I know I already wrote some nice memories of my Grandma Teerlink, but I wanted to share about her passing. She was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in the Fall of 2014. We knew her time was short, but really had no idea of what kind of time frame we were looking at. We continued to go to ice cream on Sunday evenings when time would allow us to go. We have a lovely anniversary dinner with them in March, at which time she still seems completely healthy on the outside. One would never have guessed the struggle her body was going through on the inside. One particular Sunday, that came after an over scheduled week, both David and I have received strong impressions that we needed to go to ice cream that night. Neither one of us really felt up to going, but we did not want to ignore a prompting that both of us had gotten! That turned out to be the last time we had ice cream with Grandma.
The Thursday before she passed away, I took the time to go over and visit with her. I had not seen her since she had taken a turn for the worse. Up until this point, she never even seemed sick to me. So, seeing her in her current state came as a big shock to me. Dallin visited with Great Grandpa Teerlink, while I went and sat with Grandma.
I had never seen her without her wig on.... she was weak and sometimes unresponsive, but we were still able to have some great conversation. She asked that I would do her nails for her.
Although a small act of service, this is one I will never forget! We sat quietly and I slowly attended to each fingernail. I studied those hands that have served so many throughout her lifetime. And I felt honored to beautify them in my own small way. These hands have baked, sewed, comforted, reprimanded, crocheted, painted, cleaned and given a lifetime of service.
By Sunday, she was not doing well at all. We gathered as a family around her bed. She could not speak at all, and seemed so much different from just the 3 days before when I had last seen her. Up until this day, I had not cried at all. But I was unable to hold back any tears the night I saw her dying. The feeling in the room was one I can not describe. Also, my dad.... the strongest man I know, was a puddle of tears. All I could do was put my arms around him and hold him and let him sob tears of sorrow onto me. We were able to find comfort in singing primary songs! We sang lovely songs about mothers and families and the love of our Savior. What comfort those songs can bring in times of sorrow and grief! Gathered that night were my parents and my sister Sarah, Becky and Joe McIntyre with their daughter Jenny, Tom and Tamora Teerlink with their daughter Savannah and of course Grandpa.
She did not actually passed away until Tuesday evening. My parents had come over to Aliza's school concert and then out for a treat with us. I later received notice from my dad that she was gone. I felt a little guilty that my dad had spent the evening with us and not at his mothers bedside. He did make it home for her final breaths, but I wish he could have had more time that evening with her.
The viewing and funeral were all beautiful. And it was so nice to have a mini family reunion! That was the rose to our thorn bush. So many family members were able to make it. We all wore pink because that was Grandma's favorite color!
My Young Women's adviser, Debbie Newill, was there! I hadn't seen her since high school.
I tried to get a decent family picture, but all the events were long and tiring for such little kids....
These girls are some of the strongest, most amazing women that I know. Jenny McIntyre Whiting, Kristen McIntyre Ellis and Kim McIntyre with my sister Sarah and myself sandwiched in the middle.
Grandma's beautiful hands one last time, with the nails that I had painted. And my Grandpa told me you never bury a women with her expensive jewelry on! So that is a "replacement wedding ring". What a remarkable woman! And it's still unbelievable to me that she is gone.
Nadine TeerlinkNadine Pulver Teerlink
graduated from the school of mortal life on Tuesday, May 19, 2015 at her
home, with family attending. She was 84 years old.She was born on May
16, 1931 in Bellflower, California, daughter of Stirley Frisby Pulver
and Wanda Annette Beus Pulver.She was married to her longtime
sweetheart, Wilford John Teerlink for 62 years. An active member of The
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, she served throughout her
lifetime in the Children's Primary and Women's Relief Society programs.
She was the church organist for over 50 years. She later served in the
Washington D.C. Temple for 12 years. She was also active in numerous
community organizations including the American Red Cross Blood Mobile,
Waynesboro Hospital Auxiliary, Meals on Wheels, Disciple's Kitchen, and
directed a beginning sewing class at Southern Virginia University for 10
years. She loved a beautiful yard with lots of flowers and enjoyed
hobbies in sewing, cooking, crocheting, and knitting. She handmade
hundreds of baby blankets for grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and
friends.She was preceded in death by her parents; son, Kenneth John
Teerlink; and sister-in-law, Lois Pulver.Surviving are her husband,
Wilford John Teerlink; children, Craig and wife Elizabeth, of Cedar
Hills, Utah, Rebecca and husband Joseph McIntyre, of Bridgewater, Brian
and wife Becki Teerlink, and Thomas and wife Tamora Teerlink, of
Waynesboro, Randall and wife Susan Teerlink, of Mechanicsville, Liesl
and husband Ray Lockhart, of Covington, and Regina and husband Carl
"Skip" Irwin III, of Surry. She is also survived by 27 grandchildren and
43 great-grandchildren with five more expected this year; and her
siblings, Stirley Pulver, Keith and wife Gwen Pulver, Carolyn and
husband James Linnell, all of Utah.A funeral service will be held at 2
p.m. on Wednesday, May 27, 2015 at The Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter-day Saints in Waynesboro, with Bishop Steve Smith officiating.
Burial will follow at Augusta Memorial Park. Pallbearers will be her
grandsons and grandsons-in-law.The family will receive friends from 6
until 8 p.m. on Tuesday, May 26, 2015 at McDow Funeral Home, and at the
church one hour prior to the service.In lieu of flowers, donations can
be made to the American Diabetes Association, P.O. Box 11454,
Alexandria, VA 22312; or the American Cancer Society, P.O. Box 22718,
Oklahoma City, OK 73123.Condolences and memories may be shared with the
family at www.mcdowfuneralhomeinc.com.
