1 September 2024
VOLUME 12 – NUMBER 571
Endia caring for Aura
From Monday through Saturday, the main event for most of us was prepping the house, and installing new flooring. The second, far more significant event happened on Sunday, the day that Aura passed away.
For most of this week, we worked from morning until late at night on the house. Last week we completed the painting of the kitchen, living room, and dog room, and on Monday and Tuesday, a professional painter completed our high-ceiling rooms. This week we finished ripping out all of the old flooring and carpet on both levels, and we also painted of all of the upstairs bedrooms except the master bedroom.
Mom and I were so grateful on Thursday and Friday when family members came over to help out with the installation of the new flooring on the main level. Nate and Natalie taught each of us what to do to help. It took two days, but everyone did a great job, and the end result is amazing!
Nate and Natalie installing new flooring
And all this time, family members were going back and forth between helping us at home with this major renovation project, while also ministering to Aura and her needs. Aura had gotten to the point where she was extremely uncomfortable, and had trouble speaking.
On Saturday evening, at about 5:00pm, Mom called from Aura’s house, and suggested that I come over to give Aura one more blessing. Ashton was at the house helping out, so I invited him to come along.
I felt prompted to bring consecrated oil to anoint Aura. Normally, we only anoint someone once for a specific illness, and Aura had already been anointed in blessings for her cancer. However, I felt that in spite of that fact, I was to bring oil.
Family installing new flooring
A scripture came to my mind where Jesus talks about the anointing of his body for burial, and I understood. We would be anointing Aura to pass into the next life. On our way over to Aura’s house, I shared these thoughts with Ashton, and asked him to perform the anointing.
When we arrived, Aura was sitting on her be, hunched over a side table trying to get comfortable. Ashton started to cry as he anointed her, and then I blessed Aura, and promised her that the end of her suffering would come very soon. I promised her that everything would be alright.
After the blessing, there were others who wanted to come in to her room, including her hospice nurse, so before leaving her for the last time, I took her hand and rested my forehead against hers. I looked into her eyes, which starred at me intensely, and I said, “Aura, I promise you. Everything is going to be okay. I love you!”
Family eating dinner during flooring project
Ashton and I returned home, and Mom stayed with Aura. Her bishop came over and had a final prayer with her, releasing her to continue into the next life. Mom felt prompted to invite Natalie to get the whole Gutierrez family together. They all came over and were able to have a family prayer, and spend valuable time together.
Dennis Sr. told me later that a little before 3:00am, he was sitting with Aura after finally helping her to lay down. He started to get up to go to the bathroom, and Aura tightened her grip as if to tell him he shouldn’t leave. Then she took a couple more breaths, and passed away.
I think it was hardest for Dennis Sr. to come to terms with Aura’s coming death, but earlier that night, as the Gutierrez family had gathered, Dennis told Aura that he was okay with her going. I think Aura waited until she knew that her dad was finally okay before allowing death to come.
We received the call around 3:00am, and Jenny and I and Ashton traveled over to her house to be with the family. Those of us that were there gathered in her room. As I saw her face, it surprised me how peaceful she looked. No more pain. Dennis Sr., Ashton, and I eventually fell asleep on the couch in the front room.
As morning came, the rest of the family arrived and we gathered in Aura’s room again, and sang I am a Child of God and other hymns together at her bedside before they finally came to take her body away.
Family installing new flooring
The night before her passing, just hours before Aura’s death, Mom and I had started fasting that her pain would end, and that she would be at peace. It’s funny because earlier, at Aura’s request, someone got pan dulce. When I woke up that morning, someone brought it in, and I broke my fast by eating pan dulce—in Aura’s memory.
Jesus Christ lives. He suffered and died for each of us. His resurrection proves that he has overcome death for all of us. Aura lives now as a spirit, free of physical pain and suffering. She will one day be resurrected into a perfect and glorified body.
Until then, I believe that she will remain close to us, especially Yaretzie and Itzel. She will laugh when we laugh, and cry when we cry. Perhaps we will feel her near at times when we struggle. She is now our guardian angel, caring for all of us just like she so often did when she was alive.
I love you Aura!
Dennis Sr. and Dad sleeping on the couch
This week [up until Sunday] has been so good. Demoing the house is so satisfying to me, as we ripped out all the old flooring and started painting. Just seeing the change of the house has made a big difference. It takes a lot of work and a lot of people just to get one room done!
Getting everything out of the rooms was a hassle. The basement was so packed with everything from the trailer—we emptied all our camping stuff from the trailer so we could use it to haul off all the old flooring. We also moved items from the main floor and the upstairs down there.
The best part is that we get to sleep outside in the green tent. It's only Veidi, Joanna, Isaac, Kai, and I. The weather was so nice and It's really fun having an outside bedroom for few weeks.
There has also been so much fast food this week, which is kind of fun. I really enjoying working on the house, and seeing it become new and different.
Gloria and Owen
Last week we set up the big tent in the backyard for all the upstairs bedroom people to sleep in. One side was the boys—Kai and me—and the other side was all the girls—Gloria, Veidi, and Joanna.
It was a lot of fun. We got to watch TV and play video games in the tent, and it wasn't ever too hot in the mornings when we woke up.
One day it started to rain, and we didn't have a cover on the tent, so everyone rushed to put it up. Luckily, nothing got damaged, but there were some sheets and blankets that needed to be thrown into the dryer. Overall it was really fun, and I would totally do it again.
Dad using paint sprayer
We’re getting closer and closer to our move to Utah. This week was actually our last full week here, which meant I went to my local gym for the last time.
Three years ago, after multiple other attempts to start weightlifting, I finally gained some momentum and have been going to the gym consistently ever since—just under 600 total times over the last three years!
It’s fun to look back with satisfaction on starting and sticking to something consistently over the last few years. I’ll still keep going to the gym in Utah, but I’ll miss this place I’ve come to so many times here in NC.
Braden’s last visit to his gym
It has been a busy couple of days because we have been putting in flooring, and a painter named Luis painted all the tall walls for us in the piano room and the entryway.
It has also been a tough week because Aura passed away. I remember feeling so sad inside and having so many mixed emotions. It was hard for me that a family member had died. It was my first experience of a family member passing away. We were all so sad that she passed, but I know that her pain is gone, and that she is in a better place.
Braden and Brooke’s empty apartment
I know that God will have mercy on her and on all of us if we try and fight for right. Aura was such a kind person. She was so strong that the last time I saw her, she acted as if she had no pain, even though she did have so much pain. She stayed courageous and stayed with God.
I know if I stay with God, he will have mercy on me. He will stay with me and will help me. He knows when the time is right, when we each need our own second coming—when we each return to God.
Sophie on pizza break on flooring project
On Sunday morning, Monte came into the tent and woke us up. He told us to dress in reverent clothes. I was kinda confused why he said that, instead of telling us to get ready for church. Then he told us that Aura had passed away that morning.
I was shocked. I knew it was coming, but I did not expect it to come so quickly, so I was crying. It was really hard to process the news. When we were all ready, we took the dogs on a walk to get them tired out, until Mom came back from Aura’s house and picked us up.
Braden and Brooke’s moving truck
When we got to Aura’s house, we walked inside and went where she was. I was just crying and could not stop. Just seeing her there was really hard, but she had a small smile, and she was happy. She is now with Heavenly Father and Jesus.
Once everyone was there, we sang hymns. I could not get most of the words out because I would just start to cry. I tried to sing, but it was too hard. We stayed there until everyone said goodbye, and the people came and got her to take her body to the cremation place.
That was the hardest day of the year. It was so hard to process that she is gone. Part of me was saying that she is gone, and the other half did not want to believe it. We came home and took care of the dogs.
Gloria, Isaac, Ashton on flooring project
This isn't a newsletter I thought I would have to write, but here I am. Early in the morning on Sunday, September 1, Mom and Ashton came into my room and informed me that Aura had passed away.
I'm not sure how to write about this, and it hurts even just thinking about it, but I'll try my best. It's been difficult to process what's happened, but what I can say is that I miss Aura so much. She was such a loving person, and she truly cared about all of us.
As a family, we went to her house to say our final goodbyes, before the mortuary came to take her away. She had a smile on her face. She is free from all the pain and suffering that she's been going through for so long.
I also know that this isn't the end. I'll be able to see her again one day. I can only imagine how happy she is right now. I love you, Aura!
Family eating dinner during flooring project
I went camping with my roommates this weekend, and I was driving back on Sunday morning when I suddenly received a whole bunch of texts as I came back into cell service. Mom and Dad had been updating everyone all night about Aura, and I was shocked to read that she had passed away early that morning.
I hurried home to change, and then headed up to Aura’s house with the rest of the family. When I showed up, it didn’t feel real that she had actually passed. Seeing her lifeless body was such an emotional experience for me. I was torn between feeling relieved that she is no longer in pain, and also feeling such a deep sadness that she wasn’t there.
I felt like her spirit was with us, especially as we all gathered around her body and sang some of her favorite songs, along with hymns. I’m so grateful to know that she is still very much alive and watching over us, especially Yaretzie and Itzel.
My heart hurts knowing all that she will miss, but I really do believe that we will all see her, and be with her again.
Mateo helping Nate and Natalie
Aura passed away this week. The past few weeks have been really hard for Aura. She's been in constant pain, so while it was really heartbreaking to see her go, I know she's in such a better place with Heavenly Father.
I love you Aura, and I'm so grateful to have had you in my life. You are such an amazing sister. I love how you would brighten everyone's day, even when you were having a rough day yourself. I know that you are a true disciple of Jesus Christ. Thank you for being you!
Family eating lunch during flooring project
I was in the tent when I heard the news that Aura had passed away. I felt very sad inside, and we had to wait for Mom and Dad to come back so that we could go see her body. We were all sad when Monte told us the news.
When Mom and Dad came back, we went to see Aura. When we got there, everybody was crying, and so was I. We started to sing songs in her bedroom. Then we talked about the memories of Aura, and had some pan dulce.
After a while of talking, we all started to go home. On the way home, I was happy for Aura, because she was know with Jesus Christ.
We drove to Aura's house and went into her room, and we sang songs with the family for her. We had some food at her house, and Itzel, Emma, and I played together with Yaretzie's doll houses.
I felt sad when Aura passed away, and I also felt very happy that she gets to live with Heavenly Father again.
Nate laying the last piece of flooring
It was an extremely sacred experience to be with Aura on her final day in mortality. I arrived at her house to care for her, and Natalie had also decided to come and stay with her.
Aura was in terrible pain. For the last several days she had mostly refused to lay down. When I arrived, Natalie and the hospice nurse had gotten Aura to sit on the hospital bed, something that she had refused to do before.
I came in and knelt down next to her and she draped her arms over my shoulders. I put my forehead on hers as I knelt in front of her. I kept feeling like she was ready and needed to go. I kept whispering to her that everything was going to be okay and that it was okay for her to go. She looked intently into my eyes as if she were pleading to know that was I was saying was true.
I sent out a text to the family to please fast and pray for Aura—she didn’t have much time left and she was in such pain.
Natalie asked me to give Dad a call to come give her a blessing. I let Dad know, and he and Ashton gave her a beautiful blessing. Ashton anointed her and Arkin told her that her suffering would not last much longer.
Jenny watching Owen during flooring install
I then felt impressed to have Natalie start calling her biological siblings and Dennis Sr. to have them come say goodbye to her. I felt that she was not going to make it through the evening.
They all sat with her through the night, and they even called her mother, Maria, who is now living in Mexico. They sang familiar family songs and comforted Aura.
A little after 2:00am, Dennis Sr. said he was going to get up and go to the bathroom, but Aura grabbed his hand as if to say, “Don’t go just yet or you’ll miss it.” A few moments later, Aura took the next step in her journey back to our heavenly parents.
We kept Aura’s body with us until the next morning as family arrived to say goodbye. We sang primary songs and hymns together. The spirit of love and unity was so strong.
I’m thankful that Aura is my daughter, and for every experience that I have had with her. I am thankful for all the beautiful ways in which she changed my life for the better. I love you, Aura.
Mom and Aura (pregnant with Itzel in 2014)