Lona's Memorial Service

Lona's memorial service was held on Saturday, May 9th. It was a beautiful day, a beautiful setting, and everything was just the way we had hoped it would be.

Thank you to all of our friends and family who attended; it was an important time for Jason and I and we appeciate all of you being there. Extra thanks to our friends & family that put the service together for us and made sure it was perfect: the Fowlers, the Dacks, the Bridgmans, Brad Nadal, Bob Nadal and Juli McConkey.

For our loved ones that could not attend Lona's memorial, we definitely felt your love and prayers. We are posting a few excerpts from the service for you here - a letter Jason and I wrote to Lona and the prayer given by our cousin Juli. Also, our friend Dan Fowler was able to record the service so we will post a link to the video clip soon.

Letter to Lona from Ana & Jason, read by Bob Nadal

Dear Lona,

The moment we found out we were having twins was the most wonderful and exciting moment of our lives. We were thrilled, shocked, nervous and excited. We felt so happy and wondered how we could be so blessed. We told everyone we knew about our joyous news.

As the idea of twins began to sink in, we started day dreaming about what our lives would be like with 2 babies, 2 little girls, 2 teenagers, and eventually 2 grown daughters. We dreamed about our family adventures and made up little stories about everyday life with you and your sister. Although you were not able to live, you have already lived an entire life in our dreams and it was full of happiness and laughter. We will always have those memories of what could have been.

Your Daddy loved to daydream during his drives home from work. He coined the nickname Team LoMax, creating a dynamic duo for the two of you. His friends called the Nadal House “Jason’s House of Ladies.” He would sit and gaze out the window of his car, pray for the safety and health of his “ladies”, his loves. He would create memories of all the fun the four of us would have together and wonder how many tricks you two girls would play on him. At the end of his drive, he would jump out of the car and race in to kiss you through your mommy’s belly.

As you and your sister grew in your mother’s womb, we speculated on your personalities. We called you “big sister” since your size was estimated to be slightly larger and by larger we mean only 1 or 2 millimeters. But, it gave us a place to start. You always stayed in the center of the belly; we thought it was to be close & cuddle with your sister who was regulated to the right corner, . We imagined you to be calm, quiet, almost like a protector of you “little sister” who we imagined to be more active and feisty. We never wanted to label either of you, but based on these imagined personality traits, we decided to name you Lona and your sister Maxine. It just felt right.

Your mommy always wanted a little girl named Lona, named for her Grandmother, Lona Luttenton. For many years, we dreamed of a little Lona running through the house, jumping into Mommy’s arms and riding on Daddy’s shoulders.

We planned to give you the same nicknames as Grandma Lona: Lotus Flower, Lotus Bug and Lote for times when you were being a little stinker. I think all would have suited you perfectly. Grandma Lona passed away this November. We were able to tell her about you just before she passed away and even though she hadn’t spoken a word in days, she opened her eyes wide, smiled and said “twins”! We know that Grandma Lona is in heaven now and we are comforted by the idea of you two being together there; 2 Lona angels in heaven, watching down on our family.

We are planting a tree in the Arboretum in your memory. It will be a living thing that we can visit with Maxine and watch grow over the years. We love the idea of a tree so we can sit under it with Maxine, together as a family. Under that tree, we can continue our daydreams of wondering what you would be like, what you would enjoy doing and get to think about how you have touched our lives with love, laughter and tears.

Our little Lotus Flower. The joy you have brought is matched by our sorrow knowing our daydreams will stay daydreams and our reality will become different than we imagined. Our joy now and tomorrow is knowing that your special identical twin sister still has you protecting her from heaven. Even though we cannot be with you, you will always be our daughter, and we will love you and hold you in our hearts forever.

We feel blessed. We feel your love.

Love,
Mommy & Daddy, parents of Lona and Maxine.


Prayer for Lona, by Juli McConkey

Gracious and loving God, we honor sweet Lona today as your beloved creation. Thank you for her life and for her life lived through Ana and Jason.

When we experienced the joy of her, we were brought once more to life ourselves; and as we experience the movement of grief, we are transformed.

Bless this season of Lona’s loss and the celebration of Maxine. I ask that you guide Jason and Ana toward your presence….toward life. Please hold with them the strength of their union. Continue to blow into them your most holy spirit that remains as they begin to heal.

Please be deeply with them and all of us as we work to live in the present. To know that we are just where we are supposed to be. Help us to not stay with who we once were, nor jump ahead to who we are becoming. Instead be with us as we find the courage to be patient and trust in your slow work.

Finally we ask for the peace in knowing that Lona lives on in your tremendous embrace. We are honored to carry her spirit with us. Amen