The Funeral

A viewing was held the night before and the morning of the funeral.  My mom set up beautiful displays of my grandmother's life covering so many aspects of her life.

My grandmother's brother is President Packer from the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. He presided over and spoke at the funeral along with Elder Russell M. Nelson. Both of their remarks were lovely and very sweet.  I absolutely balled my way through Uncle Boyd's.  He spoke about being the last remaining sibling of their family and what a wonderful sister, wife, mother, and grandmother she was. Elder Nelson read part of Psalm 31 and discussed what a virtuous woman she was.

But my favorite speaker was my mom.  She talked about the "playlist" of her mother and the songs she will always remember when she thinks of her mother and the importance that music played in her life. It was really beautifully written.

After the funeral in Sandy, we headed up to Brigham City for the graveside service.

The Grandsons served as pallbearers.

 

Kevin's maternal great grandmother and her family are also buried in Brigham City and are only "down the road" from the Packers.

Kevin's great grandma Siggard died only a few months before my grandpa died and was buried here. 

It was special finding his family so close to mine.

Interesting Fact - the large pillar in the background is the resting place of President Lorenzo Snow and his family.

After the graveside service, we were treated to an ice cream social complete with Packer favorites vanilla, chocolate, and lemon custard. 

The kids got cones and the adults indulged in a bit more :)

There had been rain off and on during the afternoon and at the cemetery, but when we got back to the hotel there was a full double rainbow waiting just for us.

I like to think Grandma Donna would have loved being honored that way :)

Grandma Donna

Donna Zola Packer Swiss
June 25, 1921 ~ August 8, 2013

On August 8, 2013, Donna Zola Packer Swiss, age 92, our dear Mother, grandmother, great grandmother, completed her experience in mortality and returned to the eternal realms to join Dad, who has been there since June of 2000. Mother was born in Corinne, UT on June 25, 1921, to Ira Wight and Emma Jensen Packer. She was the 8th of 11 children. She was the last of the girls and would be a great help in raising her three younger brothers, Doyle, Boyd and Bill. Soon after her birth, the family moved to the home at 627 South Main Street, in Brigham City, UT. It would be home for her through her childhood and school years. Later the family moved uptown to an apartment over the family business “Packer Motor Company.” 

During the early years of WWII, Mother worked at the new army hospital in town. Bushnell Hospital was a rehabilitation center for amputees coming from the war. It was there she met Alfred Stanley Wisniewski Swiss. He was helping build the hospital and on his way to combat as a surgical tech. Their love blossomed at the USO Dances and many nights of roller skating. Al would eventually find his way to Okinawa during the closing stages of the war. Before he left for combat he fashioned a ring for her finger, being a talented metal worker and craftsman. It was a promise ring until they could save enough for a real diamond. They were married Oct. 5, 1946. Her younger brother Boyd was the best man and would later perform their sealing in the Logan temple in 1963, after Al became a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. 

Al was a commercial fisherman and worked the waters of Alaska with several of his brothers. Al and Donna purchased their first boat, the “AK”, where they worked together until Mom decided that being sea sick and pregnant was not a good combination. She spent the balance of that year working in a cannery on shore, in Sitka AK. Ralph Edwin, first of their four children was born the following April. Dale Alfred, Gerald (Jerry) Robert and their girl, Jeanette Verna followed. Their little family settled in northern Seattle, WA until late 1958, when they moved to Eureka, in Northern CA. Mother lived there in the same home for the next 52 years. 

Mom was a consummate mother, homemaker, cook, seamstress, scouter, teacher, and organizer. She was also an expert at family history record keeping genealogy. She could do anything from fix a cut knee to paint a home. She loved to sing and became well known in Eureka as part of a singing group of six women from the local LDS Ward. Mom served in the LDS Church in every possible position, sometimes two or three times. The ultimate statement was being ward primary president in her late 60’s and serving as a Cub Scout webelo den leader in her 70’s. She was scout committee chairman and advancement chairman in her 80’s. 

Mom and Dad loved scouting. She helped start a Cub Scout pack in Seattle, WA, in 1957 and served in scouting in many roles for the balance of her life. She received the first Silver Beaver Award given to a woman in the Redwood Area Council, BSA, in 1975, and was later honored for over 50 years of service. Her sons, grandsons, son-in-laws and grandsons-in-laws, total 23 eagle scouts. In 2012 she was named an “Influential Woman In Scouting” by the Great Salt Lake Council, BSA. At the time of her death she was a member of the executive board of the Great Salt Lake Council, BSA. 

Of all the tributes that could be said, Mom loved to serve people. She had an eye for those in need, especially young mothers who needed a helping hand and coaching on the challenges of raising children and making a home. There are uncounted numbers who benefited from her willingness to share. Most of all was her great testimony of the Redeemer, Jesus Christ. She was a quiet anchor to many, many people. 

She is survived by her family, Ralph and Tisha Swiss, Sandy, UT; Dale and Carolyn Swiss, Tucson, AZ; Gerald (Jerry) and Kathy Swiss, Orem, UT; Perry and Jeanette Chapman, Yorba Linda, CA; brother, Boyd K. and Donna S. Packer, Salt Lake City, UT and sisters in law Lou Jean S. Packer, Farmington, UT and Beverly C. Packer, Bringham City, UT. Sisters Also Bob and Carole Melanson and family of Alpine UT who have been “adopted” family members for 40 years. 23 direct and adopted grandchildren, 48 direct and adopted great-grandchildren. 

To all who knew her well we express thanks for being part of her life and wish we could share again in her homemade bread and home canned tuna.

Nana's, Grandma's, and Sandy

My poor kids slept all over the place on our month long trip!

Nana's, Steve's, Tahoe, Grandma's, and at a hotel in Sandy...for all that moving around, they really did a great job! 

We had so much fun getting out our old toys and playing together. While Colin played "house," I restored some of my old Barbie's hair!! (not pictured, but glorious!)

The night before we left for Utah, both of the kids refused to fall asleep and so I sat them next to Papa to watch golf on TV - it got them both nice and tired!

("Papa, where's the ball? Where's the hole? Where's the flag? What's he doin'?" over, and over, and over again!)

Kevin had flown back to Dallas after Tahoe and flew in to Vegas, where I picked him up on the way to Utah. We spent the weekend in Cedar City with his family before headed up to Sandy for the funeral.

After the family viewing, we all grabbed dinner together. Pei Wei, Five Guys, and amazing weather! I love Utah!

After the funeral and internment, we stopped at Kevin's Grandma Petty who lives in Brigham City.  We didn't give her much notice, so we were glad we could see her!

  

It may seem weird to get together to play games after a funeral, but Grandma Donna would have approved :)

At family gatherings, games with the cousins was always customary!

Lake Tahoe Boating Time!

Lake Tahoe has the most beautiful blue water!  It is as clear and blue as the Caribbean but you don't have the stinging saltwater.  The only problem is that the water is might chilly!

Of course, we didn't let that stop us from having a blast on it!

Poor Colin ate so many Cheetos Puffs, he went it to a sort of haze!

Shana was the undisputed queen of tubing!

But the rest of us didn't do so bad either!

Yep, that's me catching some awesome air!

My mom rocks!!

 Cody was very brave and went twice!  This is a boy who wouldn't even get his face wet when swimming a few months ago! Thanks to swimming lessons with Nana, he's no longer afraid of the water!

Such a great day!