In our hometown ward we have a lot of older women. I love them all. They are wonderful women who have lived long lives of service.
Sister Elva was one of my favorites. She passed away last night at the age of 97 and I imagine there is great rejoicing in heaven today. Her husband has been gone for over 20 years and I can just see the joy of their reunion in my mind.
Elva taught Primary children for over 55 years. She had no children of her own, but she never lost her love for the "dear, dear ones" at church. She treated the whole ward as her family and she told us individually all the time how much she loved us. "Love ya, love ya, love ya" was one of her trademark phrases, as was her enthusiastic "Right on!" whenever she agreed with us.
She drove her car locally until just a couple of months ago and brought herself to church every Sunday. She dressed to the nines in bright purple and red, fuschia pink, and lime green. Her stylish hats were part of her fashion statement.
Her great love, other than children, was the temple. It was her fervent desire to live to be 100 and keep "doing the pink slips." She loved serving the Lord and attended the temple every week with her dear friends Lilly and Ursula. When Jeff and I would take her on ward temple nights, she was like a queen holding court. Everyone who saw her would stop and chat with her and she would share her love for the temple with them.
Each and every month for years, Elva sent birthday cards to all the Relief Society sisters in the ward. She signed each one with a message of love, included a poem about hugs, and most recently, enclosed a beautiful handkerchief inside. She was always anxious at the beginning of the month to get her Relief Society newsletter with the birthday list so she could get her cards out on time. I've had several sisters who rarely attend church comment to me how much these cards meant to them.
She lived on her own till just a couple of months ago when she fell and had to have surgery on her leg. She rarely asked for anything and was always happy for a visitor. She loved to share the lemons from her trees and always had a trinket or treat for anyone who came to see her.
She was so full of love for all of us and was always looking for ways to serve. She embodied the Relief Society motto "Charity Never Faileth." She will leave a huge, Elva-shaped hole in our lives. We will miss her. Goodbye, Sister P. We love you.
6 comments:
I will surely miss Sister P. What a sweet lady! I am glad she can be with her family again.
Linda, how sweet for you to share. Sister P was completely genuine! She will be missed.
Even though I didn't know her nearly as long as everybody else, I will definitely miss her too. I hope I grow up to be just like her.
I have heard about Elva from you before. What a great, great lady! It was fun to read about her and her life. That is kind of you to honor her here.
I was so sad to miss her funeral. Shawn was able to represent our family and hopefully she still knows how much we love her, love her, love her. What an amazing person!!!
Didn't have the privilege of knowing her physically, but I have come to know her through your sweet post. Tears were flowing as I read this. Wouldn't it be grand if when we die, someone out there would write about us is such a lovely way.
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