Thanks everyone!  My Mom was a GRAND lady (as ALL mothers are, right...!!!) and handled her battle with COPD as best anyone could expect and outlived repeated projections of her timeline.  The fall and break of her hip on Monday morning was just more than her body could deal with.  But, in true Norwegian stubborness, she stayed with us until my three sisters and I could all make it to her bedside.  Within an hour of us getting there she passed away as quietly and peacefully as any one of us could ever hope for.

We'll be celebrating her life on Monday afternoon with a memorial service at Prince of Peace Lutheran Church in La Crescent, MN.  I know many of you have asked about what you can do so I'll ask that you do a couple of things. 

First, give a donation to your church's or community's outreach program that ministers to the elderly.  It is an important ministry that is grossly underfunded and needs far outstretch resources. 

Second, as stingrayjim posted above, if your Mom is still with us give her HUGE hug.    If she is over 80 years young give her another one as her generation has lived through more change and hell than we have to date!    And if she has passed on to the next life take a bouquet of flowers in her honor to the nearest nursing home - they will be most appreciated, believe me!

Thanks again for all the thoughts and prayers...!!!  I, and all my family, truely do appreciate it!  I've said it before, and will continue to say so, the C3VR family is absolutely, positively THE BEST...!!!

Well Jim,

"You take the good, and you take the bad, and there you ahve, my opening statement."
-Peter Griffen Family Guy

Sorry for your loss Jim, good wishes I the future. Your C3VR brothers are here for you.

new77guy38674.5675578704

Jim:

Sounds like she was a great lady - She would have wanted all of you to cellebrat her life   not morn her passage to a better life

Keep the faith and let us know if we can do anything

You are all in our prayers

Big Al

Jim,

 Michele and I are sadden to hear your mom passed on. We will keep you and your family in our thoughts and prayers. I you need anything, just give us a shout. Take care and God Bless my friend.

Sarge

Damn Jim...this year has been pretty unkind to you and yours. I'm so sorry to hear about your loss.

Matt

Jim,
Sad to hear of your loss and happy to hear of the Lords gain of his newest angel. I will be seeing my mother this Sunday for a family Thanksgiving gathering. I will be more than happy to honor your request of a hug given. We need to all live each day as if it were our last. God bless...

Jim,
I'm very sorry about your parents passing. I'm sure they'll continue to watch over you from above.
Bill

Thanks everyone.  We celebrated her life in style yesterday with lots of hugs and tears.  Both Mom and Dad have passed on to the next life and I'm sure they're doing just fine.  Hopefully when my time comes I can approach it with the same diginty and grace they did.

Sorry to hear the sad news. My condolences to you and your family.

Jim, I am sorry for your loss. But the good Lord will take care of her and you will meet her again.