Grandma Jeanne

This was the last picture I took with Jeanne New Years Eve 2015.

For 3 weeks my Step-Grandma Jeanne was in the hospital.  She has been healthy for most of her life.  She was lucky in that she didn't have to suffer for long.  It was interesting that when I was leaving from being home for Christmas the thought came to me that this could be the last time I see her alive.  Isn't that crazy.  The little pieces of inspiration that come our way.  I had the nice opportunity to talk to her on the phone and while I talked to her, my brother was recording our conversation from her hospital room.  It is a strange feeling knowing in the past 4 years all of my grandparents have left this earth, but I've been so blessed to have them as long as I did.  My aunt asked each of us to send her a word that described her.  I sent her a sentence about how she made the best spaghetti sauce and deviled eggs, as my aunt included it in her obituary.

We were all planning on coming home this week, but because of her death we came home Sunday.  I flew to Provo and drove with the kids to Boise.  Sunday evening was the viewing.  She looked beautiful and peaceful.  I love this picture of Tenielle and Kadyn.

The funeral was on Monday and was beautifully done.  Our family sang How Great Thou Art for the opening song, my aunt did her life sketch, my brother Troy gave an amazing talk and shared all the memories we had of her growing up, all the grandchildren and great grandchildren sang I Am A Child Of God and our friend Ted gave a talk.  It was a small funeral, but well done.

Boy Cousin

I will miss our walks to Grandpa and Jeannes as we have done it all of our lives since they only lived 12 houses down the street.  It's funny that when we were growing up we thought it was such a long walk, but as adults it is so short.  I've walked down and back several times this week and reminisced the last 39 years of my relationship with them.  Oh the memories.

Jeanne M. Swensen was born in Boston, Massachusetts on July 13, 1926 to James and Bertha Blood. She was the 9th child born of 12. She passed on March 28, 2016 and is now among the angels.
Jeanne was loyal, humble, humorous, sincere, giving, lovable, a good listener, compassionate, caring, generous, unique, feisty, and beautiful inside and out. She made the best spaghetti sauce and deviled eggs around and most recently shared one of those recipes with her granddaughter. 
She married John Godfrey at the age of 17. He was in the Navy and she worked at the defense plant as a "Rosie the Riveter," during World War II. They were married 32 years and later divorced.
Jeanne worked at the Western Idaho Potato Processing Plant for 25 years, where she was the supervisor over quality control. It was there that she met the love of her life and sweetheart Ralph Swensen. They were married on May 27, 1977 and shared 37 years of marriage until his death in December 2013.
She loved food, playing cards, bingo, going to Jackpot, her cat Oreo, spending time with grandchildren and great- grandchildren and time spent at the beloved cabin "Rocky Top," in Placerville, Idaho. Family was the most important thing in her life. It was the little things in life that made her happy.
Jeanne didn't like to travel much, but when her family from the east coast came to visit she enjoyed Ralph being the tour guide whether it was taking them to the cabin, Yellowstone Park or Montana. Lots of special memories were made.
Jeanne is survived by four step children: Robert (Thalia) Swensen, Leslie (Kathy) Swensen, Linda (Tony) Young, Marian (Harvey) Kenworthy; 15 grandchildren: Emily Parrott, Callie Booth, Robert Abram Swensen, Benjamin Swensen, Andrew Ralph Swensen, Joshua Roach, Jamie Johs, Shawn Swensen, Terah Young, Tyler Young, Troy Young, Tristen Rasmussen, Tony Young, Tanner Young, Tenielle Young; and 26 great-grandchildren; her sister Barbara King, along with many dear nieces, nephews and friends.
She was preceded in death by her husband Ralph Swensen; previous husband John Godfrey; many brothers and sisters-in-law; her parents; siblings James Blood, Arthur Blood, Dorothy Karrabbio, Eileen Chitro, Norma Faenza, Thelma Phillips, Patricia Reagan, Lorraine DeSimone and Marion Green.
Services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Monday, April 4 at the Nampa Tenth Ward LDS Chapel, 927 Ruth Lane, Nampa. A viewing for family and friends will be held from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Sunday, April 3 at Zeyer Funeral Chapel, 83 N Midland Blvd, Nampa (467-7300) and at the church from 10:00 to 10:45 a.m. prior to the services. The graveside service will be held immediately following the services at Hillcrest Memorial Gardens Cemetery, 15862 S. Indiana Ave, Caldwell. The family extends an invitation to all who would like to return to the church for a meal for family and friends provided by the 10th Ward Relief Society. -