It seems life never slows down for this family of mine living in Arkansas. In this last year we lost three family members to non Covid illnesses. Mom’s husband Chuck died in late March in what I’ve started to refer to as the lost year–where did 2020 go?? Mom’s only remaining sister died in early April of 2020 and a cousin died shortly thereafter. No funerals happened in the lost year. On Thursday Mom and I drove to Clinton, Arkansas again (second trip in less than a week of 200 miles roundtrip) to help my aunt’s daughter Jeanette bury her mother’s ashes. We also said goodbye to my Dad’s oldest sister–her daughter is taking her to Chicago to live for a while. After we were at the cemetery we all headed to a local restaurant and enjoyed lunch and catching up.
A friend from my growing up and church years died on Monday. Joe and his family still attended the church where I grew up and that my brother in law has pastored for almost 30 years. The funeral was Friday and I helped Ann prepare food to feed the family after the funeral. Earlier in the week Danny and I were discussing the practice of taking food to the family home–a practice which I think is a southern thing. In the south when someone dies it isn’t long before friends and family are at the home bringing food and all sorts of other items. When my father died in 2002 friends were at our house almost immediately–the first couple brought us all sorts of paper goods which came in handy during that time. Is it a southern thing–it doesn’t seem to happen in Montana–does it happen in other parts of the country?
Mom and I have been cooking/eating/knitting–rinse, repeat. I’ve done a little spring cleaning in her house and we’ve spent time looking at a few old photos–
Mom was one of six daughters, and was fourth from the oldest–
Mom is in the middle top row. I think she cut her own hair and ours to match??
This is me on the left, my sister Robin Ann on the right–Mom made our dresses.
On Easter Sunday with all the church activities we lunched mid afternoon. The whole family was present and I enjoyed being with them so much. Before lunch I hid the Easter eggs for our “children” with the youngest being 16! They joyfully hunted for the eggs filled with candy and money–an added incentive! We found all but one–let’s hope it was one of the eggs that only contained candy!
The Easter basket I made for my niece–I knitted the basket, felted it and adorned it with beads. Niki is my only niece and even though she has teenagers of her own, she always gets an Easter present from her Aunt Janna.❤️
The Cowboy and Emmi are doing well–ready for me to come home. He’s been working on the cabinets and had to start the air conditioners and evaporative cooler–it’s warm, too warm for this time of year in Arizona.
Life is good.
Restoration Cowboy Style 
Minnesota does the funeral food help too! And I had the lovely short, straight bangs and homemade dresses for Easter too! It was the style then! I thought my mom couldn’t get it straight! And had to go shorter!
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That’s good to know–I will tell Danny about the funeral food in Minnesota–I do remember you and Sandy called one dish “funeral potatoes.” Glad to know someone else looked as strange as we did as children!
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When my partner passed years ago I did get several casseroles. I remember trying to figure out who to get the dishes back to 🙂 Glad you’re getting time with your Mom and that you’re going through photos. I wish I had done that so I could have added names I’ll never track down now. You’re definitely come home to hot temps already.
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Glad to hear it isn’t just a southern tradition! Mom has all her photos in albums complete with names—it’s great!
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Happy Easter to you good folks! Thank you for such a lively and interesting blog.
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Thanks for reading Barb!
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When my mother passed away in northern Az people showed up at the house right away with food. It is nice not to have to think about cooking when other things are happening needing your attention.
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Yes Karen it is good plus it’s good for the soul to know so many people care.
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So glad to hear you are having a wonderful family visit. The old (and recent) photos are great fun. Thanks fro sharing. That Easter basket is beautiful!!!
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I’ve really enjoyed seeing all these old photos. It’s been a great visit but I’m ready to see the Cowboy and Emmi!
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“Funeral potatoes” was a Utah label that I heard at my grandparents’ funerals there, plus the dish showed up at my parents’ funerals too, in southern California. I think most church families bring food in after a death, whether to the house or to the church for the family to eat after the funeral is over. It’s a very pleasant and helpful thing to do. Most women would put their names on white adhesive tape on the bottom or side of the container. Then the dishes would be returned to the church kitchen, and the bishop of the ward (congregation) would announce that the dishes for the such-and-such funeral were in the kitchen and would you please pick up your dish after the meetings are over.
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Your comment brought such a smile to my face Ruth–it brought back such good memories–I used one of Mom’s casserole dishes and her name was written on the bottom for just the reason you mentioned.
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Food is a big thing right after death here in mid-Missouri.
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It’s good to know this is a wide spread practice!
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