Donna Jean Kennie
April 5, 1949 – August 1, 2009
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I hope you enjoyed the pictures and feel like you got to know Mamma K just a wee bit better than you already do. She was an absolutely outstanding person whose inner light shone so bright, I swear the space shuttle peeps could see it. Every life she touched, mine included, was forever changed and deeply touched and lit aglow from her spirit.
Even now from heaven, I have no doubt she’s doing incredible things on earth as a guardian angel.
Hubby, the Dude and I marked the occasion a few weeks ago. On our way to a family get-together, we went to the scene of the crash and refurbished Mamma K’s cross with some fresh stain and a gorgeous, heart-shaped bouquet of pink flowers.
Today…we’ll likely take it pretty easy and just remember her, tell stories, look at pictures and have a quiet night at home.
As hubby said on her Facebook memorial group page:
“A day to remember the good times…not sure if I can squeeze all of them into one day!“
So true my love…so true!
How do you honor the anniversary that marks the death of a loved one? Do you do anything special or is it to painful? How do you celebrate and honor the lives of people who have passed on?
Three years ago today, my beautiful mother-in-law’s life was cut tragically short by an impaired driver and my stepson’s life changed forever. In honor of Donna and Jordan Kennie, please don’t drink and drive. Impaired driving is 100% preventable. Think about it.
Support MADD Canada and follow them on Facebook, Twitter (@maddcanada), YouTube, and on the Web.
Well done….thanks so much!
Many many hugs being sent your way Natalie & Scott
Always tough to lose someone, but especially so when it’s so needless and preventable
Thank you soooo much Jackie!!! HUGS!!!
Hugs to you and your family, Natalie.
Thanks so much Amber!
Beautiful Natalie!
Thank you Tara!!
And thanks for swinging by and commenting! xoxox
Such a beautiful tribute, Natalie. I’m going to light a candle for Mama K and your family. Lots of love and hugs!
Luv that August. Thank you so much!! Love and hugs back. xoxox
Every year at Christmas each year, I bake my grandmother’s Swedish cardamom bread in her honor. It fills my place with her essence. Smells, stories and memories are the best tributes. May you all feel Mama K’s arms around you.
That is a beautiful way to honor and remember your grandmother August. I love that.
We see and feel her spirit everywhere….especially in the butterflies that have started playing and frolicking in our backyard!
Very beautiful, Natalie. Thanks for sharing with us:)
Thank you so much Stacy!
OK, that slide show made me cry! She was so lovely, and it’s fun to see that glow on Hubby’s face that says “I love my mama.” And best of all, The Dude looks like her.
Awwww…thank you Jenny!!
Yes, to see and watch Hubby and Mamma K together was a thing of beauty. Their spirits, connection and love was transcendent! A thing of pure beauty…
The Dude will LOVE that compliment!!
xoxox
I found you via August McLaughlin today and I am glad I did. Lives cut short, so needlessly and preventably, are missed all the more. She is watching from above.
Is August not the best?!?!?! So glad you found me via her!
Thank you so much Molly for stopping by, commenting and sharing your wonderful words. So true that she is watching from above. I think we all feel her presence in our lives often which is such a blessing!!!
August is wonderful. I found her via Kristen Lamb. The blog world has been good to me.
Natalie, thanks for sharing the photos–the first thing I noticed was her smile. Beautiful and I believe that bright light and smile are still doing great things too. Hugs to you!
Amen to that Coleen. I think they are as well!!! Thanks for your wonderful comment and support. HUGS!
What a gorgeous smile she had! Thank you for sharing this little glimpse of the amazing woman she was with us. {{hugs}} A beautiful tribute to Mama K. And I agree with Jenny, The Dude looks just like her.
My loses have been to disease or good ol’ fashioned old age for the most part and we tend to celebrate their lives on their birthdays.
Man, my heart is in my throat. Peace to you guys.
Her smile lit up a room!!!
I love the idea of celebrating on their birthdays! How special…and would likely help ease some of the heartache of the day. Beautiful Raelyn.
Thanks so much for sharing. Peace to you as well!
Okay, you got to me with the pictures. What a loving tribute. Oh Natalie, I know this is a rough day for you and your entire family. We lost three parents within a span of three and a half years. Can you say nightmare? And I don’t think there is one day that goes by where either my husband or I will have thoughts about them. What a blessing it is to have our memories to treasure and I hope that your memories today bring much needed comfort to your family.
Karen, I cannot imagine how you and hubby deal with that. So painful! But you are right, it is a huge blessing to have our memories to treasure and relive. I know ours do certainly bring much comfort!
I thought of a lot of things I *could* say. But here’s the only ones that matter. Mamma K looked like she enjoyed life. I can tell from those pictures she loved her family…and her cat…a lot. That you remember her so fondly keeps her alive. (((hugs)))
Catie, your comment brought tears to my eyes. Sniffff…you said it SO RIGHT girl! Thank you for sharing that.
HUGS!!!
That’s a beautiful tribute, Natalie.
A month from tomorrow will mark the 6 year anniversary of my FIL’s death. It will also be my son’s 2nd birthday. so, it’s a bittersweet day for us now.
Wow Fallon, that is bittersweet. I can’t imagine how ‘torn’ your all must feel to celebrate but also remember and miss your FIL. Sending you BIG hugs!! Thank you so much for stopping by and sharing your story…it means a lot!
*sniffle* – Beautiful, Natalie, just beautiful. I’m sure most of us will agree we have come to know Mama K through the touching posts you have shared about her. The warmth of her personality and love of life that shines through her smile can be felt in every photo in this slideshow. She does live on. Sending hugs to you and the family.
I am so glad to hear that I’ve been able to share a little bit of Mamma K with my blogging family. She does live on and it warms our hearts to know that each of you feel her spirit too….HUGS to you Patricia.
I love how happy she looked in all of these photos…not just smiling but bright-eyed, like she was enjoying life. I also see some of her smile in her son. What a beautiful tribute, Natalie! I’m glad you have so much good to remember, but I’m sure you miss her. I find it comforting to think that our loved ones are up in heaven looking down on us–wishing us well, or maybe just saying, “Really? A post on undies?!!!”
Oops, I meant to put “a post on peeing.” Because of course, undies makes total sense, right? LOL.
LOL!! That’s the great part – BOTH do apply!! LOL!!
I know she’s looking down right now grinning from ear to ear!!!
I read your comment to hubby, Julie and we both BURST out laughing. Soooo freaking true! I love that. What a beautiful way to think of it and to share…totally made our night. LOL!!!
Wonderful, Natalie. I would love to meet the two of you someday.
You touch me so deeply, in so many ways. I’m so proud and so honored to call you my Daughter!
Sniff…thank you Mom…and I am proud and honored to call you Mom…and BFF! Love you!
What an honor for us to be able to share Mama K! This is a beautiful remembrance of her. What a lovely, happy woman she was. I’ll bet you’re right–she’s probably a phenomenal guardian angel now! Hubby is so lucky to have you – a loving, dedicated and supportive wife! So sorry I’m late, but glad I didn’t miss it completely! Hugs to both of you!
Awwwwww….thank you Marcia!!! Hugs!!!