her Home.
How deeply pleased Janet, Great Janet, Grandma Janet, Mother, Sister and Friend, would be to hear her Great Granddaughter Madeline, Granddaughter Mary Rose, son-in-law Robert Henry and Grandson Deven Simonson sing “Amazing Grace”. Listen prayerfully to the words. They are her words and her message to all of us from a wonderful woman who lived her own life with “Amazing Grace.”
July 10, 2011
Phil. 4:8-9
And now, brothers, as I close this letter let me say one more thing: Fix your thoughts on what is true and good and right. Think about things that are pure and lovely and dwell on the fine, good things in others. Think about all you can Praise God for and be glad about it. Keep putting into practice all you learned from me and saw me doing and the God of peace will be with you.”
These words were book marked and underlined in Janet’s Bible—the first verses I read shortly after she passed from this life. It, to me, embodied all I knew Janet to be in the 43 years I knew her as a mother-in-law, mentor and friend. These verses embodied especially what she shared with me the last week of her life.
I was privileged to be one of those to be able to be by Janet’s side in her last days, honored to share intimate moments with her and be enriched by her words of wisdom and abiding faith in Christ.
On Monday we thought we had lost her…I am convinced that on that day she was given a glimpse of Heaven. Later that day she was exclaiming, “WOW—WOW—WOW”. I asked, “What is WOW?” She responded, “It was so surprising, so surprising.” I asked her if she had gone somewhere. She quickly responded, “Yes”. I asked her to tell me about it and she told me, “There was Light, Light…and …Freedom”. I asked her if she thought she saw Heaven and with a tender smile she responded, “I think so…”.
Another time, as she was saying, “Let me go…please let me go”. In attempt to make sure we were not misunderstanding her intent, Rick asked, “Go where Mom?” She paused, almost incredulous, opened her eyes and in a firm voice said, “Heaven of course!!”
Janet had so much to share that last week:
* She told Carleen, “Love Makes the Path Straight.”
* She told my children, “Spread your talents around.”
* Of the little children, likely her favorite group of people, she said "The little children—they are the best—their minds are just discovering. I love the little children.”
One of her most fervent messages was, “Each One Teach One”. Over and over again she told us, “Each one teach one.” Seeming to want to be certain we got the message and it’s importance.
The day she was welcomed into Heaven, afterwards, I took a walk along the beach with my children. Stephen started digging for sand crabs. A young boy-about the age of 11- asked Stephen to teach him how to dig for sand crabs. Stephen took the time to teach him and be sure he was successful. We continued our walk and later returning to the same spot, we saw that same young boy teaching 2 younger boys to catch sand crabs! The 11 year old yelled to Stephen, “Look- I caught a big one!”
As the rest of us watched, we all said, “Each One Teach One…this one is for you Grandma!”
One of the times I was alone with her, she told me, as she was pulling off her oxygen mask, “Medicine is NOT an exact science.” She then chuckled slightly and I asked her, “Are you cracking yourself up?” Janet quipped back, “Sometimes you just have to crack yourself up!!!”
On Monday, when Janet was struggling through this transition of her life, I leaned close to her ear and quietly began to sing, “Amazing Grace.” And immediately she calmed and began singing along with me, knowing words and verses I had forgotten. She sang from the depths of her soul. For the next four days that song carried her through. At times of agitation we learned that she was asking for us to sing “Amazing Grace” again. In the last hours of her life, when she could hardly speak- her voice still rang clear with the words, “And Grace Will Lead me Home.”
She prayed often those last days and asked often for prayer. “Take my Hand, set me Free” she would pray. Jesus was her Light. She asked Him to show her “The Way” and He did. She wanted her family to know of her Faith in Jesus Christ, her Lord and Savior. He is the LOVE that makes the crooked path straight.
I was with Janet, holding her hand, as she drew her last breath- peacefully in the Huntington Beach condo she so longed to return to, --- the Grace of God Led Her Home.
How deeply pleased Janet, Great Janet, Grandma Janet, Mother, Sister and Friend, would be to hear her Great Granddaughter Madeline, Granddaughter Mary Rose, son-in-law Robert Henry and Grandson Deven Simonson sing “Amazing Grace”. Listen prayerfully to the words. They are her words and her message to all of us from a wonderful woman who lived her own life with “Amazing Grace.”
I Love you ,
Sue
