Laurel's Wrap Up - Wed. Nov. 27, 2024.

It's Michael.

Hello everyone. For my (likely) last post on Laurel's page, I would like to offer a summary of our meeting up at Skylawn for the dedicatory prayer and of the memorial service at our chapel the day after.

Business:

-- For future reference, I will continue to monitor Laurel's FB page for a while. I do not really use Facebook so if you would like to contact me, please do so through Laurel's page and we can exchange email addresses.

-- A recording of the Zoom broadcast is available here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1FUF0wq1kJuPdV6mEfKoV4TV69x7aDdfq/view?ts=6742cb29

-- Last bit of business: I would like to retain all of these posts and comments. Besides leaving Laurel's page active, does anyone know an easy/efficient way to transfer this record to a Word or Google Document or somewhere else for sharing or for future reference?

The dedicatory prayer meeting was almost a disaster! This was only my second time at the Skylawn Mausoleum in the Sky, where our niche is located. The actual location of our niche is intimate and would not support a large group but I remembered a large room adjacent and had asked that chairs be set up there for us. Wellll, apparently I wasn't paying attention on my first visit and the large area I planned on using was actually open to the sky! Since it was raining cats and dogs, that was not going to work. Thankfully, we were able to meet in a large, interior hallway very near our niche.

I believe we had over 40 people come to Skylawn for the prayer. I was so grateful for this support. You were all so gracious and kind and loving and respectful. People came from near and far to support Laurel. So heartwarming on that very rainy day. After the short prayer (for information about this prayer: https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/manual/priesthood-ordinances-and-blessings/dedicating-graves?lang=eng), the group was able to file past our niche. Turns out I had also remembered the niche location incorrectly. Okay, I was probably not in my right mind as I was taking care of those details a couple months ago. After several people had passed by the wrong location, one told me there was a niche close by that had my name on it! Sure enough, I was one section off. Oops. So we got that right and people were able to see the accurate location of where Laurel (and later I) will be laid to rest. People lingered for a long time. Lots of chatting, laughter and love.

It was a wonderful, spiritual event and I think all were enriched by attending.

That Friday evening, a group met at our church building on Edgewood Rd. to prepare the room next to the chapel. We laid out some of Laurel's artwork, our urn, and many fun pictures of Laurel's life. Our Relief Society president is a flower whisperer and really did a magnificent job on centerpieces and on flowers for the chapel. I can't overstate how capable and easy to work with she was. And so was everyone else in attendance. Ward members had come to help, and family and friends. For what would normally be a sad time, this was truly a happy time. I'm sure Laurel was watching our coordinated efforts and was pleased and honored. The room came together perfectly, with artwork on one side, food tables on the other, and round tables with chairs down the center. It was so nice to get this done the evening before so that we could arrive the next day and just relax and enjoy the meeting.

I awoke Saturday morning still marveling over how surreal this whole thing has been. Right from the February 5, 2024 beginning until now. I look around the house and my rational mind knows Laurel is gone but my heart won't fully accept it. I miss her terribly but just as I begin to dip into sadness, I remember that we are sealed together, not "until death do you part", but for eternity, and my heart rejoices. The thought comforts me and excites me. When death comes, I won't dread it, I will know it as the final step before rejoining my sweetheart. And I yearn for that sweet, tender moment when we finally embrace once again.

Laurel's and my siblings and spouses gathered at 10:20am for a family prayer. The prayer was offered by a brother in law and was heartfelt and touching. Then we headed for the chapel to meet and greet attendees.

I want to thank everyone who attended. The chapel was full and so was the overflow behind. I'm told there were over 100 people watching via Zoom. Laurel really impacted a LOT of lives in her short time here. The mood was light and happy and the room was full of love for this very special person. There was some sadness but the overwhelming feeling was joy over knowing Laurel and gratitude over being called her friend. In fact, we had buttons that read: "I'm Laurel's Favorite!" and I know everyone genuinely felt that way. I received numerous kind condolences and much praise for my wonderful wife. With Laurel you really got what you saw. She did not have a work face and a church face and a home face. She was genuinely kind and Christ-like, all the time.

After the meeting, we adjourned to the large room off the chapel for conversation, reminiscing and delicious food provided by our Relief Society. Women of the RS, you are absolutely wonderful. So much goes on behind the scenes to make such events happen. Every time I attend a memorial service or funeral, I watch for the women who are just off stage, carefully watching, paying attention, making things go smoothly. It is a gift that you so freely give us. And it is so appreciated and so cherished. Thank you, thank you.

Laurel's many friends and acquaintances lingered for quite a while. Eventually we began taking the room down so that it would be ready for church the next day. This went smoothly, too, as people worked together, cheerfully folding chairs, putting tables away, putting food away, vacuuming. I think most of us didn't really want the event to end. But it did, and everyone headed back to their lives after this brief, beautiful time of remembering our friend, Laurel Redd Feddock.

FYI, The Redwood City 1st Ward is an exceptional group of people. If you've never visited a Latter-day Saint church meeting before, ours would be a great one to come to. 1475 Edgewood Rd., Redwood City, CA. Every Sunday at 10am we meet for an hour. We sing a couple songs, have a couple talks from members of our congregation who have been previously invited by our Bishop or one of his councilors, and we partake of the Sacrament. It's an uplifting, rebooting hour of peace from the noise and problems of today's world. The gospel was a very important part of Laurel's life and a very large part of who she was.

So, this is Michael. luckiest man in the world, closing this story of Laurel's cancer journey. Thank you for being such an integral part of it. Your comments, prayers, gifts, thoughts, ideas and presence have supported us, made us emotional, made us strong, and made us happy. May we all continue to support each other and pay attention to those around us who need the help that perhaps only we can provide. Laurel was a master at this and I'm sure our Heavenly Father has praised her for her efforts here.