In Memory of Joan Frier

29 January 1939- 5 July 2009

We had the great honor to see Joan Frier, Dustin's mom, one last time before she passed away quite suddenly- for us. Joan had been fighting mouth cancer this last year and a half. She was going through chemo and radiation. In December, she told us it was pretty well gone. She had one last round of chemo but it kept being delayed because her white blood cell count was low. The doctors kept waiting for the numbers to go up. We kept planning trips to Kingman and would have to cancel the last minute because Jodi would keeo getting sick. We didn't want Jodi getting Joan sick. We kept in touch with Joan. Our last few conversations were really short. She told Dustin her chin was swelling and had an indection in it. We didn't realize the severity of it, nor did she want any of her children to know.

We finally managed a trip to Kingman to celebrate my birthday and the 4th of July. We had a wonderful time, and were in a little shock at how old and sick Joan looked. Her chin was so swollen; it was like there was a tennis ball stuffed into her chin. She also was suffering from congestive heart failure- her legs were swollen as well. She was all wrinkles on top and smooth on the bottom.

Despite her looks, Joan still had plenty of laughs. She enjoyed the little firecrackers we brought- my children as well as the real ones. The kids made her laugh. She enjoyed watching them play in her fountain, Daniel play with her stuffed bird, Jodi sing and twirl around her house, Noah playing GI Joe on the floor, me yelling at the kids and chasing them around, and fun conversation with her baby, Dustin.

We had a wonderful babrbecue with Dustin's brother Scott and his family and then enjoyed the fireworks display. We said our goodbyes and drove back to Phoenix after the fireworks. We got the phone call the next evening that Joan passed away.

We had the great honor to see her one last time and to see her smile with the joy that she always had. We are grateful that she was able to see her grandchildren and her son one last time. The funeral was this last Sunday. Dustin officiated at his mother's funeral and did a beautiful job. He was the calming hand, the rock of faith his brothers needed.

I will miss Joan's singing and laugh and tickles. My children will miss their grandmother very much. Dustin is now an adult orphan, but he is happy knowing that his parents are together again in the Spirit World. I am grateful for the knowledge that I have that families can be together forever. We loved Joan and will miss her dearly.