I was so thankful to Grace for asking her grandpa about Pamela, because it brought so many wonderful responses from those who knew Pam best. After reading them, I wished so much that I could have known her in this life, but I know that we all will be able to be with her again. I hope that when that time comes, that she will be proud of me and how I've lived. When Kathryn was born, I thought about her and my other grandparents that perhaps they gave her a little pep talk before she came. Because of all of your words and memories, I feel closer to her and hope that you all do, too. Here are the remarks as well as some pictures. Enjoy!
Ed, Jr.:
Pamela was born a minute or two after my brother Mark was born - they were TTWWIINNSS!!!! GGPa Ed and GGMa Irene had no idea they were having twins, but it turned out to be a wonderful surprise!!!
Pamela was a very outgoing, thoughtful and friendly to everyone, which made her a popular girl. She is also very beautiful, with a head of thick curly hair, as you can see from the attached photo of Mark and Pam. Sometimes her hair was twice as long as in that picture! Pamela was attending Brigham Young University when Stephanie was born. How she loved to come to our basement apartment and play with her!!! Pamela was called home to Heavenly Father when she died in a snowmobile accident while visiting Soda Springs Idaho, with her roommates's family. It was a very sad time for all of us. What got us through it was the knowledge that our family has been sealed for time and all eternity in the Logan, Utah temple of our Lord Jesus Christ. Pam was buried in Greenwich, NY not far from the farm where we had our family reunion last June, 2008. Her cemetery headstone is inscribed with one of her favorite sayings: I AM NOT AFRAID OF TOMORROW, FOR I HAVE SEEN YESTERDAY, AND I LOVE TODAY.
I see many of Pam's good traits in my daughters and their children. Someday when we each have to leave this earth, we will get to hug her again.
Pamela was a very outgoing, thoughtful and friendly to everyone, which made her a popular girl. She is also very beautiful, with a head of thick curly hair, as you can see from the attached photo of Mark and Pam. Sometimes her hair was twice as long as in that picture! Pamela was attending Brigham Young University when Stephanie was born. How she loved to come to our basement apartment and play with her!!! Pamela was called home to Heavenly Father when she died in a snowmobile accident while visiting Soda Springs Idaho, with her roommates's family. It was a very sad time for all of us. What got us through it was the knowledge that our family has been sealed for time and all eternity in the Logan, Utah temple of our Lord Jesus Christ. Pam was buried in Greenwich, NY not far from the farm where we had our family reunion last June, 2008. Her cemetery headstone is inscribed with one of her favorite sayings: I AM NOT AFRAID OF TOMORROW, FOR I HAVE SEEN YESTERDAY, AND I LOVE TODAY.
I see many of Pam's good traits in my daughters and their children. Someday when we each have to leave this earth, we will get to hug her again.
Cindy:
Pam was fun loving. She loved to sew, loved being fashionable, dressing up, music and dancing. She loved her friends and her friends loved her. She also was very close to her twin. Her missionary work was shared freely and she was taking a missionary prep class before she died. I truly believe she was using her class information as soon as she crossed the veil, especially with our middle eastern ancestors and family there. She was always a very positive influence on everyone and her YW leaders loved her because she loved and respected them.When no one else would say prayers and or participate in the youth group and really treated the leaders poorly, she stood up for them and confidently shared her love of the Savior, and her love of all people. She was beautiful on the inside as well as the outside. She was a hard act to follow when it came to socializing. She really enjoyed BYU and she & Karen were also very close. I remember her rubbing my back and further back, changing her diapers.
Mark:
It was great being Aunt Pam's twin brother. I learned a lot from her. When we were very young, I was the selfish one and would want whatever she had and she was the smart non-confrontational twin who just handed over whatever it was I was wining about to shut me up. I guess you could say I had something to do with (not intentionally) teaching her her good people skills!
As we got older, she would avoid an argument by simply walking away and sometimes saying that if I wanted to discuss things maturely, then she'd talk. She was also very practical and would simply state her position in a kind manner (unless I really needed it "right between the eyes" so to speak). One of those kind times was when I was long faced and sulking on our way home from early AM seminary after I found out that a girl in our ward turned me down for a youth invitational dance for a more handsome, debonair, and older young man: you're other great uncle---Lincoln! It wasn't so bad that it was Lincoln but I had to deal with the rejection. Aunt Pamela looked at me in the car and said, "Mark, you've got Liz written all over your face. Please don't put yourself through any added stress or sadness about something you can't control."
Another less friendly practical advise moment I'll always remember as a great leaning moment from my twin, was when I decided to stay out at Ricks College (now BYU-Idaho) after graduating and touring the U.S. with our Rick's performing group. I wanted to make money there and live in Idaho until I had to come home and leave on my mission. I wrote my parents and the family and told them that the Berry's lived out there (friend's from Foxboro Ward) and I could have them act as guardians or help me out if I needed, while out there. I got this almost scathing letter like slapping me upside the head trying to talk sense into my unthinking skull. She basically said something like: "what right do you have to take this time away from your parents and us your family in not spending this precious time helping you get ready for your mission?? And by the way, no one can take the place of your parents or family. To me, this seems like a selfish think to do and I am asking you to rethink this (in other words get on your way home)."
Then she softened it up at the end telling me she loved me. How could I not see the error in my judgement? We also had a lot of fun together and she at times, believe it or not, as good as she really was and obedient, had some of her own rebellious streaks-nothing serious; just small stuff. The other wonderful character trait she had was that she was a loyal and true friend who treated her friends so well. Actually, everyone who met Pamela loved her. However, not at the expense of standing up for true principles like honesty, integrity, and moral cleanliness nor would she allow anyone to walk over her. She was that wonderful twin sister that allowed me my space and freedom of choice, yet in her own way told me "where to get off" (my train). I owe her a lot. She was a good dancer, crafty artsy type doing painting and decoupage, etc.
I had to cry when I read your Ed's remarks because it brought up good memories and the joy of the promise of being an eternal family (all of us). That's the sweet that off-sets the severity of the bitter and sting of the death/passing of a loved one or friend. Pam's character was something I would hold up as a measuring stick, at times, to others to help me judge properly for myself whether in choosing friends or in general. I also see so much of her in my and Robyn's own children especially our daughter Annaliese. Her vibrant, radiant personality, loyalty to friends, practical yet positive outlook on everything, has lighted our family and home. Pamela was told in a blessing that she would throughout her "life", be a help and great influence on the youth. And I can see her influence in may of her extended family as well.
Then she softened it up at the end telling me she loved me. How could I not see the error in my judgement? We also had a lot of fun together and she at times, believe it or not, as good as she really was and obedient, had some of her own rebellious streaks-nothing serious; just small stuff. The other wonderful character trait she had was that she was a loyal and true friend who treated her friends so well. Actually, everyone who met Pamela loved her. However, not at the expense of standing up for true principles like honesty, integrity, and moral cleanliness nor would she allow anyone to walk over her. She was that wonderful twin sister that allowed me my space and freedom of choice, yet in her own way told me "where to get off" (my train). I owe her a lot. She was a good dancer, crafty artsy type doing painting and decoupage, etc.
I had to cry when I read your Ed's remarks because it brought up good memories and the joy of the promise of being an eternal family (all of us). That's the sweet that off-sets the severity of the bitter and sting of the death/passing of a loved one or friend. Pam's character was something I would hold up as a measuring stick, at times, to others to help me judge properly for myself whether in choosing friends or in general. I also see so much of her in my and Robyn's own children especially our daughter Annaliese. Her vibrant, radiant personality, loyalty to friends, practical yet positive outlook on everything, has lighted our family and home. Pamela was told in a blessing that she would throughout her "life", be a help and great influence on the youth. And I can see her influence in may of her extended family as well.
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