In Memory

Everyone,

This was written by my dad in memory of his mother.  I've taken out the names, of course.

Our Father in Heaven has called home “a voice of fire” to sing in his heavenly choir. My Nana passed away peacefully Utah on New Year's Eve. Her passing leaves a void in our lives. Nana was born today in 1929 in England. Early in her life, music called and defined her for most of her life. She grew up in a harsh environment in pre-World War II England. Her father left the family when she was just a young girl, but her mother remained constant in her life. When Nana was 11 she joined the LDS Church.  Nana met Grandpa, from Utah, while he was serving a mission in England. After she immigrated to the US, he courted her and they were married in the Salt Lake Temple. They had 5 children and lived most of their married life in Utah. After she married, music still wove itself through her life. She sang in many productions, choirs and groups over the years, but the peak of her musical experience was singing with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. When she auditioned for the Choir, the director at the time commented that she had a “voice of fire,” which aptly described the power and emotion she could bring to any music. She did not have much formal training, so it all came from her heart and her God-given talent. During her time with the Choir, she sang on the Grammy-award winning recording of the Battle Hymn of the Republic. In addition to the music, she made a career in the medical profession, working as a medical or dental assistant for several physicians and dentists. She is survived by her 4 sons, 18 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband, parents, 2 sisters and infant daughter.

Safire