Nancy Lou Ostrom

Mimi seemed to me to be the matriarch of our extended family for much of my childhood. Her house was the center of family life in my early years, and even when that changed, it still seemed to in my mind. It was the home we all returned to again and again to be together across our many households. Christmases, Thanksgivings, and sleepovers at Mimi’s when I was young were all important opportunities to reconnect not just with her, but with everyone. Mimi wove the whole family together.

I have so many memories of being in her home as a young girl. I remember being there often. It is somewhat surprising to me how much I remember, in fact, because I had forgotten some of it until I sat down to write this down. Mimi had these books in the living room, books about crafting. Although I was not actually a crafty person, I loved going through those with her and imagining what it might be like to make interesting and beautiful things with my own hands. I remember playing in her backyard as a child, barefoot in the sprinkler, and her yelling out the door that I needed to get inside and put on shoes and socks lest I “catch your death”. “Catch your death” I never actually knew people said that for real until I heard my Mimi say it. I remember coming over for a weekend sleepover and being asked what kinds of things I liked to eat and struggling to answer. The honest truth was that I just liked Mimi’s cooking and wanted to eat whatever things she dreamt up to feed me, like bacon fried with a drizzle of maple syrup. I remember going to church with her during some of those sleepovers, not because she was trying to push her faith on me, but because she knew I had an interest in religion and wanted to encourage it. I remember sitting down with her at her home after worship and going through the order of service with her, talking together about what each part of the service meant in her tradition’s religious life and how it compared and contrasted to the way my own religion thought about worship and constructed services. Although I went a different direction in my own faith journey, those early conversations and her encouragement of my exploration were important parts of my decision to pursue the ministry. All of these memories of being with her help form who I am today.

I am grateful for Mimi’s life. I am grateful for the twists and turns that her own life took that made her into the woman that she was. I am grateful for her presence in my life and on this planet. She was a precious gift and I will miss her dearly. But even as I grieve her passing, I am also mindful that she had a long, full, and rich life and made such a deep mark on my life and those of many others. I am thankful for her time here with us.

Goodbye, Mimi. I love you very much. May you rest in peace.

May my Mimi (Nancy Lou Ostrom) forever Rest In Peace with our lord and her forever king My Papa Edward Ostrom . I thought I’d be prepared for this, but is extremely sad to know this favorite Grandmother of mine will not be able to talk, laugh, hug me anymore physically. I have so many memories that I’ll never forget.. staying the nights with her many many times, eating her fabulous cooking, camping in trailers and trip to Jerome and Sedona. I was extremely blessed to have GREAT grandparents and the morals values and experiences taught or shared with me helped me be the person I am today . I’m very thankful that my son Jayden visited her a lot and was able to experience her presence even in the limited capacity he always enjoyed visiting Mimi! In her last days he tried his best to sing her a song even though it was tough he tried his best. I’m sure Mimi enjoyed it too!
She’s going to be truly missed, but I’m so thankful she gets to live her eternal life pain free happy and loved! One day we will all be United again. God bless our entire family during this sad difficult time! She’s truly free now! ❤

My mother has but passed beyond the mists that blind us here into the new and larger life of that serener sphere. May she find peace there. I love you mom!

In loving memory of my mother, you will live in my heart forever...Rest in Eternal Peace!

Rest in paradise my Mimi.