Historic Post (November 15, 2023)
We’re weighed down with the emotion but uplifted because of our hope, to share that Bethany’s mom, Lynn Ruth Stroud, passed from this earthly life into the next, and most importantly, perfect and beautifully eternal life. This past Saturday morning Lynn had passed away from the natural course of Alzheimer’s Disease, in about as peaceful a setting and state as we could hope for. Her passing is not cause for deep mourning as many who knew her both knew her hope and had begun to grieve her much earlier because of her disease.
Some Details
Lynn’s sharp cognitive decline began about a year ago. As we entered the new year in January 2023 we realized we would need to move her into a facility. The Lord led us to a cozy home-care ALF where we transitioned Lynn and she settled in well. While the saga of getting the finances situated for this played out, fortunately, Lynn had no awareness of it. We were blessed to have found the facility when we did.
As Lynn settled in, she slowly declined. We were to a point where our visits were very one-sided. There wasn’t a lot of physical decline as it was all cognitive. But as the October sped towards November, more physical decline presented itself. But we were truly shocked after a call last Friday afternoon, just a little over a week since the last visit, to hear that they had noticed a sharp physical downturn.
The End
Bethany immediately went over for a visit and realized that they were not only right but Lynn was very close to death. We don’t have an explanation for it other than that God allowed the end to be quick and seemingly painless. I brought the kids over to say good bye and we shared some sweet moments at her bedside.
We were all pretty sure it would be soon. And soon it was. 12 hours later on the morning of this past Saturday, Lynn was gone; with the Lord. She was with her husband Steve and siblings, Bonnie and Neal who had all died of Alzheimer’s or Dementia as well. It turns out that the date of Lynn’s passing was just one day shy of the anniversary of Steve’s passing back in 2009.
God’s grace has been evident in so many ways, it would take a cup of coffee and a couch to share it all with you, but suffice it to say, we are doing OK, provided for and grateful for God’s timing in many different ways.
What’s Next?
We’ve decided to hold off on any formal memorial plans for the time-being. We’ve always wanted to take our kids down to the Florida Keys as that was a special place for Steve and Lynn many years ago and we may do that in the future in their memory.
We’re SO grateful for your prayers and support this past year. We’ve never seen a year like it and we were carried by you all and your rallying around us in prayer and support!