That next morning after dad died Ben and I got the kids off to school and then Erica took me to the airport. It was snowing but we made it out of there 🙂 And I was headed off to be with Mom and with anyone else that could break away and be together and be sad together and start to plan a funeral.

It was amazing how quickly word spread about Dad. So many people knew the night of and by the next morning people were calling and texting and leaving things on the porch!

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Kelsey and I flew together in First Class! And it worked out for Josh and Mal to come pick us up. From the airport we went straight to the Oroville Cemetery to pick a plot for dad! And then to Sheer Memorial Mortuary to make Funeral plans!

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After all the planning – realizing that we couldn’t have the funeral on the next Monday or right away on Friday – We got everything set for the next Friday the 26th! Kind of far away but that was what seemed to work. After the errands we went to Kevin and Liz’s house where people had tons of food waiting for us and moms friends were across the street at the Stutzneggers waiting to hug her and Bishop Avila was getting in to town about 8pm and could come finalize the church part of the Funeral plans.

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We went back to Sacramento that evening and I slept over at Moms Condo with Christy, Kelsey, Mom and Michael. Tracie and Ryan and Josh all went home. On Thursday we got a few things done at the Condo and put aside for the funeral. We called and ordered a casket spray and flowers and we played a game of Five Crowns in dads honor. We stopped at the store for a few things and That evening we went over to Tracies house. The Friends – Dee and Pam and Susan brought us some delicious enchiladas and stayed and visited. They also brought a wind chime and several fruit trees in dads honor. On Friday we looked through old pictures and then we went over to do lunch and get things fixed up at the new house so that we could move mom and Michael over to that house the next day!

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And then on Saturday Christy and Rob rented a BIG moving truck and everyone came and helped move them out of the condo! (and we celebrated Shae’s birthday) It took 2 big truckloads! And we got the Condo almost empty! and almost clean! and the new house almost set up!

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We ordered some Burgers and Fries and had time to sit around and finalize some funeral plans and work on the Eulogy and make sure that we were on track for a Friday Funeral.

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It was a little sudden to get Mom and Michael moved but we had so many helping hands and people wanting to be together and it just made sense to get it done. They were originally planning on moving out of the Condo in Feb anyway, before the Covid crazy – so it was good to get it done. Hopefully it didn’t feel to sudden and rushed for them.

On Sunday morning Kelsey drove me to the airport and I headed back to be with my family and get them packed up to come out for the funeral in a few days. It was very healing to be there with my mom. It was nice to just be in that moment and away from all responsibilities!

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