The time came for Aunt Georgia, number eleven and the last child of Mary and George Broadbent, to head home for a wonderful family reunion in heaven. She passed away on Tuesday, August 18th in Riverside, Riverside County, California. Here's what her daughter, Jana Cheney posted:
"Our sweet mother, Georgia Swainston Abernathy, passed away very peacefully about 30 minutes ago. She had family by her bedside holding her hands and no doubt, family across the veil extending their hands. What an amazing 98 year adventure."
She was the aunt that I had the chance to know and love much more closely than all of my others. She and her family moved in with us for about a year and a half after they moved down from Idaho leaving a very bad marriage situation. They became a much closer aunt and cousins that way. I was pretty sad when they moved out and felt very lonely. We have all grown up and gone our separate ways, but they still hold a special place in my heart from that time we had together.
Georgia was ready to go home after her long adventure. She was struggling with hearing and vision and her heart and lungs were worn out. We will miss her here, but we are glad she could leave her tired body behind and join the family waiting for her on the other side. Happy graduation Aunt Georgia! You passed your earthly test with flying colors! We love you and hope the reunion with family is sweet!
Georgia's children are, left to right in the top picture: LeAnne, Jana, Thom, Anelle. You will see a beloved "adopted" daughter in the lower picture - she grew up best friends to Anelle and neighbor to the family - Jennifer Conium.
The picture below was created by AI and shows Aunt Georgia welcoming her daughter, Audrey LeAnne Wood, to heaven. LeAnne has fought cancer for 18 years and passed away on September 5th, just 18 days after her mom, Aunt Georgia. It's a hard blow to this family to lose both of them, but they were both "ready" to go. I'm glad I got to visit with LeAnne and some of her family when they came to see us as we vacationed in Oregon a year or so ago. I'm sad for her husband to have to go it alone now. He still has some life ahead of him. It's hard to say these goodbyes, but thank goodness we know it's not forever. LeAnne was 76. She and my sister, Marilynne were pretty close and actually had a double wedding/reception. Rest in peace LeAnne.
My cousins with LeAnne in the front (Jana, Thom and Anelle Cheney).
Clair (Les and LeAnne's daughter and husband up front and LeAnne and Les Wood back seat in Oregon.
Paul and I went out to the graveside/funeral and lunch. It was very nice. It was strange to be back in that old chapel I grew up going to for my whole life and even see some of the people that I went to church with there. Most of the funeral took place at the grave with a brief talk from the bishop and a life sketch written by LeAnne shared by Daniel Wood, a grandson. Afterwards we went back to the church where another life sketch written by Georgia was read by another grandson, Brian Cheney. The lunch and visiting was very nice. Now the next funeral coming up will be for LeAnne. Such a time of loss for this family. Thank goodness the knowledge that life goes on gets us through and brings peace to us knowing that they are in a better place where their sufferings are over. Georgia was buried at Olivewood Cemetery in Riverside, California.
These are pictures from LeAnne's funeral. We didn't make it to that one. My back is in bad shape with a herniated disc and pinched nerve. Just couldn't add one more long trip to it.
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