My mother passed away Saturday December 12th at 9:50 p.m. She was surrounded by all her children, her husband (my dad), and three of her best friends. The experience is one I will never forget. Each one of us said our goodbyes one by one and then we sang God be with you till we meet again, How great thou art, and Be still my soul. After that we played this beautiful song called Flying on Angels wings that a lady in my parents ward sang for my mom earlier in the day. My mom requested Monica to sing this at her funeral. After the song ended my mom peacefully passed away. I have so many emotions and feelings right now. One minute I am happy and the next I am sad.
My parents ward has been so good to us they have brought in meals, babysat our kids, and have helped with the funeral plans. I have never in my life had to rely so much on other people has I have now.
Jeff and I got out to Phoenix early Thursday morning so I got to spend three full days with my mom before she passed. My mother told me she was at peace with dying. She said she was happy to die around Christmas because it is when we celebrate Christs birth, she was glad to die with some hair since the last chemo treatment did not make it fall out, and she was excited to see her parents again. My mother is such a wonderful example to me. She suffered much pain the last two months of her life. She lived a beautiful life and was such a wonderful example of someone who lived a Christ like life. I know I will see her again one day.
Here is the obituary my sister wrote for my mother.
MORTENSEN, Hannele age 54 of Peoria, Arizona fought valiantly against stomach cancer for the past year. She passed away peacefully on Saturday, December 12, 2009 surrounded by her family and several close friends. Hannele was born July 22, 1955 in Kemi, Finland to Valo Marikainen and Elma Rautiainen. She graduated fr...om Tornio High School in 1974. She served a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from November 1976 to May 1978. In December 1978 she came to the United States to attend Brigham Young University (“BYU”). She studied business and dance while at BYU in Provo, Utah from January 1979 to April 1979. While at BYU she met her future husband in a dance class. On July 3, 1979 she married George L. Mortensen in the Salt Lake City Temple. After getting married, the couple lived in Sheridan, Wyoming and El Paso, Texas. In August 1980, the couple and their first daughter Angela returned to BYU so George could continue his studies. After George’s graduation in April 1982, they moved to Phoenix, Arizona. George and Hannele raised their four children Angela, Jonelle, Melissa and Bryan in the Phoenix Metropolitan Area. They lived in Phoenix, Glendale, Surprise and Peoria, Arizona. Hannele graduated in 1998 from Phoenix College with an Associate degree in Legal Assisting. Hannele worked at PRM Association Management from 2001 to 2004 and for High Tech Institute from 2004 to 2009. Hannele is survived by her husband, George L. Mortensen, her daughters, Angela (Jeff) Fuller, Jonelle (Jay) West, Melissa Mortensen and her son, Bryan Mortensen. She has four grandchildren. Services will be Saturday, December 19, 2009 at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints located at 9543 W. Jomax Rd. Peoria, Arizona. Visitation will be one hour before the service from 11:00 A.M. to 11:45 A.M. The funeral service starts at 12:00 P.M. Interment will be in the Sunland Cemetery and Mortuary of Sun City located at 15826 N. Del Webb Blvd. Sun City, Arizona. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the missionary account for Bryan Mortensen. Account #850871054 JPMorgan Chase Bank, NA.
