Obituary

The obituary came out in the paper this morning. It was strange to me because I wrote the words, I photoshopped the picture and submitted it to the funeral home for them to send to the paper. But when I opened the paper and saw my husband's picture announcing to the world that he has died, oh my heart!!!

Somehow the reality is truly setting in. Within an hour I had someone calling me to ask if it is really true. What did they expect me to tell them, "no, it's not true, we just wanted to play an elaborate hoax on everyone." I try to be patient with people. For many people today was the first day they heard the news. A lot of people didn't even know he was sick, so this has come as a big shock to them. So I will try to be kind and understanding to the grief they are experiencing now. But mostly I think I will just take care of myself.

This is what was in the paper.

The family of Jeffrey Dean Dietzel are saddened to announce that he has joined his daughter Emily Anne Dietzel, his father Marvin Dean Dietzel and many other loved ones who have passed on. Jeff and his wife of 27 yrs, Christine Thurber Dietzel were 1976 graduates of Central Valley High School. Together they raised Seth, Charla, Emily, and Jason. Jeff was born on Dec 17, 1957 in Spokane and died Dec 6, 2006 in Boise, Idaho.
Jeff’s love was extended to his other family including his mother, Charlotte Dietzel of Otis Orchards, his brother, Jerry Dietzel of Missouri, his sister, Kimberly Dietzel of Spokane, and numerous other extended family members. He also had a great love for his family that has gone on before and was very active in researching and teaching genealogy.
Jeff’s career in inventory and operations management took his family across the United States and they lived in many different cities. They returned to Spokane in 2001 to be closer to family. Most recently he was employed as the purchasing manager at Rings and Things in Spokane.
Jeff loved serving in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and did so in many capacities including serving a full time mission to El Salvador, being the manager of the bishop’s storehouse and the director of the family history center in Tampa Florida as well as in numerous other capacities. Most recently he and his wife served as the Spokane area coordinators for the Addiction Recovery Program, a mission he loved for the last 2 ½ years.
Those who knew him will miss his quirky sense of humor and his playful spirit. They will miss his dedication to working hard and his integrity. They will miss his famous rolls. They will miss his kind heart and listening ears. They will miss the strength of his convictions.
For more information about his life and passing on visit www.miracleswithjeff.blogspot.com. A celebration of his life will be held on Monday, Dec 11 2006, 1:00 PM, at the LDS church, 13608 E 40th in the Spokane Valley. There will be a public viewing beginning at 11:30 AM at the church.

The family is all here now. I am grateful I know how to set good boundaries. For now I am choosing to sequester myself away from the festivities and just be by myself to think plan. I am going to need all the strength and energy I can muster for tomorrow.

So for tonight I am going to go to bed. I just keep reminding myself of the advice given by Tom Hanks in "Sleepless in Seattle" to just remember to breathe.

Much love,

Chris