Elva R. Zaugg

25 May 1919 to 1 October 2012

I pay tribute to one of our Heavenly Father's choice daughters- my mom. (I may have to edit this a few times to get it right, but wanted to get something out there in the Cyber Sea as soon as I could- may add more pix as well.)

It has been a crazy couple weeks. It started about 2 weeks ago when my my mom fell off her walker while sitting on it. She wasn't hurt too badly, just kind of bruised her side a bit. My sister took her and my dad to the doctor for their normal checkups about a week later (on a Monday). Upon leaving the doctor, my dad was pushing her while she was sitting in her walker. For whatever reason, the stars were aligned- don't know, but he hit the threshold of the sliding door or something and the walker collapsed and she fell backwards, luckily not bumping her head too badly. My dad proceeded to fall on top of her and somehow she tore a 9x5 piece of skin off her leg. Luckily still at the doctor, they got her all patched up.

She seemed to be OK for the next few days, in some pain of course, but was able to get up and move around with her walker. My sister stayed with her and my dad until that Friday and I took over for her as she had to leave to go home to her family. She and I noticed that mom started getting worse with more pain and not able to do much for herself. I stayed with her Friday night and was up with her about every hour, probably because Dad was bothering her, being in the same bed (snores like no other). Fried, but duty not done, I was with them most of the day, Saturday, spelled off by a few brothers so I could do the yard work for the parents and myself. One of my brothers and I stayed with them on Saturday night but made Dad sleep in his own bed (which he had done since his operation last year). We were up with her a few times, not as much, but we could tell that she was in more pain because of her moaning, although she did rest better. My sister had phoned the doctor's office, the doctor on call said he could not prescribe any more pain meds without the regular doctor's permission and so we'd have to wait until Monday (what good is a doctor on call that can not look up medical records or even call the original doctor in times like these- what a troll). During these last few days, she did not want to get up to eat, only wanting to stay in bed. She did seem to perk up when we fed her, she not being able to do it herself.

Before my sister came back to help out, she texted all the siblings and families that live close and said it might be a good idea to come and see Grandma soon, so Sunday evening it was crawling with kids. We brought grandma out and fed her and many got to see her feeling a little better. She didn't say much, we got a "I love my family" out of her and she and Isla were waving back and forth a little bit. She was tired and we put her to bed. With my sister there, my one brother was wondering if he should stay over night again as I hadn't had much sleep for 48 hours, but I felt like I should for some reason. So, after the families went home, my sis and I got Dad to bed and helped Mom another time, about 10:30p, before we retired for the evening. She had been doing some laundry and I guess that woke me up at maybe 11:45p perhaps and I went in to check on Mom. I could hear her breathing, though it sounded a little more labored than usual and she wasn't moaning as much. Concerned, but not wanting to disturb her, I went back to bed. I just had this feeling though, that she not moaning like she had, that she wasn't going to last long... don't know why October 1st kept coming to mind. Later, I woke with a start- it was unbelievably quiet, almost eery quiet- could not hear a sound. I walked to Mom's door, could not hear her breathing so went in to check her. As I walked into her room, I checked the clock- it said 2:05a. I turned to check on her and there was my dear sweet mother, not breathing- I knew she was gone. So much more to this experience, but I keep them to myself as I treasure them so dearly.

We called all the siblings and told them, those that lived close came quickly and with more of us there, woke our father. It was a special time together. After the mortuary had taken Mom's body away, we all sat in the living room and talked and shared memories. As I thought about my mom, I had a thought of her, looking as she does in the younger picture above (wedding picture), laughing, dancing and jumping with her sisters that have passed before her. What a reunion it must have been with her parents, sisters and brothers on the other side!

The Viewing and Funeral
I wasn't sure if many people would come, because most of mom and dad's friends have already died. But their friend's children came. I was going up and down the line with other sibs as a couple others would stay with my dad at the casket. For over 2 hours, I had the wonder opportunity to talk with so many old friends and neighbors that they had when I was a kid. It was great getting acquainted again, but they could not say enough of how they loved my mom and the kindness, happiness, and friendliness that she exemplified and how they'd miss her. I think I've heard most of the stories my sibs have about her, but to hear the stories and thoughts that these people had that I had never heard before, was priceless. I wish I could have written them down.

At the funeral the next day, all 11 of us kids took a few minutes each to say something about our mother- 30 seconds to 1 minute is what we were allotted. How was I to sum up what my mother meant to me in 1 minute? It was tough. I thought my sibs were gonna skin me as I timed my portion to be about 1.5 to 2 minutes long. So, let them get mad. We all had some wonderful things to say... why wouldn't we?

Here is a song that a couple of my brother's read the words to while my brother-in-law played the music on the piano. Dang, it's a tear-jerker... grab a hankie.

I dreamed I saw my dear old mother kissing me goodbye. And tho’ her heart was breaking and the tears shone in her eye, She whispered, “Please don’t let our parting grieve you anymore. But just remember, this is what God made all Mothers for. To watch over you when a baby, to sing you to sleep with her song. To try to be near you, to comfort and cheer you, To teach you the right from the wrong. To work day and night, to help win the fight, and over a million things more. To sigh for you, cry for you, yes, even die for you. That’s what God made mothers for.
That's What God Made Mothers For- Leo Wood

And just FYI, my remarks were the shortest of all the kids- can you believe it? I could have taken more time as they all did. Oh well, all together I think we gave a pretty good tribute to our sweet angel mother.

Mom, you were/are the best. What a supreme example of goodness and motherhood you have been to your family and all around you. If anyone has "made it", I know you have and I hope that I will also be able to join you some day. Here's a scripture that seems to fit right now:
"...I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day..." 2 Timothy 4:7,8

Mom, thank you for all you've done for me. I love you and will miss you. Until we meet again...