These are notes from the funeral for Sybil Hadley on Feb 27, 2009 as remembered by Stephanie Simmons or Reese if you are Dan.
The very first thing that Steph told me about the funeral is that it was different than Uncle Fred’s. She proceeded to tell me that there were some tears and sadness at Uncle Fred’s funeral. But Aunt Sybil’s funeral was totally a going away party. A few of the grandkids, those who were teen-agers and younger, cried because they would miss grandma but most people were so excited to think that Uncle Fred and Aunt Sybil were together again and this time it was for eternity.
On the afternoon of, Sunday, February 22, 2009, Sybil’s breathing was labored. Diane called in the home health nurse who confirmed that Sybil’s health was failing and she wouldn’t live much longer.
In the evening, about 9:30, Diane was sitting by the bed talking with her mother. Diane told Sybil that she should go to Fred. She also told her to rest easy, it is ok. Right after Diane told her mother to rest easy, her breathing calmed down and she was relaxed. Sybil died a couple of hours after that at about 11:30-11:45. As Sybil took her last breath, Diane heard the bottom few steps creak. She knew that her dad was coming to get her mom. When Fred died, Sybil told him not to wait too long before he came back to get her.
The bishop had always told Diane that if she ever needed anything to call him no matter what time of day or night that it was. Diane called him late at night after Sybil died. He was expecting her call and was glad that she had called.
Sybil’s husband, Fred, died 11 days before she did. They were as close a couple as any. They did everything together and enjoyed each others’ companionship. Sybil was lost without Fred. Sybil was not able to live alone and take care of herself so she lived with Diane after Fred died. Sybil was ok with these arrangements for a few days and then she started getting anxious to go to her home. She did not want to wear out her welcome. Sybil told Diane that she didn’t want to be getting in Bill’s hair. Diane replied, ”Don’t worry mom, Bill doesn’t have much hair for you to get into.” Sybil also pointed out to Diane that a mother-in-law is like a dead fish; the longer you keep it around the more it begins to stink. Of course Bill had no problem at all with Sybil living with them.
Sybil’s mother was reading a book and came across the name Sybil. Her mother decided that that would be a good name for the baby that she was expecting. The book just happened to be a romance novel. How fitting a place to find her name because Sybil’s life became a romance story after she met Fred.
When Sybil was young, she was playing outside with her brother, Con. Sybil wondered if the lawn mower would cut paper. There was only one way to find out. She started up the lawn mower and held a piece of paper near the blade. Sure enough, it cut the paper. Unfortunately Sybil learned that it also cuts fingers. The end of Sybil’s finger was cut off. Sybil went inside and her mother bandaged up her finger for her. The next day, Sybil was again playing outside and she found the cut off end of her finger. She put it in a bottle and buried it in the back yard.
Diane said that her mother was her best friend when she was growing up. They played together all the time. They dressed up dolls together and then they would dress up the cats. Diane says that cats make good dolls.
Sybil always cussed about all the cats that were hanging around their house. But every night she insisted on feeding all the cats.
Every summer Sybil and Diane and one of the aunt’s, probably Sybil’s sister, would go to Cottonwood camping. They left the guys home working on the farm and they went up and enjoyed time together roughing it.
When Diane was young, her mother got fancy, new stainless steel sinks in the kitchen. Sybil insisted that the sinks be taken care of properly. Anytime anyone used the sinks, they were required to wipe them down and polish them when they were done. Diane said even if you just got a drink of water, you had to wipe down the sink. And no matter how hard she tried, she got caught every time when she tried to get away with not wiping them down. Her mother would call to her from the other room, “Diane, you wipe down that sink.”
Sybil had 2 microwaves, a small one and a larger one. She used them for storage.
Sybil loved to play games with the kids. She often organized coloring contests for the children. It turned into a stiff competition when the prize was one of grandma’s cherished Corn Flake cookies.
One day a couple of the grandsons were supposed to go to grandma’s right after school. One of the boys showed up on time but the other one didn’t come. Sybil waited and waited for him and started to get concerned. She would say, “Oh Lard where is that boy.” She also paced around and picked up pieces of lint off the floor. They said that if the boy had been a half hour later before he got there, she wouldn’t have had to vacuum the carpet that week. The kids teased her about “Oh Lard” after that. They kept bringing it up and laughing about her saying it.
One of her grandsons, in particular liked to tease Sybil a lot. She would give it right back to him. She always came up on top. He could never get the last word in.
Every year, Fred and Sybil would tell their family that this would probably be their last Christmas so everyone needed to come home for Christmas. Fourteen years ago Sybil told one of her grandsons that she wanted him to play “Because I Have Been Given Much” at her funeral. He had his mother buy him the music and he practiced it and practiced it and practiced it. And finally 14 years later, he was able to play it at his grandmother’s funeral.
One time Fred and Sybil were spending the night with one of their grandkids. The cat always went in the room to sleep with Sybil. The grandchild asked if she wanted them to put the cat out. She always said no and that the cat was ok.
One weekend Fred and Sybil visited one of their married grandkids who was going to school in Moscow, Idaho. They all went to Sacrament meeting together and then Fred and Sybil told the kids that they were going to leave early so they could get back to Downey. When the kids got home from church they soon found out that grandma and grandpa had lied to them. They had gone to the store and bought enough groceries to stock their bare shelves. They also had dinner ready to go.
Sybil was a very good cook. She was well known for her Corn Flake cookies. Diane tells about Thanksgiving dinners. Every year it was the same. Her mother would make the gravy and say that it was too thin and it didn’t taste as good as it should. Diane said that every year the gravy was delicious.
We are so fortunate to have the heritage of Uncle Fred and Aunt Sybil in our family.
I just have to make a note of how proud of myself I am. I was able to copy this over here from a word document that I did so I didn't have to type the whole thing up again. AND I didn't even have to call Lance and Molly for help. WOO HOO!!!!!!!!
