Farewell, Grandma. I love you forever!

04 April 2011, Salt Lake City - A wonderful, beautiful, sweet, and loving woman slipped from this life into the next last night due to ailments incident to old age and memory-loss. This woman was my dear grandmother, Dorothy Hendriksen. Born on 25 NOV 1928, she was raised by a public school music teacher and his second wife, her step-mother. Her birth mother had died by the time Dorothy was 3 years old. Her family was a very large and loving group. She was the third of thirteen children. They learned faith in God and love of country in their home. They were taught the value of hard work and all became upstanding citizens within their communities (and some have become very well known).

She met the love of her life, Oscar Hendriksen, in the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and they served there together for decades. They raised eight wonderful children, all of whom are accomplished musicians. A couple of them have been music teachers in public schools for years, many of them teach private music lessons, and two of them currently serve in the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. All of her children have made her proud and all have fond memories of her strict expression of love and method of teaching.

She generously shared her love with those around her through word and deed and taught hard work through example. Her grandchildren were always thrilled to visit at her house and were always given food or treats. Her love of and service through music extended beyond her retirement from the Tabernacle Choir. She spent many years as a Ward Choir Director and would often lead her family in songs at campouts, reunions, and holiday parties. Even as her mind slowly slipped away from her in her last several years on this earth (as had also happened to her father) and she eventually couldn't speak or take care of her own essential needs, she knew, recognized, and loved music and could often still "direct" her family as they sang songs with her and for her.

She left a lasting impact on the lives of her siblings, her husband, her children, her grandchildren, and her great-grandchildren, as well as all others who had the opportunity to get to know her. She will be remembered for her kind ways, for her loving nature, for her generosity, for her great example to others, and for her infectious love of music. She will be missed by all who knew her.

Farewell, Grandma. I love you forever!