Raw Notes: Ellen White's Last Whisper

Sermon Notes

Theme: Adventist History

Title: Ellen Whites Last Whisper

Texts: 2 Timothy 1:12

Topic Sentence:  We have often contented ourselves with asking the questions:  What, When, How Where, Why?   But the most important question of faith is Who?   (The answer is Jesus)

Ellen White’s Last Whisper (Her final spoken words.) were Scripture.   “I know in Whom I have believed.”

Scripture Reading Matthew 7:21-23

Closing Hymn/Song Number:   I Know Whom I Have Believed  511

Speaker:  Elder O. Kris Widmer: 

Date: July 18, 2015

Place: Antioch, California

Commemorating 100 Years 

From the Death of Ellen G. White

1. Introduction
1. This Weekend is Commemoration of Ellen White’s Legacy…on the occasion of 100 years to the Day of her Death.
2. EGW Died 1.5 hours from here…at her home…Elmshaven. 
3. Which was July 16, 1915 at 3:40 p.m.
4. PUC is having a big weekend….speakers, art exhibit, etc.
5. Elder Jim Pedersen…our Northern Conference President in his prayer at that moment July 16 3:40 is reported saying…

1. He acknowledged the sacredness of the place, because angels visited Mrs. White there. 
2. He gave thanks for her and her guidance to the community. 
3. Then he asked for forgiveness for the times when we have ignored her advice, 
4. for when we have put her words above the Bible, 
5. for when we have used her words to judge other people.

1. I have known some of EGW’s living relatives
1. Charles White, Pastor in Arizona Now…used to live in Paradise.
2. Grace Jaques - used to give the tours at Elmshaven.   I have met.
3. The Kubrock Family
1. Gladys and Daniel Kubrock
2. Their Children and Grandchildren
3. Still Serving the Church
4. I Pastor’ed the Eemshaven Church for 4.5 years.
5. I lived 2 Driveways Down…off Glass Mountain Road
6. I’ve sung and given communion to the residents of Rosehaven…a nursing home.  It’s in Willie White’s old house.
2. We…here in Antioch… are marking it by this sermon.
3. One of EGW’s 3 funerals was held in what is now Contra Costa County….so nearby.
4. Northern California and the Bay Area have deep history in our church…Pacific Press, Healdsburg College, Elmshaven.
5. Today’s Sermon:  Two Parts…
1. A Historical Account of Ellen White’s Death and Burial.
2. A Meditation for Us Today…on Ellen White’s Last Whisper.  (Inspirational)
3. Pause in Adventist Hope.   100 Years.   We are still here.
1. Body

1. First the History….
2. In the 6 Volume Biography…grab volume six.  
1. Last Two Chapters
2. Chapter 31 - The Last Mile
3. Chapter 32 - The Messenger of the Lord at Rest
3. Ellen’s Injury
1. On Sabbath Morning, February 13, 1915  Ellen White was entering her study…upstairs at her retirement home at Elmshaven.
2. At the age of 87+ she may have reached “shut-in” status.
3. She fell.
4. Her nurse, May Walling, lifted her to a rocking chair and pulled her through the hall…to the bedroom…got her to bed.
5. No 911 Phone Call. No Ambulance.
6. Hot and Cold Fomentations were Applied
7. Dr. came to her bed…said it was either a sprain or break.
8. Painfully she was taken…down stairs, out the house, to a horse drawn buggy…and taken up the hill to St. Helena Sanitarium.
9. No Spring Legged Gurney.  No Muscular EMT’s
10. X-Ray:   Broken Femur…at the junction of head and neck.
11. Then the painful return trip back to Elmshaven.
12. Willie…telegraphed… the news out.   "Sabbath noon, Mother, entering her study, tripped and fell, causing an intracapsular fracture to the left femur. " 
13. As a Tweet, he would still have 28 characters to spare.
14. Sunday: the Sanitarium sent down a hospital bed to make her more comfortable.
4. Ellen’s Death
1. Thus began the next 5 months and 3 days…or the final 153 days of Ellen G. White’s life.
2. She had good days and bad days…
3. Keeping her sense of humor.  “I had a good day - in spots.”
4. June…rapid decline…not eating much.
5. Friday, July 16…her family and staff gathered around her bed.
6. 3:40 p.m. - stopped breathing…after her respirations had reached 10 per minute.
7. Willie: “it was like the burning out of a candle…so quiet.”
5. Ellen’s Funeral Preparations Were Ready…
1. Even today…in the news organizations…they write obituaries in advance…so they are ready.   Aged stars, aged politicians.   Billy Graham’s obituary is already written.  He is 97 this November.
2. Elmshaven had already sent pictures and articles to the news papers:  California, New York, Michigan.
3. All they needed to do was send a telegram.
4. Friday…Willie sent that telegram.
5. And…they also printed 220 invitations to the first of 3 public services.
6. Ellen’s Funerals
1. She was served by undertakers - Friday to Sunday
2. But Saturday: she was laid out in her bedroom, already in a casket.
3. Simple Black… Silver Tag “At Rest”.  (We have pictures.)
4. Sunday: She was in the living room, downstairs.
5. “Visitation” it is called.
6. #1 was Sunday  5 p.m.…on the Elmshaven Lawn.
7. California Conference President Spoke. Elder Farnsworth.
8. Monday morning Willie and Sara McInturfer took her body by train to Richmond
9. #2 - The California Camp Meeting was Going On.
10. Monday Morning:  1000 People
11. They people has asked…knowing she’d be transported their direction.
12. “Bring her to camp meeting.  If she had been well…she’d be here.   She’s been to so many camp meetings.”
13. Pacific Union Conference President. E.E. Andross Spoke.
14. 3:00 on the Train…East.
15. Thursday, July 22…arrival in Michigan.
16. Edson and another man got on the train early…and discussed arrangements in route.
17. #3 - Battle Creek
1. Sabbath Morning  July 24, 2014
2. 8:00 to 10:30 a.m.  Viewing for 2,000 people.
3. 11:00  Church was pre-empted by Funeral
4. (Confirming my theory that funerals should be worship services.)
5. (Confirming my theory that funerals are just fine for a Sabbath event in the church.)
6. We have the program from that day.
7. Plaform filled with green palm plants and floral tributes.:  Broken Wheel, Broken Pillar, Open Bible, Cross
8. A.G. Daniels - G.C. President - Life Sketch
9. S.N. Haskel - The Message
10. 3,500 inside, 1,000 outside.
11. And they were not alone either.  Many Adventist Churches…nation wide had memorial services…either for church or in the afternoon.   Walla Walla did!
12. After the service, it was out to the grave.
1. Every carriage in the city.
2. A few cars
3. 9 Street Cars:   This is funny: So Adventist
4. “No Fares: The church has pre-paid the fare!”
18. Later…Willie got a message:   All funeral expenses, and his and Sara M.’s travel..paid by a three way split:  GC, NAD, RH Publishing.   Trains, Casket, Mortitian, Head Stone, Lodging, …from the time of death until they got home to California.
19. Everyone went home….
1. 6BIO pg 447 - Staff was Separating….going here and there.
1. Mtn. View - Pacific Press
2. back to Australia
3. Willits Pastorate
4. RH Publishing
5. Home care for step-daughter.
6. Crisler:  Editor:  Final 2 Chapters on Prophets and Kings…then China
7. Willie was left…alone.
20. Thus Ended Ellen G. White’s Productive Life
1. No Computer.  No Email.
2. A Staff of Helpers and Servants, to be sure.
3. 100,000 Adventist World Wide…now there are 19 million.
4. 37 Publishing Houses
5. 34 Sanitariums
6. 70 Intermediate Schools, academies and colleges
7. 510 Elementary Schools
8. Time in U.S., Europe, Australia.
9. 3,000,000 words…long hands
10. 5,000 Articles
11. 40 Books
12. Thousands of Sermons/Talks
13. Thousands of one-on-one conferences.
14. 2,000 visions and dreams.
15. Pretty good for a 5’2’’ tall woman with a broken nose and who had had a stroke back in her mid-life!
16. And…still we can’t find the biblical mandate to ordain other women whom God calls and gifts!?

1. Scriptural Meditation - Inspiration.
1. Now I want to go back to Ellen’s White Last Words.
2. They were Whispered.

1. Friday, July 9 - Her last spoken words . a Whisper.
2. 8 (inclusive) days before her death.
3. Quoting Scripture:  “2 Timothy 1:12  
4. “I know in Whom I have believed.”
5. Victorians particularly took note and recorded the last words of the dying.  They were thought to be important.
6. This was put on a Ribbon…and staked to a White Rose Cross at the Battle Creek Funeral…It’s in the pictures of the front of the church and at the grave.

1. Body
1. Most of us know WHAT we believe.
1. 6 Key Divisions:    God, Man, Salvation, Church, Christian Life, Last Things
2. The S’s - Salvation, Sabbath, Sanctuary, State of the Dead, Second Coming, Stewardship, 
3. 28 Statements of Belief
4. Charts, Graphs, Time Lines
2. We have often contented ourselves with asking the questions:  What, When, How, Where, Why?   But the most important question of faith is Who?   (The answer is Jesus) 
3. What:  Topics
4. What:  Second Coming
1. When:  Soon
2. How: In the Clouds
3. How: Power and Glory, Resurrection, Feet won’t touch.
4. Where: Earth
5. Why:  To destroy the Devil and Raise the Dead.
6. Who? - 
5. What:  Sabbath
1. When: Sundown to Sundown, Seventh-day
2. How:  No Pleasure, no swimming, no _____
3. Where: Church, Nature
4. Why?:  God said so.  4th Commandment
5. Who? - The Lord of the Sabbath, The Sabbath was made for Man.
6. What:  Sanctuary
1. When:  1844
2. How:  Blood of the Cross
3. Where:  2nd Apartment of Heaven (not the second phase of Jesus’ ministry)
4. Why:  to blott out sins of humanity.  To see if you are savable. Doubt.
5. Who? :  The Heavenly High Priest and Judge is the Savior that LOVES you.
7. The Whole Verse  2 Timothy 1:12
1. “For this reason I also suffer these things. (vs 8 talks about suffering for the gospel.)
2. “But I am not ashamed”…no, Ellen.  You had nothing to be ashamed of.   Good Job, Girl!
1. We as a church should be ashamed of the last 100 years how we twisted and used and abused you.
2. It is amazing to me how the General Conference can vote “Confidence in the Spirit of Prophecy” one moment….
1. and this weekend celebrate the amazing accomplishments of our first female minister….
2. and then ignore all her counsel about men and women being fitted, trained for pastoral ministry on Wed, July 8, 2015.
1. How does this happen.   
2. We are fallen human beings.
3. We see through a glass darkly
4. We interpret all things through our preconceived cultural biases.
5. Only the Spirit can guide us into truth.
3. “For I know whom I have believed”
1. Faith is not a what, a when, a why, a how, where.
2. It’s a WHOM.
4. “I am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him…
1. What are you trusting to Him, Ellen.
2. My Last Whisper
3. My Final Breath on July 16, 1915
4. My Next Breath on the Resurrection Morning.
5. until that day.”
1. Which Day is That
2. “A great day is coming…heaven’s gates will open wide..”
3. “What a day that will be…when my Savior’s face I’ll see…..What a day, glorious day that will be.”
8. Bible Verses About Knowing Whom
1. John 17:1-3 - This is eternal life…that they may know you…and Jesus Christ Whom You have sent.
2. Titus 1:15 - They claim to know God…but their actions deny him.
3. Galatians 4:6-9 - formerly you did not know God…but now you know God…rather are known by God.
9. Bible Verses About God Knowing Us
1. Jeremiah 1:5 - Before I formed you…I knew you.
2. Luke 12:7 - The very hairs of your head are numbered.
3. Psalm 103:14 - He knows we are but dust…
4. Psalm 139:1-5 - You searched me and no me…
5. Psalm 139:23 - Search Me…Know Me.  Test Me.
6. Matthew 7:22 - Jesus says in that day  “I never knew you.”
7. Matthew 25:12 - Depart from me…I do not know you.
8. Luke 13:22-30 - Parable:  Owner of the House.  “I don’t know you or where you are from.”
10. Ellen White Knew God.
1. Teen Conversion to Jesus - 1842 Camp Meeting
2. One Sermon:  Esther and the King….Reach Out and Touch the Septer.   God the King will always hold it out to you!   It touched her and gave her hope.
3. Baptized: at about 15 yrs of age.
4. After 1888…Righteousness by Faith…embracing Jesus.
11. It’s possible…to know about God…but not know God.
1. Formal Religion
2. Legal Religion
3. Personal Religion
2. Conclusion
1.   This Week….the White Estate Released some Letters and Documents….
2. It was hard to figure out exactly what was new on the site I visited.
3. But I believe this to be her last written message to her grandchildren.
4.   Here it is…..
5. “Remember the Lord will carry us through. 
6. I am guarding every moment, so that nothing may come between me and the Lord. 
7. I hope there will not. 
8. God grant that we may all prove faithful. 
9. God grant that we may all prove faithful.
10. There will be a glorious meeting soon.” {Ms1-1915 (April 3, 1915) par. 6} to her Grandchildren.
11. God grant that we may all prove faithful.
3. Closing Song:  511
1. Based on 2 timothy 1:12
2. It’s perfect.
3. “I Know Whom I Have Believed”
4. I know not Why
5. I know not How
6. I now not When
7. But I know Who!

Poem - Temple Incident 8-1

Temple Incident 8-1

O. Kris Widmer

John 8:1-11

The passersby and bystanders in the streets

that normally stand aside or look down

when holy men walk by were surprised to hear

the giddy chuckles of the cloth clad clerics

as they mobbed their way towards the city square.

Their trap had been baited - live bait.

female face

naked neck

buxom breasts

amorous arms

lewd loins

philanderous feet

“caught in the very act.”

Those not holding her already held rocks

“borrowed” from the landscaped yards

they had passed in this dawns early light.

“It don’t matter what He says.

I says we stone her anyway!”

One of them yelled with a fist in the air

his voice, modified by the doppler effect.

They dragged her along with them; Exibit A

clutching to her bosom and body

a pillow and a sheet from off -

how did one call it? -

“The Serta of Certain Sin.”

“The Temperpedic of the Tempter’s Edict”

They knew where He would be, their real target.

(She was just a means to a mean end.)

He’d be “teaching” (so his disciples called it)

telling stories about lost sheep or wedding banquets

or “The Kingdom”…what ever that was.

Yes…There He Was!

“ ‘Teacher’ ”, one of them said, using his outside voice

[making quote marks in the air with his fingers]
“this ‘woman’ [more quote marks] was caught

in the very act of adultery. [points at her lewd loins]

Moses’s law commands us to stone such a ‘woman.’ 

[quote marks, again]  It is needless for us to bring her here.

But…we wanted know what you, the ‘Teacher’,

[quote marks] would say to do today?

The Teacher said nothing.

He bent down, ignoring them and ignoring her,

writing in the good God’s grit that dusted 

the dark tiles beneath his feet.

It started to become quite a list.

He finished one column, repositioned

and started another, writing from right to left.

He paused, stood up and spoke, using his outside voice.

 “I’m making a list of all your names and all your sins

If you name is not on this list, you may throw a stone.”

Then He stooped down again and kept writing.

Elder ______

Dr. _______

Mr. _______

______M.D.

______ PhD

_______ Esq.

Then was heard - cricket and bird,

amid gulping gasps and dropping rocks

and the click-clack polished dress sandals

make when they run quickly away.

Shortly, there was no one left but the chief cornerstone of faith.

“Woman,

 [this time spoken without satiric quotation marks]

where are the men who would condemn you?  

Where are they who would vote against you?

She peeked up and out from behind her pillow.

“There is no one here, good Sir!”

“My name is not on this list, Ma’am.

But I would never condemn you either.

Go now…and leave your life of sin.”

In this morning game of loins, rocks and finger,

Needless to say…finger won.

======

Based on a poetry prompt from “Three Word Wednesday”, an online poetry prompt blog.

The three required words are:  Giddy, Lewd and Needless

Giddy, adjective: having a sensation of whirling and a tendency to fall or stagger; dizzy, disorienting and alarming, but exciting; excitable and frivolous; verb: make (someone) feel excited to the point of disorientation.

Lewd, adjective: crude and offensive in a sexual way.

Needless, adjective: (of something bad) unnecessary; avoidable.

Helps for Medical Staff...dealing with a Seventh-day Adventist patient and/or family.

Seventh-day Adventist Patients and Health Care

Practical Points for all non-Adventist Providers

1. Abbreviation:  Seventh-day Adventist have gotten away from the abbreviation S.D.A., because of the confusion with L.D.S. and J.W..  The official abbreviation is to use the word “Adventist”.
2. Pronunciation:  People not familiar with Adventists often pronounce the name with the accent on the second syllable. ad-VEN-tist.   However, members of the church pronounce the name with the accent on the first syllable.  AD-ven-tist. 
3. Christianity:  Adventists are Protestant Christians, an outgrowth movement from the Millerite Revival of 1844.  They believe in God, expressed in the concept of the Trinity.  They number 18 million adherents world wide (2015)
4. Salvation - Adventists believe salvation is a gift of God’s grace, based on the merits of Jesus Christ.  They practice believers baptism, by immersion.
5. Sabbath - Adventists honor the Bible Sabbath, taught from Genesis through Revelation in the Holy Bible.  They believe it begins on Friday at sunset and ends Saturday at sunset.   It is a day to be with God and family, and to put aside all common interests of work, study, reading, etc.  Your patient may prefer to have the TV off during those hours, or try to find a religious or nature themed station. They would enjoy you blessing them during those hours with a cheerful “Happy Sabbath”, and would likely return the blessing to you.
6. Anointing With Oil - Adventists believe and practice the anointing service taught in James 5:13ff.  Prayers for divine healing, comfort, peace and forgiveness are offered.  It may be requested when a patient is diagnosed or is near death.  The patient or family would likely prefer that the service to be conducted by a Seventh-day Adventist pastor or an elder from a local church, but will likely accept such a service from the facility chaplain, when the need is urgent.  Don’t refer to it as “last rites” however.  It is a prayer of dedication and surrender to the will of God.
7. State of the Dead - Adventists believe that when a person dies, the soul does not go immediately to heaven.  They believe that a person is unconscious in the grave until the Second Coming of Jesus, that will bring about the resurrection of the body and the beginning of immortality for the person who is “dead in Christ.”  It would be inappropriate to say to the family of the deceased.  “they are in a better place.” or “they are in heaven” or “they are with the Lord.”  If they are particularly zealous, they may try to correct you.
8. Diet:  Because of the healthy lifestyle of Adventists, many of them live into their late 80’s, 90’s or even 100+ years of age.   This includes abstaining from alcohol, tobacco and drug use and abuse. Included in this healthy lifestyle is following the biblical diet:  Some are vegan, Some are lacto-ovo vegetarian (dairy products O.K.). (These two groups comprise about 50%)  Some choose to eat “clean” meats, as described in Leviticus 11. (the other 50%).  So beef, lamb, chicken, turkey, venison would be fine. Most all will refuse any flesh from swine as well as shell fish (oysters/shrimp/etc.).  If the nutritionists advise more protein, they may insist on plant based sources.  Some may even refuse gelatin that isn’t kosher.
9. Medications:  In a few cases, an Adventist patient or their family may refuse palliative medications, on the basis of “health reasons.”  Loving counsel may help them accept pain management medication.

Life Sketch - Dolores Ruth Amador

OBITUARY FOR DOLORES RUTH (CHESTER) AMADOR

September 5,1930- December 12, 2014

Dolores Ruth (Chester) Amador, known as Dolores to her family and friends, was born in Seattle, Washington on September 5, 1930.   She passed away at her residence in Oakley, California on December 12, 2014.   She was just over 84 years of age.  

She is survived by her loving children, Donald (Ellen) Amador of Oakley, CA & Darla Amador of Napa, California and her two grandsons; Jonathan & Thomas Amador of Oakley, California.

She is survived by a cousin Dwight Weiding (Cindy) of Maui, Hawaii.  She also has several cousins in Norway and Sweden.

She is also survived by Nieces and Nephews: 

Sharon (Jack) Motl  of Mt. Vernon, Washington;  

Linda (Bruce) Whitman of Tonasket, Washington;

Richard (Kathryn) Chester, Jr. of Snohomish, Washington;

Darlene Kenny of Seattle, Washington;

Matthew (Joyce) Chester of Edmonds, Washington;

Vicki Castalin of Oregon state;

Sharon Castalin of Stockton, California

along with 11 great nieces and nephews

and 5 great-great nieces and nephews.

Dolores is survived by her sister-in-law (Daniel's sister) Margaret Garcia (Ray) of Jamestown, CA.

She is also survived by her daughter-in-law's parents: Dr. and Mrs. J. Gene and Esther Zimmerman of Antioch, California and by her daughter-in-law's brothers: Dave, Ed and Dan Zimmerman and their families.

Dolores was preceded in death by her father & mother, Elias & Ruth Chester, her sister Eleanor Chester (at age 20, who died when Dolores was only 12); her brother, Dick Chester and her husband, Daniel Amador.

 + + +

Dolores' parents were from (Dad) Norway and (Mom) was both Norwegian and Swedish.  Her mother was born in America but her father entered this country as an immigrant through Ellis Island in the early 1900's. Dad was a fisherman who worked from San Francisco to and Alaska; Tuna to Salmon to Cod to Halibut.   He even got a whale (the picture is available on request, wanna see the eardrum?  You can!) 

She spent her summers at the family vacation home on Vashon Island in Puget Sound. This began her love of the water. She often went out in the rowboat by herself.  Both her father and brother, Dick, were Captains of ocean going vessels.

Her family moved to Eureka in the early 1940's, at the urging of her brother Dick.   After a few years Dick and his family moved back to Seattle. But Dolores and her parents remained in California.  That was her Junior Year in High School.

Dolores love for the piano and music started in elementary school.  There was a piano teacher, Prof. Risogari, at the University of Washington in Seattle that never taught children....but he consented to teach her.   The lessons were 1/2 hour...and she mostly listened to him play.   He would talk about imaging forests and musical movement - "You must move with feeling toward the goal...with feeling...softer to louder."    She learned to read notation and was known for playing energetically with feeling.   She was a great pianist!

With her piano talent, she was in demand to play for the choir at school.  But her faith was firm that she couldn't play on Sabbath days.   At first the director said "You can't play then."...but later, when she heard her play...she relented.  Her talent spoke for itself!

The following year, Dolores' senior year, her mother wanted her to finish in a Christian school.  So it was off to be a dorm student in Lodi, California at the Adventist Academy, where she graduated.

After that, she took some college work at the business college in Eureka, California.   One of her fist jobs was a "candler" - holding chicken eggs up to a light to see if they had a fertilized chick growing inside.  She lost a job in early life for being honest and upfront in her dealings...and she said it was the only way to live.  Another job was at the Dolly Vardon Lumber Company, as the receptionist and dispatcher.   For years, her happy voice answered the phone "Dolly Vardon Lumber Company".  And she always advocated for a cheerful voice over the phone or communicating with the truck drivers.

            While in Eureka one night while she was out with friends, she noticed an acquaintance of her sitting at the end of the bar.  He looked quite sad.  (he had reason to be - his wife and child had both died in her childbirth.)  So...she went over and said hello, and as Dolores put it...." we were together ever since."   That man was Dan Amador.   And they enjoyed 45 years of marriage from 1953 to 1998.

            Dan was in construction, working as an Operating Engineer for Local #3 for 35 years.  They were together up until Dan's death in  March of 1998.

            Dan never joined the Seventh-day Adventist church, but was supportive of Dolores' desire to have their two children have a Christian Education .  Initially opposed to it because of the cost, he later supported the project.  (We know Dolores also wouldn't take "No" for an answer.)  Dolores also worked to meet the tuition - both at school in Eureka, and at Rio Lindo Academy. Dan was always very proud to say his children were in private Christian school   He wrote a heartfelt letter saying how proud he was of both his children, which Darla has and treasures to this day.

            When her children were in school, she often helped with school field trips and school plays.  Darla will never forget her 16th birthday party – there was a terrible ferocious storm that day, that did not stop Dolores!!  She had planned a surprise party on the campus for Darla and many of her friends. It was the only time Darla was ever surprised!!!

            Dolores joined the Adventist Church, having been raised by an Adventist mother. Dolores’s grandmother, Ada Berg, was Swedish, and was saved through the ministry of the Salvation Army.  Ada and Ruth, Dolores’s mother, set an example of Godliness in their lives and homes.

Dolores was a great daughter too:  After Dolores and Dan were married it wasn't long until Dan invited Ruth to live with them.   Darla and Don recall the blessings of having grandma live with them.  Darla says  "Grandma kept house and cooked:  Chocolate cookies, Swedish pancakes, Chocolate pie, Blackberry pie. Homemade bread every Thursday. Every meal was a home cooked meal.    . 

This mentoring.... was reproduced in Dolores' life...living near Don and Ellen for the last 30 years or so. Dolores was a super grandma to her two grandsons. 

So...A woman who never had a grandma....made sure she would be a super grandma to her children... and so she was!

Summer wasn’t complete without a trip to Seattle without a trip to her brother’s beach house on Hoods Canal near Seattle.   Those trips to the beach were memorable, fun, and treasured by her children, Don and Darla.  Dolores would also take the kids to the local beaches, Moon Stone Beach and Table Bluff.  They also enjoyed visiting local state parks, Patrick’s Point and Richardson’s Grove.

Because Dolores loved and played music, she also made sure her children had music lessons: Piano and Trumpet for Don.  Piano for Darla.   They see this training as one of Mom's greatest gifts in their lives.   Dolores also taught her grandsons how to play the piano.

Her love and talent for music opened many doors for her as a pianist and a vocalist.   She sang in a triple trio in High School.  Music, she said, was her "moment of silence" each day.   It was a space in time where she could listen and feel - a personal retreat with just herself and the sounds.

She was active in the music program at the Eureka Seventh Day Adventist Church where she was the church pianist, helped with the choir, and often performed special music.  She loved gospel music and the traditional Christian hymns.

She attended as many gospel concerts as she was able to.  She loved the concerts by "Up With People" and "The Heritage Singers."   Later in life, Darla and Dolores enjoyed sharing many hours watching  Gaither Homecoming videos..  

Dolores loved the holidays with family.  Christmas time was always a very special time in her home. She was a fabulous cook and baker, and everyone loved to eat her dishes.

Many nights were spent making the traditional Scandinavian foods before Christmas.   Rullepolse: rolled spiced curried Lamb, Swedish Coffee Bread: sweet bread with cardamom, Pepparkaka: very thin rolled Ginger Cookie (a dough really hard to roll)

 She loved to see how happy this made her family.  It was a very festive time for one and all.  She also loved to make a person feel "Special" at birthday parties making that day memorable for everyone!     Her niece, Darlene, loved coming for her birthday in July many many times.  This year, 2014, Darlene made 3 trips down from Seattle just to see Auntie Dorie! Dolores loved Darlene like a daughter.  On her last visit, Dolores was able to say a heartfelt  "I love you." and "Thank you."

When the kids went off to Rio Lindo Academy in the early 1970s, Dolores traveled around town or went on trips with her dogs sitting either on her lap or in the front passenger seat.   She always loved dogs and would have at least 2 with her.  Later in life, she began a love of cats when she started helping take care of her daughter's cats. She adopted a cat - “Bootsie”  - that was her constant companion in her later years. Bootsie even accompanied her as resident of Eskaton, an assisted living community!

In the 60’s, Dolores was an award winning saleswoman for Coppercraft Guild (In home Copper Decor) and Home Interiors during the 1970s.  She also was a wonderful seamstress making most of her own clothes, and many of the kids clothes. From her interior decorating training she learned to be particular about "Mirror Placement"   She said "It is important that the mirror reflect beauty."   So a mirror was located where it could reflect more than just the refrigerator!  And Darla today...has many mirrors in her home to make it look bigger and more beautiful - because Dolores liked mirrors too.  More mirrors!

In the early 80s, Dolores traveled to Norway to visit her families’ homes with her daughter, Darla, and her niece, Darlene.  The three of them developed a special bond and memories with their family in Norway.  It was her wish that she could have visited Sweden, but never made it. 

Shortly after that trip, Dolores and Dan moved to Oakley to be nearer to his new job with Ford Construction in Lodi and near their kids and grandkids living in the Bay Area. Darla also encouraged them to move to be near their grandchildren.

Dolores loved being with her grandsons, Jonathan and Thomas, and would often pick them up from the Hilltop Christian Church School, then located on Worrell Road.  She would take them on trips to the store or park, stopping to get them a treat on the way home.   Jonathan and Thomas remember the Swedish Pancakes she made...(memorably made with a whole stick of butter.)  She loved attending their piano recitals and school programs.  She loved "spoiling" her grandsons and even bought her own video game system so the boys could play their favorites after school at her house. She became quite super at playing the Super Nintendo video games with her grandsons.

In retirement: She and Dan would go trailer camping in their 32' travel trailer.  There were also many trips with her family through the years:  A trip to Minnesota to visit an Aunt; trips to Disneyland, and other fun places.  Summers were her time to be with her children, and later grandchildren.

Dolores and Darla were the best of friends, and enjoyed everything from cooking to shopping together and talking several times a day on the phone!  Darla will cherish those memories forever!

Dolores was also a great gardener.   She always loved growing flowers and working in the soil.  In Eureka, she had a greenhouse, and would do her own cuttings and start new plants.

Since 1998, she was without her beloved husband...but she enjoyed many happy occasions with her family.

            Then came these past years of decline, where she dealt with grace and courage the complex infirmities of Parkinson's Disease, with it's accompanying stiffness.   Her eyesight faded too.   She moved from independent living to assisted living to extended care.   And yet, she kept her love for living and laughter.   She became even more outgoing and flamboyant in her communal living arrangements.   She really did enjoy making the other people happy by what she said or did...or what she wore! Darla never missed and extended weekend stay in Oakley to visit her mother.  Some one once commented to Dolores that,” there’s a special place in heaven for daughters like yours”

God, by His sovereign grace, has laid Dolores to rest.  She has entered the temporary sleep of death.  Soon, Jesus will come and call her forth to everlasting life in heaven and on the earth made new.  It is the reality of the truth of the resurrection of the dead that gives hope and comfort to us today.

            Our lives have been enriched because we have loved and have been loved by Dolores Amador.  She has been a Daughter, Sister, Wife, Mother, Grandma, Niece, Aunt and Friend! He enriched the lives of so many people and she will be truly missed.  We place our hope in the resurrection and the reunion that awaits us all in heaven.  May God bless us with His comfort and His peace this hour.

Prepared by Don and Darla Amador

with O. Kris Widmer