Mom’s funeral was beautiful Yesterday. She looked so peaceful in her white clothing. Wish everyone could have been here with us.

The rain passed through quicker than expected and though it was a little cool at the cemetery, we still had a large group of family, friends and loved ones who were there to celebrate her life at the funeral and then joined us at the cemetery where Richard read a poem that had been written by Keith and the gravesite was dedicated.

Attached are copies of the funeral program, the obituary that was put in the paper, and the life history and talk that were given at the funeral. Robin was sweet enough to read the life history and Arden gave the talk. Both did a great job.

Thanks to all of you for your love and support over the past few weeks. We are grateful for the peace and comfort we have felt as a result of your many thoughts and prayers on our behalf. We hope everyone has enjoied our efforts to share mom's last experiences. And: 

We love you all, All y'all,

Capri and Arden, Chris and Steve, Kim and Stacey, Kimberlee (and Keith), Rowland and all of the Hamilton and Hargett families

 

P.S. I have copies of the Funeral Program, both of the talks and the Obituary. Unfortunately The Blog has it's limits and I am not able to post them here: https://www.dropbox.com/home#!/home/Mary%20Lou's%20Funeral

Hello All.

While the last 48 hours have been nothing short of exhausting for all of us, the outpouring of love and concern for our family has been nothing short of AMAZING!

We spent the afternoon today with Dad at the funeral home making arrangements for the final services to honor the incredible life of our Mother and wanted to share them here with you.

Friends and Family are invited to join us in gathering to pay your respects to our Mother at the visitation reception:

Public Visitation:
Thursday evening, April 4th, 2013
6:00 - 8:00 PM
Pollock ~ Best Funeral Home
2015 Neuse Boulevard
New Bern, NC 28560
(252) 637-5111
Funeral Director, Mr. Larry Jernigan

There will be a Family visitation held in the Relief Society room of the LDS Church one hour before the funeral service. All members of our family are welcome to join us in that hour.  Funeral Service to follow immediately afterward in the Chapel.

Family Visitation:
Friday morning, April 5th, 2013
10:00 - 10:45 AM (Doors will close at 10:45 to allow time for a private final prayer with our Mother.)
(LDS) Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints/ New Bern Ward
1207 Forest Drive
New Bern, N.C. 28562

Funeral Service:
Friday Morning, April 5th 2013
11:00 AM in the Chapel at the same LDS Church as above.

Procession and Interment Ceremony:
Immediately following the Funeral service. (begins at apx 12:30PM)
Procession from the Church service to the Hamilton Family Plot in the Bridgeton Cemetery,
Highway 55, East Across the river, left to Half Moon Road (across from Broad Creek Road) Enter grounds at first left after turning onto Half Moon.

We look forward to sharing the days ceremonies with you and again, greatly appreciate your generous support of our family in this difficult time.

The Hamilton Family
(Nite everyone)

Mary Louise Hargett Hamilton
April 13, 1935 - April 1 2013 7:30 AM

Mom went peacefully in her sleep this morning.  We are grateful that she is finally at peace and resting comfortably, eternally.

We will be making the final arrangements in the next day or two and will post the details on this page as soon as we have them to share.

Thank you to all of you for your interest, concern and especially for the love you have shared with us.

I assure you, she heard all of your messages and was grateful to hear from you.

Much Love to all of you,

The Hamilton Family

Arden, Lisa and Lauren (Capri's family) arrived yesterday and are spending time with us today.

Kimberlee Hamilton (Keith's wife and our dear sister) came in late last night as well.

Lisa was inspired to read the scriptures to her this afternoon and chose the story of Enoch and the City of Zion.  A City that chose to follow the teachings of God and thus remained pure in their hearts.  According to their faith, God blessed the entire city to be taken up to heaven and inherit eternal life.

In Lisa's words:

"It was a very powerful and touching time for me to hold her hand and know that she may be taken up into heaven at any given moment.  I pray, as she prepares to leave this world, that she will travel peacefully and be received with open arms.  I love her so much and feel so blessed to know that our family can be together forever."

A dear and sweet friend of our parents wrote a letter to them over the holidays with some very kind words for our family.  We spoke to her by phone this morning and she asked us to share it with you.  Here are her words:

Dear Rowland and Mary Lou,

Actually, I would like to direct this letter to your family:

Have Rowland or Mary Lou ever told you how they met me? The memories should include the first time I showed up for Church on a Saturday thinking it was Sunday.  It was a forty mile trip for me and I was just happy to have found the building.  Yes, I did wonder at the few automobiles in the parking lot.  That was our initial meeting and their first clue about my head injury that results sometimes in aberrant behaviors.

Their first home visit to me was no less interesting.  They searched and searched through the boondocks  of Pamlico County.  They finally found my tiny 18' trailer in an uncultivated field.  The weeds were knee high or higher.  They had the look of Moses as they parted their way through my weeds.  There wasn't room to visit inside, so we went outside being eaten alive by a swarm of mosquitoes.

Ever since then, they have been there for me for every illness, crisis and heartache of my life. I consider them two of the finest people I have ever met and deserving of the designation "Latter Day Saints".

They are also held in beloved regard by their fellow church members.  Sometimes we don't realize that close ones may be exceptional individuals. FYI - your parents , grandparents, etc., are two of those people. Cherish them as I do.

Respectfully, 
Linda Bennett

Thank You, Linda for your kind words about our parents.  We know that they have been generously giving of their time, energy and faith to everyone they have ever known, since before we were born.  It is so nice to hear the experiences of some of those they have touched over the years.

Mom stayed in bed today.  Her vital signs are beginning to weaken and she is less responsive, when she does talk it is difficult to understand.  The hospice nurse thinks she only has two or three days left to be with us. We appreciate your continued prayers on her behalf.

Capri's husband Arden and daughters Lisa and Lauren arrived and were able to spend some quiet time with Mom.  Kimberly (Keith's wife) is scheduled to arrive tomorrow.

On a personal note I am comforted that she is leaving us at Easter time, because it will be impossible for me to remember her passing without also thinking of the Resurrection.  Christ conquered death for us all, and our separation from her is only temporary.  

Stacey

Chris Here.

We had a busy day yesterday and didn't have time to post.  Not to worry, that doesn't necessarily mean there's anything wrong, just that we didn't have spare time to post the events of the day.

Adam spent the day in the yard helping pick up the pine straw piles that accumulated over the winter and making sure the trash and recycle got picked up and are under control once more (we missed pickup day last week).  He has been a great help around the house the last couple days.

Mom had a rougher night last night than previous nights.  She was startled awake and got all our attention at her bedside. As we got her settled down and relaxed a little, she asked us in her very candid Mary Lou style "Am I holding up the funeral?"

She was very tired and was not able to get up to sit up with us this morning in the Living Room as she has in previous mornings.  Our most incredible Hospice Nurse, Sabrina, came in for an unscheduled check up. While her heart is still beating strongly, Mom's vital signs had slowed overnight and she is showing signs of weakening. As Sabrina was leaving, she told Mom she was in good hands.  Mom replied, "I am in the two most perfect hands possible."  Not sure Sabrina has had a patient bring her from laughter to tears as often as Mom has so far.