Services

Viewing
Friday, May 13, 2011
6:00 - 8:00 pm
Bunker Funeral Home
33 N. Centennial Way
Mesa, AZ 85201
(Just N. of Main St. between Mesa Dr. & Country Club)
480-964-8686

Funeral Services
Saturday, May 14, 2011
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints
777 E. Elliot Rd.
Gilbert, AZ 85234
(SW Corner of Elliot & Lindsay)
Viewing: 10:00am
Services: 11:00am

A Penny for Your Thoughts

We understand that there have been many that have wanted to share their thoughts and admiration for this great lady, however, have had some difficulty posting comments on the blog. An email account (patgreeneslegacy@gmail.com) has been set up for anyone to share their thoughts, experiences, stories, pictures, etc. All of the comments would be compiled into a book for dad and her legacy to cherish.

We also want to express our gratitude for the many thoughts and prayers that have been offered both in mom's and her family's behalf. We have felt such amazing love and support from everyone.

After walking through her own personal Gethsemane, Pat's battle has ended. She has fought long and hard be it physically, emotionally or spiritually. She has maintained faith and hope and has been an amazing example to all who know her. We will be eternally grateful for the life she led, the righteous desires granted her and the legacy she left behind.

She passed away peacefully at 5 minutes til 6 PM on May 5, 2011. She was surrounded by all of her children and grandchildren, just as she requested. What a sweet reunion she must have had with her parents, inlaws and children on the other side. Family she has been anxiously awaiting a reunion with for years. Although she is leaving deep holes in all of our hearts we know that her spirit lives on, that her legacy continues and that it will take a constant effort from all of us to accomplish what this one great woman has done in just 69 short years.

A viewing is scheduled for Friday May 13th, followed by her funeral on Saturday May 14th. We will update you on the times of these two events in the days to come. Thank you again for all of the prayers, love and concern that have poured in over the past months. We have seen as her Savior has lifted her spirits and carried her through the depths of her Gethsemane.

May 5, 2011

Where does one even begin to describe today?

Last night was probably one of Mom's best nights. She had a wonderful evening last night she joked, laughed, even had everyone playing the "What I like about my neighbor is..." game (twice), and then slept well throughout the night.

So what started out to be such a good day quickly turned into her worst. The doctors really struggled to get ahead of the pain and nausea for hours with no success at all. It all but tore our hearts out. Finally around 3:00pm they were able to do what she had been aching for all day, let her rest. This disease has progressed to point where the only relief she is receiving is from sedation. She is receiving medication through IV that will keep her relaxed and sedated. She is comfortable now, which is comforting to us to see her peaceful and relieved.

Slowing down a bit

Pat has had a very hard time differentiating her dreams from reality. At this time it has become too difficult for her to have visitors. We are so sorry if you have not yet had a chance to come by...however if things change we will be sure to let everyone know. Thank you for your understanding and continuous support throughout this time.

The doctors are continuing to tweak her meds and monitor her in order to make her more comfortable. We pray that the right combination of medication will be found so that she might feel at ease at this time. Pancreatic cancer is a terribly painful cancer and the doctors are working around the clock to keep her various symptoms under control.

Calling All Ducks

Does anyone happen to have this duck from McDonald's happy meals floating in your toy tubs? There is a special story behind it between my sweet mom and her grandchildren. We are on the hunt for 40 of them. We will buy however many you have.

May 3, 2011

Mom's confusion continues to ease this morning. The doctors have been trying to get the right combination of medicine, that will of course remove her discomfort and at the same time not have such a harsh side effect on her mind. It looks hopeful that we are on the right track.

Mom was not shy in ordering breakfast this morning. She wanted the whole spread and then some. She was able to take little bites of everything, which again was such a nice change from the usual yogurt. That stuff sure can get old, even with all the varieties of flavors.

Lobster Anyone???

Would you believe it, mom ate lobster! Lobster is one of mom's favorites and has become even more so over the last couple of months. She has been on yogurt almost exclusively since Friday so a change in diet, especially one like lobster, was almost enough to cheer about. It was so cute, her face just lit up when she saw the spread coming in. She only got a few bites in but enough to savor.

Her pain has increased some today, but has been manageable with her pain pump. She still has some confusion but it has been a little better today than over the weekend.

May 2, 2011

Mom had a decent night. She was up frequently but seemed to be able to sleep sound between bed adjustments. She still seems to have some confusion, but had some moments of sweet clarity last night. There were some very tender conversations had last night that made the veil between us and our loved ones on the other side seem so thin. What a sweet quiet spirit fills the room this morning.

Sweet Sundays!

Sundays always seem to be so enjoyable. Ever since everyone found out that Pat's cancer had come back Sundays have become a day of many visitors, and yesterday was no different. She was able to have her kids, grandkids and other relatives at the Hospice home all day just sitting at her bedside enjoying the few moments throughout the day that she was able to wake up enough to recognize and express her love to them.

Even though this is a hard time for everyone we are so blessed to have such a tight knit family that can share in the pain and sadness as well as uplift and relish in memories of the incredible life that Pat has lived. We are so grateful for the tender way in which she has touched us all in unique ways...ways that will never be forgotten!

May 1, 2011

Mom's night was a little difficult. She was able to get up on her feet last night, which she was wanting to do all day yesterday. However, she just could not relax enough to get much sleep. Her confusion seems to be increasing as her body slows down. What has been amazing to watch is this beautiful woman's will and determination. Confusion or not she is still thinking and worrying about what she does best, helping others. Almost every thought or worry is about how she is going to feed or help someone with their ''problems''. What a true test of her Christ-like attributes. That even in her subconscious she is wanting to serve those around her. She truly has become more my hero now than ever before.

Please excues typos on Blog

Since we have been in the Hospice home we are unable to access the wireless internet...as a result there will be mistakes and typos on the blog since we are posting from a cell phone keyboard. We hope that you are still able to understand the message and stay up to date on what is going on as this is what we intend this blog to be for. Thanks!

Mom had a unusually good night, which we are very grateful for. She slept very sound and comfortable and was even able to try a couple of bites of french toast this morning. She has been resting more frequently and a lot deeper than she was yesterday.

We have heard questions regarding a timeline quite frequently lately and it just makes one think how relative time can be. It seems to be so precious, yet taken for granted so easily. We are considering our short time a precious blessing and have seen the Lord extend many tender mercies our way the last couple of days. I think we will be considered fortunate to extend these sweet moments until Monday. So the phrase ''Take the time that you have been GIVEN and run with it'' that was imprinted on t-shirts for the whole family in honor of mom has taken on a whole new meaning.

Unfortunately mom did not have a very good night or morning. She is in one of the Hospice units now (off Val Vista and 202 south, Lund Facility). They are in the process of getting things more comfortable for her. It seems as though the toxins in her body in conjunction with the medication are taking a tole on her memory and lucidity. It is difficult for her to carry on a conversation and her visits are becoming shorter and less frequent. Although she is sleeping a lot when she is awake she is a bit of a ham. She keeps everyone smiling as she tries to explain and make sense of her dreams. she is hoping that she has one more opportunity to eat some lobster...she said that she has been trying to catch one all morning ;)

Time is short but she has sure put up a great fight. We are so grateful for the time she has had and the meaningful visits that she has been able to have with so many over the last 2 1/2 months!

Moment by Moment

Mom is taking one hour at a time. She had a good evening yesterday but the night did not go quite as well. She is beginning to show signs of both the liver and kidneys being effected. She is sleeping more often than not and has become very weak. Right now she is on a waiting list to go into one of Hospice's care units where they will be able to better care for some of mom's immediate needs and discomforts. The stay in the unit can vary in duration from a couple of days to a couple of weeks, depending on the patient's needs. The overall goal in the unit/home is to get mom more comfortable and things regulated in order to get her back to her own home. If at anytime she decides that she wants to leave and go back home she has the liberty to do that. We are hoping that with around the clock care she will not have to enduring anymore harsh nights like last night was.

An Update

What a wonderful Easter weekend! Mom was able to enjoy her family, except for her two grandsons on missions of course. It was all about the food, family and faith as usual. What a great day she was able to have with the family.

However, over the last couple of days mom's physical condition and strength has weakened greatly. It has become extremely difficult for her to get around and do simple tasks. At a visit today, her doctor explained that her jaundice is increasing which indicates the cancer is probably compromising her liver function (to put it delicately). He was able to make adjustments to her pain pump in hopes to stay ahead of any and hopefully all discomfort to come.

She was able to have family around her last night as she received a precious priesthood blessing given by a loving husband. How tender it has been to watch the love my dad has for her. I will forever cherish witnessing their love and compassion for each other over the last couple of months.

"My Miracle"

I have wanted to post this for quite a few weeks now and for some reason or another have not been able to finish it.

Back in January when the doctors were trying to figure things out mom worried quite a bit about one person in particular, Jake, one of her grandsons on a mission. He left to serve his mission in Brazil back in August. However, due to delays in travel visas he was only able to get there the first of January. He was just getting his feet on the ground and was going through an adjustment time, as I imagine most missionaries do. Mom's worry was that this was going to blow him away and since he was still getting his feet wet in a foreign country he would want to come home and then ultimately not return.

Mom prolonged informing his mission president about the severity of the situation until we knew for certain that things were definitely going to go in this direction. That day came the morning of mom's surgery to implant her pain pump. A very sweet tender conversation was had between a loving grandmother and a faithful servant of the Lord. There were definite tears shared among everyone in the room for the spirit just burned within everyone. How tender the Lord's spirit is! Here this young man, in shock himself, was trying to comfort his grandma and grandpa. When the conversation was over mom expressed, "Now there was my miracle." Indeed she received a miracle! Not one of a physical nature, as we all hoped for, but none the less a true miracle from the Lord. She knew Jake's heart had changed and he was beginning to rely on the Lord. Mom felt peace that Jake, along with the rest of her loved ones, would be well. What a testament to her strength and faith to be able to recognize the Lord's great hand in this situation, when her heart's desires were of a different outcome. What an example she is to so many around her.

Following are some of Jake's sweet, insightful words he wrote to mom after their conversation... "I have been studying a lot about faith and miracles that can happen. I was talking with my mission president and miraculously I understood everything he said in Portuguese. He was telling me of miracles that were physically impossible to happen but with faith and God's will he made them happen. I really hope this situation pulls those that are struggling with faith closer together. That's the only way our family will make it through this. ...I know through faith and hope that I will be okay and grandma will be too. She is gonna be so happy... She has family on both sides waiting with open arms! ... I am so grateful for all grandma and grandpa have done. Grandpa, you and grandma are examples to more people than I think you realize..."

How grateful I am to know that this is not a forever goodbye that it is only until we meet again.

A Night of Memories

Last night Pat and Buddy sat down by one another and we filmed them telling "Their Story". They talked about where they were born, raised, how they met, the birth of their kids and a whole slew of funny stories along the way! We recorded them talking until the memory cards could hold no more! It was so neat to see that sparkle in Pat's eyes as she spoke of her love for her husband, her kids and grandkids. She is such a warm and loving individual. Although the cancer may be causing deterioration to her physical frame her spirit is still strong and her love continues to spill out towards all around her! It was such a special night that we will all treasure...and the videos will be a great treasure for everyone!

A Beautiful Spring Morning

Yesterday (Wednesday), Pat had the carpets professionally cleaned in the house. She was worried about where she should sit while they cleaned, because the furniture from all the carpeted rooms were strategically placed along the wood floors up and down the hallway right on into the kitchen. Those of us who are easily mobile were having a hard time inching by all the obstacles! Her hospital bed and all the extra "visitors' chairs" from her bedroom were moved into the bathroom so she was unsure as to where to put her body. After some deliberation she decided that she would go outside for a bit to try to stay out of the way :)

She sat out on the front porch under a big shade tree in her wheelchair from about 11AM-1PM. We all watched the little kids pull each other around in the wagon and the neighbors all stopped by to say hello and visit with Pat for a while. We would continuously ask, Are you feeling alright? And she would always respond with, Yes, I'm just wondering how different it's going to be in heaven. We are so accustomed to this world we live in...I just wonder what it's going to be like. She also said that if there is no lobster or good fish in heaven that she'd have to come back! We are all going to hold her to that! She truly enjoyed being outside and repeatedly commented on how beautiful the weather was! We are grateful for this beautiful spring morning that made for such a special day with Pat!

Can't get this lady down!

I have found it difficult to post this past week as Pat's strength has been rapidly dwindling . She is an amazing woman and although she is walking through one of life's most difficult physical trials she continues on with a smile and great courage. She has been enjoying her days watching home videos that Cindy just transferred from her video camera to DVDs. She relives great memories and finds joy in watching her kids, grandkids and great grandkids as they perform in talent shows, celebrate birthday parties, welcome home returned missionaries and the list goes on and on and on (for hours!!!!)! We have printed and displayed all of the most recent family portraits that we had taken last month in the family room, the kitchen, Pat's bedroom and even her bathroom :) Everywhere she goes she can see her favorite pictures! Anyone that knows Pat knows that she is crazy about pictures! We counted 24 pictures that she has displayed in her bedroom! She takes such great pride in each member of the family! Tonight the doctor increased the frequency of her nausea cream that she rubs on her arm and she is excited and hoping that she will feel up to eating some sweet shrimp tomorrow for lunch! She truly knows how to find joy in ALL things! Meanwhile she is enjoying her vanilla forever lites with frozen strawberries. Everytime we bring her a cup of it she takes that first sip and looks at the maker of the shake and says "mmmm, this is SO good" as if it were her first time trying a new recipe that you slaved over for hours! This lady is sure easy to please! She is staying strong and continuing on with faith...as usual! She is a ROCK! Everytime someone comes to visit she does not let them leave without expressing to them her knowledge and testimony of the importance of families and reminding them to stay close to the Lord. She guarantees that she will be close by even when she is gone. She says, when you feel that overwhelming spirit of warmth and peace you will know...that is me! She leaves all her visitors with heartwarming hugs and gentle tears as she knows this will be her last opportunity to embrace friends who have supported her for a lifetime. Thank you for the hundreds of prayers on her behalf and to EVERYONE who has been sending flowers, cards, letters, meals and stopping by to visit! You will never know how much this lifts her spirits and carries her through rough days and painful hours! The simplest gestures make the biggest impact. Thank you!

Curbside Service

Curbside service took on a whole new meaning this past weekend! On Saturday Pat's pain had not gotten any better so Dr. Stearns said that she would be at the Scottsdale Hospital and if Pat could be there at noon she would meet her downstairs and adjust her pump. So, we loaded up as quickly as possible and drove out to Scottsdale. When we arrived there we called the doctor and she told us to pull into the pick-up area and she would meet us at the curb. Within 5 minutes she walked out with a little handheld gadget that looked similar in shape and size to what Fedex has you sign at the front door when delivering a package. She asked Pat a few questions and as she was making changes in her handheld device Pat looked at her and said is it doing it now?? The doctor couldn't help but get a good chuckle in and she let us know that she was just making changes in her device but she would soon be updating Pat's pump. Then she finished and held her gadget up to the pump that is in Pat's stomach for about 10 seconds and said Okay now, that should take effect in about 9 hours. If this doesn't help call us again tomorrow so that we can try again! We could not believe it! They truly treat Pat as if she was their only patient. They are all so kind and concerned not only with pain control, but the quality of life that Pat has and striving to keep Pat as independent and alert as possible for as long as possible! They really are an amazing team of doctors!

Hoping the weekend treats her kindly!

The last 3 days the pain that was in Pat's back started moving down her leg. She is having difficulties getting up and down and walking around. The doctor was hoping that the adjustments made to the pain pump would be able to help with this, but it has not improved. We talked to the doctor about this on Friday night and she gave Pat a new recipe of pain meds to try to ease the pain to get her through the weekend until we could get back in the office on Monday. However, the new meds are not making a difference so the doctor said that she would see Pat today to adjust her pump and get her more comfortable! We are excited that she is going to see Pat on a Saturday. This pain clinic and the doctors there have been such a great blessing. They are so willing to help out and try to improve the quality of life of their patients. They are the doctors you see in the office, they are the on call doctors and they even said that they are willing to make house calls with a few days notice when it becomes too difficult to transport Pat to the office! We are hopeful that the weekend will bring Pat more comfort!

Lovin' on Grandma

Payzlie just can't help but grab a blanket and cuddle up everytime she sees Grandma on the couch. Yesterday the two of them sat on the couch together and laughed and played while Payzlie rubbed her cheeks up against grandma's arms, clapped on her hands and just had fun with her. How fun it is to see these precious moments!

Hanging in There!

Pat is continuing to have her ups and downs. Today she went to the Pain Clinic to have more meds put in her pain pump. This has been such a blessing for her. The pain pump releases medication on a regular basis. When she's experiencing more pain than the pump takes care of the doctor gave her a little remote that she holds up to her skin (where the pump was put in) and she presses a button on her remote and it signals the pump to release more medication! Lately she has had to use the remote more frequently so her doctor wanted to make some adjustments to the pump so that her pain will be more controlled. So in a matter of a few hours today she was able to go in, have the pump emptied and refilled with pain and nausea meds and now she is on her way home. Hopefully this will help her feel more comfortable throughout the coming weeks. Thank you for all of your prayers and uplifting comments. This truly brightens Pat's spirits and helps her through her tough days.

Glitches with the Comments

We just found out today that there have been people trying to leave comments, but unable to do so. After tinkering with the settings today I think the glitch has been fixed. So, please leave your comments and remember if you do not have any of the optional profile accounts select "Anonymous" and be sure to leave your name at the end of your comment so that Pat will know who you are. She looks forward to hearing from you!

Happy Sunday!

This has been a sweet weekend. Although Pat is still working through hard times, she has truly enjoyed all the visits she has been receiving. Thank you to so many that have brought by beautiful floral arrangements, tear jerking cards and warm embraces of love and encouragement as Pat struggles through these times. She continues to be a beacon of hope to all around her as she endures each day with faith knowing that the best is yet to come.

A Continuous Roller Coaster Ride!

It has been quite a rollercoaster since Pat made it home from the hospital on Friday. Although her pain has been well managed with the new pain pump the nausea has been quite a different story. It seems as though the moment the doctors get a handle on one symptom, the next one flares up. We spent the weekend, on into the first of the week on the phone with and visiting doctors to get the nausea managed. Her pain management doctor put some nausea medication directly into her pain pump and she was prescribed a cream that has worked quite well for her. She rubs it on the inside of her forearm and within a few minutes she feels the nausea begin to ease up. She was able to eat a bit on Tuesday morning and over the past couple days she has had a much better time being able to eat and manage keeping her medications down as well as regulating her blood sugar. On Monday she went to her oncologist who decided that at this point her body is too weak to handle any chemotherapy. So, Pat has turned the situation over to the Lord and knows that from here on out it is strictly dependent upon His timetable. Pat is in good spirits and enjoys the time that she has when she is feeling well. She has been enjoying visits from family and neighbors and has been blessed by so many members of the ward who have brought in such wonderful dinners. She is thankful for all those who have been sacrificing and serving on her behalf.

On Her Way Home!

Pat is feeling chatty, happy and ready to go home! She is waiting for the doctor to come and give her final instructions and then we are on our way! Her appetite is growing again and she is able to walk with assistance from only one person! This has been a great couple of days!

Calibrated to the Millimeter

I couldn't resist sharing this little story. The first night after Pat's surgery, Cindy spent the night at the hospital with her. Everytime Pat got out of and back into bed Cindy would have to adjust the pillows in Pat's bed just right! Although this sounds like a minor task, this is one of the more time consuming, tedious tasks that Pat requires assistance with.

By Thursday night (after Lonna spent the day with Pat in the hospital) Pat decided that Lonna was the best at arranging her pillows. When Buddy tried helping her with her pillows on Thursday night he worked and worked and worked and when he finished he asked, "Is that alright Pat?" She responded with her eyes closed as she was trying to decide whether or not the arrangement would work by saying, "Wow, Lonna is really good at arranging these pillows". We all started cracking up and Buddy had it right when he said the Pat's pillows are calibrated to the millimeter!!!

On Friday morning Pat explained how pertinent the pillow arranging was to her comfort and further added that the tiniest wrinkle in the bedding or movement of the pillows can cause the most discomfort to a lady that is laying in a hospital bed all day. She said that she is like the princess who could feel the pea under her mattress. Then with a puzzled look she questioned, "What is her name again?" We said, that's the story of the Princess and the Pea. She said, "Yes, exactly...I am like the princess and the pea!!"

And with that we will continue to work towards the standard set by Lonna! :)

So far...it's a Success!!

After having the pain pump put in yesterday Pat was able to eat a fish dinner last night. Something she has not been able to do for a couple weeks now! She will be coming home from the hospital tomorrow. So far all of the pain that the cancer has been causing her in her back an stomach has gone away. She is sore from the surgery and this is why she is going to stay under the care of the hospital nurses for one more night! We are all so excited that it has proven so successful today! Thank you for all your prayers and thanks to the amazing missionaries in Brazil who are doing a mission wide fast in her behalf. She is truly being watched over and uplifted by our Heavenly Father!

Doctor...take this pain away!

Today Pat went in for surgery to have a pain pump put in to help control her back pain. We are expecting her to be released from the hospital either tomorrow or Friday. The pain management doctor said that they will not release her from the hospital until her pain is under control! This is great news and we are excited for her to be back home and feeling more comfortable!

I remember when.....

Tell us what you remember about Pat so that we can add it here. There are so many memories and sweet acts that have been impressionable on so many people over the years. Please share your comments here so that we can add your memory too! Grandma has been at the hospital to support me and love on her great grandbabies with the birth of each one of my children. I love how she would talk about the visit they just had with their Grandma Tina and wondered what the last thing she told them was before they came here! ~Bryana . . . If their is anyone who has touched so many lives, is definatly Patsy Greene, all I can say is I have always admired her as a friend and a daughter of Our Heavenly Father. When I first met her back in 1988 I thought what an Incredible Woman. She displayed such Love and Kindness to everyone and continues to do so. I know her Strength and Faith will carry her through this difficult time, and she will live for Eternity. My prayers are with her and family during such a difficult time. My last conversation with her was her sharing the Gospel with me, how incredible is that. Love You, Patsy Greene.. ~Bea Rios