Ann Saaijenga

A special thanks to all who were so loving and kind to our family during Mom’s illness and passing.

Mom didn’t really die though. She lives on in the hand-made nativity scene beneath a tree full of ornaments which she fashioned from egg shells, bits of yarn, crocheted snowflakes, and bells. On many refrigerators, at one time or another, hung foam decorations or yarn butterflies that were the work of her hands.

Many of you have afghans and hand-made baby quilts from her. On dressers are embroidered scarves and lacey doilies. You may still have one of her “kitchen witches” or the little brown crocheted duck who lays jelly bean eggs when you squeeze its tummy.

She lives on in the many cabbage patch type dolls she sewed, one of which is with her for eternity.

Mom is still with us when we use the many recipes she shared, including the caramel corn. Seems only yesterday many of us were offered a cup of coffee and a sandwich by her. She knew how to turn simple food into a great meal. Only three and a half weeks before she left us, she was still “chief cook and bottle washer” in her home.

Many will remember Mom when they see a lush, well-tended garden. For over seventy years she had a hand in growing everything from melons to hundreds of African violets and she readily shared. Many will remember buying eggs from her. People got eggs but they also got fellowship and probably a cookie or a slip from a plant.

Mom was a recycler long before it became fashionable. How many outgrown dresses and left-over scraps of fabric were turned into toasty quilts, most given away as gifts!

Mom lives on when you think of clock raffle tickets at the Threshing Show. She so looked forward to those shows and was so very proud of being selected queen in 1978. We felt she should wear her tiara for her memorial service (She was every inch a queen throughout her life.), and the tiara is, once again, packed away in tissue because her dream was for her three granddaughters to wear or carry it at their weddings. She was able to see Lori do this. Now the tiara and Grandma are waiting for more weddings. So, you see, even in this, Mom lives on.

She loved her five grandkids so much and even kept an old atlas handy to track just where their travels took them. They, in turn, brought her more pinecones for her collection. You may remember the big mound of cones and tiny lights every Christmas on her dining room table. If so, you can see her whenever you stoop to pick up a cone.

Most of all, Mom’s spirit lives on in you who were her friends, neighbors, and relatives. Every time you lend a hand or send a card, a part of Mom is there too. I have this vision of Mom and her God smiling on all of us.

Thank you for being a part of her life!

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