Celebration of Life

Last Friday we said goodbye to our dear Cody.  There is something said about things being in print for the realization to hit.  Like the first time I read his obit printed in the paper.  Or when we drove by this sign.  Why does written word seem to make things so final and real?

 

 

Thursday I picked up Noelle and we headed straight to Reno to be with everyone.  That night at my Aunt and Uncle's house we gathered to talk about what we would miss the most, what we remember about him that was true to only him, and any funny stories we remembered.  It was sad, but healing. 

We laughed and cried all night and it was so great to be with everyone and remember all the great times we shared as a family.

 

One table was full of pictures of him from when he was a baby, all the way up to when he was Uncle Cody.

 

Soccer stud.

 

 

I love this picture.  I think it captures his smile perfectly.  On this table was a memory book.  During the memorial, there was a line no less than 50 people long, for well over an hour, and everyone signed the book. 

 

We knew we wanted a cousins picture with all of us gathered around his picture, so when we all got there we took it quickly before the crowds gathered.

 

My Mom, Aunt Mickie, Aunt Leath (Cody's mom), and Uncle Dennis.  Support Team Extraordinaire.

 

Cousins---Keegan and Danny.  I love these two boys (men).  They are such good guys and they put up with me being nosy and annoyingly needy all day. 

The Flores Family--and Caitlin.

Danny and Me.  LOVE!

 

After the memorial, we went back to my Aunt and Uncle's house.  Some more pictures.   

One less.  :(  But happy to be together.



 

The Significant other pic---missing three significant others.  :)  

 

 

Cody Hayden     October 13, 1982--June 19, 2013.