my grandma florence

We recently attended my Grandma Florence Christensen’s funeral in Salt Lake City.  She passed away on December 29th at the age of 94.  She lived a wonderful life filled with grace & courage.  I know she is in a great place surrounded by her parents, siblings & husbands.  With her passing, I am extremely grateful for the plan of salvation – I know I’ll see her again and that is a peaceful feeling.

One of the most fascinating parts of her life to me is her time spent in England during WWII.  That is where she met the first love of her life – William Goeglein.  She had a love for our country and wanted to serve.  These are two of my favorite pictures of my Grandma.  Until her funeral, I don’t recall anyone ever telling me I look like her.  But as these pictures were circulating I had countless people come up to me at the funeral to tell me just that . . . “you look a lot like Florence.” 

The day of her funeral was a wonderful day to celebrate and honor her life.  Wes was great and took the kids a few hours before the funeral and a few hours after everything was over so I could spend some time with my aunts, uncles & cousins and to be able to help a little bit.  I really enjoy my mom’s family and it was nice to be able to enjoy them that day.  That’s one thing a funeral does – it brings people together which is always nice. 

The actual funeral service was wonderful.  My mom and my Aunt Linda spoke and did a wonderful job & Sam spoke on behalf of all of the grandchildren and was perfect.  My Uncle Bill and Aunt Michelle sang and cousin Guthrie played the guitar.  I was able to say the opening prayer.  My dad said the family prayer and dedicated the grave.  All to honor my sweet Grandma Flo.

My grandma had a beautiful singing voice.  My mom’s side of the family loves music & are well-known for spontaneously breaking out in song.  While we were at the grave site waiting for the bishop to arrive, my aunts and uncles started singing Edelweiss – a favorite.  I’m sure grandma smiled at that one.

I have many fond memories of going to Salt Lake at least twice a year growing up to see my grandparents and family. I spent a lot of that time at my Grandma’s house and loved it. She was great. I think Sam’s talk pretty much says it all so here it is:

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Grandma wasn’t an ordinary grandma, she was anything but ordinary. Grandma has qualities innately about her that people spend their lifetimes trying to gain. Ali says, “Grandma was like a star of a classic movie to me. With looks like Grace Kelly and style like Katherine Hepburn and the voice and kindness of Doris Day.” The words her grandchildren would use to describe her are kind, graceful, poised, giving, classy, insightful, talented, courageous, unselfish, soft, genuine, and loving.

There was never any doubt in any of our minds that grandma loved her family, and her grandchildren. Elizabeth says, “Florence was the quintessential grandmother. She was devoted and always there for all of her grandchildren. She always had pictures and accolades up on the refrigerator so all of her visitors could see what was going on in everybody's lives. She made time for all of us and her house was a welcome home for everyone. Family was her priority.”

Guthrie says, “She always seemed to have great pride and genuine interest in what her family was doing in life.”

Even when Lexy would go to her house and clean for her, grandma would just follow her around the entire time talking to her. She took every opportunity she had to talk to her grandchildren. Grandma always wanted an update on our lives. She always asked us questions about what we were up to and what we thought the future would bring for us.

Grandma had a way of making each of us feel special.

We all have fond memories of our time with grandma. Growing up Grandma and Grandpa’s home was the place where our family would gather. She would let us kids run around her house, play pool in the basement, fold each other up in the red foam couch, take over the tv to play super Nintendo, play her piano, watch movies with her, but I think she especially loved when she would get to sit down at her kitchen table and talk with each of us. Every time one of us would visit, she would incessantly offer up food and snacks, no matter how many times you told her you weren’t hungry. Lindsay, remembers loving the candy jar she had in her kitchen, full of peppermints and butterscotch candies. And grandma always had better cereal than we had at our house.

Her garden was magical to us, one that you read about in books. I still remember all of her beautiful flowers, the grapes that grew on the side of her house, and playing in the yard as small children. Grandma had a way of making everything she touched beautiful.

Grandma loved to read, even well into her 90’s, and could still devour books at an impressive pace. She loved to tell us about the new books she was reading, she was always so insightful. Grandma also loved old movies, loved Jane Austen, and always had the grace and poise you find in those classic stories. I loved that Grandma wanted to share the things that she loved with us.

Grandma had an active social life, one that rivaled those of her grandchildren. She was always telling us stories of her friends, her social outings, playing bridge, and visits to the country club. She loved the arts, and was always attending the ballet. We loved that she was willing to share those parts of her life with us. We loved that grandma included her family in she and Grandpa’s many trips to see the Nutcracker, and that she had a strong desire to share that legacy with us. Any time you mentioned to grandma that you wanted to see the nutcracker, she would take you. She loved talking afterwards about the production, the music, and the dancers. And each time it was as magical as the time before.

Grandma was a lover of music. Grandma had a beautiful singing voice. My fondest memories are of our family gathered around the piano in her living room singing Christmas songs and show tunes together after our family dinners. It is probably the thing I will miss most. Sometimes she would join in, and sometimes she would sit back and watch and listen to her family. A love of music is a legacy of Grandma’s that we will all carry on.

Megan says, “I think the thing that I admired most was that she was such a lady. In her dress, appearance, manners, and attitude. She was just so classy!” Lindsay and I loved snooping around Grandma’s room. She had the best clothes, lots of shoes, and we loved going into her bathroom and admiring her makeup, nail polish, jewelry, and other classy things. And I will always remember the smell of her Jean Nate bath splash. I remember buying some when I was little just so I could smell like Grandma. She was always put together. She always wore lipstick. Her daughters take after her this way. A kiss from grandma always left a mark on your cheek. Even dinners at her house seemed to be a special occasion. I always remember my mom pulling out some of my nicest clothes when we were going to grandma’s house. When I went to CareSource for the first time to visit grandma in her last days with us, even one of the nurses commented that my grandmother was a “classy lady”. This was a trait about my grandma that was obvious to all that met her. I think the only time we really questioned her classiness was when it came to her driving, it was a known fact that Grandma would fly down her street in her car like a bat out of hell. But at least she would do it dressed like a lady with her lipstick on.

Grandma used words that will always stick out to many of us. She called many of us dear, but always used it in a way that seemed just right. Everything was “wonderful” and “marvelous” to grandma. And when she used those words she really meant it. She was so positive about life, and always showed great support to her grandchildren when we would update her on the newest endeavors of our lives.

Grandma loved the gospel of Jesus Christ. Megan says, I was also always impressed with her testimony of the gospel. She was never verbose about it, but the way she lived her life was an example of someone who believed and I loved that about her.” The last time I saw grandma I dropped by CareSource one morning on my way to the airport to fly home. We had moved her the day before and I somehow ended up with her Book of Mormon in my car. When I brought it in to her she told me that she had been wondering where it was, and that she still found it wonderful to pick it up and read a few versus whenever she got the chance. I know that grandma had a testimony of the gospel, and loved being a member of the Church.

Elizabeth says, “She was one of a kind. She possessed one of the best hearts, souls and spirit to love all who knew her. Everyone who met her felt a deep warmth and grace. She will always be loved and remembered by her grandchildren.”

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For my own records, this is her obituary:

Against the backdrop of World War I, Florence Mary Jensen was born on February 11, 1917.

Florence was the last survivor of eight children of Peter Joseph Jensen and Artemisia Snow Jensen. She grew up in SLC graduating from East High School. She studied at The University of Utah and then received her degree from Brigham Young University. She was independent and hard working earning her own tuition for college by working at The Grand Canyon, Sun Valley and Fort Douglas Military Base.

A true patriot, Florence had an immense desire to serve her country. During WW II she volunteered with The American Red Cross and served at an Air Force base near London. In spite of the bombings and the terror of war, she met the first real love of her life, Lieutenant William K. Goeglein. This encounter had all the makings of a war-time romance. In the midst of separation and uncertainty, they found each other again and were married in Mobile, Alabama on October 17, 1945. Florence and "Big Bill" had four children: Barbara Jane Marz (John), William K.Goeglein (Michelle), Linda Ann Christensen (Kent), James Robert Goeglein. They had nineteen beautiful years together before the untimely death of her beloved Bill Goeglein in 1965.

As a widow and mother of four, Florence lead her family forward with grace and courage. A lady of elegance and determination, Florence instinctively was devoted to her family and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Because of her passion for the arts and her training as an opera singer, her church service focused on leading the music for the congregation. She was in the church choir and was greatly appreciated for her ability to hit the high notes.

Enhancing the beauty of our world was Florence's life work. She was an active member of The Salt Lake City Garden Club; a member of The Assistance League where she sang in a group called "Act III". She was also a member for The Daughters of The Utah Pioneers. She did all this while working full time for The American Heart Association. She retired after 15 years with honors and awards.

After eight years, destiny brought Florence another Bill. Bill (Willam) Christensen whose many accomplishments included founding Ballet West. Bill Christensen and Florence met on Christmas Eve. Their first date was "The Nutcracker". Willam asked Florence to marry him that very night. She married him on June 30, 1973. Together they were passionate ambassadors for Ballet West. "Mr. C" and Florence were married for 28 years sharing times in Aspen, New York and San Francisco. They also shared their children. " Mr. C" had two children from his first marriage: Roxanne Christensen Lazzara (Tony), and Lee Christensen (Edith). Florence is survived by six children and their spouses and 17 grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Florence Mary Jensen Goeglein Christensen was a delightful complexity of strength and ultra sensitivity. She was loved by so many. Her beauty and spirit will live on forever through her children and grandchildren. She survived The Great Depression; WWII; the death of two brothers in childhood; and the death of all of her other siblings later in life. She also buried two husbands and raised four teenagers by herself. "We gave my mother a lot of trouble, but we think she enjoyed it." (Mark Twain)
"Life is eternal. Love is immortal, and death is only the horizon."

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Love you, Grandma.