Dealings with Dillenbecks

Our beloved wife, mother, and grandmother, Marilyn Blackburn Dillenbeck, 59, passed away Tuesday, August 18, 2009 at her home in Orem, Utah, with her husband by her side.  She courageously battled cancer for 4 years, and her family is now happy that her battle is over, and she is with loved ones and at peace.

She was born on July, 24, 1950, in Pueblo, Colorado, to Raymond Hicks Blackburn and Vesta Cobbley.  She was the youngest of three children.  She went to school at Blackfoot High School, LDS Business College, and BYU.  She married Gary Dillenbeck in the Salt Lake Temple on September 27, 1974.  She enjoyed spending time with her family, especially going on many camping trips and 4-wheeling rides.

She served faithfully in many callings in the LDS Church, and found much joy and many eternal friends in her service.  She helped many in her service in the Relief Society, as a councilor, and president.  She helped in Young Women, and the Primary, but loved being in the Nursery best.  Her love and service touched the lives of many, and we will miss her wise counsel.

She was preceded in death by her parents, and brother, Bruce Blackburn.  She is survived by her husband, Gary, her children Tom (Julie) and Kate, brother Richard (Betty)Blackburn, sister-in-law, Judy Blackburn, and her five grandsons.

Funeral services will be held on Saturday, August 22, 2009 at the LDS chapel at 1040 N 400 E, Orem, Utah, at 11:00 a.m.  Viewings will be held on Friday evening at the same chapel, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m., as well as Saturday morning from 9:45 to 10:45.  Burial will take place at the Orem City Cemetery.  The family would like to thank IHC Hospice Services for all their generous care and comfort they provided during the last three weeks, and all the doctors and medical professionals involved, for their efforts in the battle against cancer.

This evening at 10:35 p.m., Marilyn passed peacefully away in her sleep.  She has been a wonderful example to all who knew her, and was faithful until the end.  Gary was by her side the whole time she has been on hospice care, and took great care of her needs.  She has been welcomed into the arms of many beloved family members and friends and entered back into our Heavenly Father’s presence.

We want to thank all who have helped in any way, we have felt so much love and are very blessed.  The love that Marilyn showed to those around her has been returned to her a hundred fold.

Funeral arrangement are being made, but we are planning right now to have a viewing Friday evening at the church north of here, and the funeral on Saturday morning.

Because of the late hour, we were only able to call family.  Please help us by spreading the news, and contact anyone you think might want to know.

Thanks again for all your love and support, it has helped us through this time, and Marilyn appreciated it so much.

Love,

The Dillenbecks

Things are still about the same.  She is still declining but more slowly now.  Thank you for all your prayers, we feel their power all around us.

Love

The Dillenbecks

Today has been similar to yesterday.  Marilyn spends most of her time sleeping but we were blessed with some time this morning that she was more alert and able to talk with us and look around.  More family was able to visit including some who drove many hours to be with Marilyn.  Thank you so much!  We feel her time is close but understand it is all in the Lord’s time right now.  We are not going to be doing any set visiting hours anymore because planning is becoming more difficult.  If you have not been able to visit Marilyn and would still like to please call the house and Gary will let you know what time would be good.

We also know many of you are ready and willing to help.  We are taking much of this one hour at a time but as the week goes on our needs will change and we will ask for the help we need.  We are feeling so blessed and supported right now and we know so much of it is because of your prayers.  Thank you so much.

Love,

The Dillenbecks

Marilyn continues to decline and is sleeping all the time now.  We have decided we will not have visiting hours today.  We want to thank all of you for all your support and love.  While this week has been very challenging we have also felt so many blessings all around us.  We have felt comfort and peace from the spirit.  We will update the blog again when there are any changes.   Thank again for all your kindness.

Love,

The Dillenbecks

Thanks to all of you for your comments, visits and support.   Things are about the same today and we were able to have some dear friends and family come say goodbye today.  We are going to start posting visiting hours on the blog each day and on a sign by the front door.

Visiting hours for Friday August 7th are 2:00pm – 4:00pm – we will also take calls during that time.

We are doing as well as we can and are feeling great love and support all around us.

Love,

The Dillenbecks

Dear family and friends,

Today has been a challenging day and this post in particular is very bitter sweet for us.  Marilyn is declining rapidly right now.  Two days ago her hospice nurse said her vital signs were looking good and that we possibly had a few weeks left with her.   She also taught us of what signs to watch for if there was any change or decline.  This morning we started noticing several of those  signs including sleepiness and fever.  After meeting with the hospice nurse around 5 pm this evening (Wednesday) she said Marilyn’s vital signs were in fact declining and she  had quickly entered the final stage of her life.  She was not able to treat her cancer while in the hospital and then Marilyn made the decision that she did not want to resume treatments after she  was well enough to go home.  She has fought hard in her battle with cancer but has decided she is done.  Without treatments her cancer has progressed rapidly during the last two weeks.   We don’t know what the next few days may bring but we know our time left with her is very short.  Many friends and family have been able to visit her today and she really enjoyed that.  We reserved most of this evening for family time and calling family member to come say goodbye.  We know there are many of you who would like to be able to say good bye.  At this point we are reserving tomorrow morning as family time but we would love to have visitors in the afternoon from about 1pm-5pm.  You can call or just come over during that time.

Our hearts are full and breaking all at the same time right now.  We have felt such overwhelming comfort and peace from the spirit this week.  We truly are finding relief from our Lord as we say goodbye.  Marilyn is a marvelous women.  Her influence has touched many lives for good.  Her Christ like example has blessed so many.  We are able to take comfort in knowing the Lord is watching over us and Marilyn and that our love for her does not end now.  We can love and honor her by following Christ and having faith that we will all be sustained through this difficult time.   We care so much for all of you and appreciate all of your support through this experience.  Thank you for all your prayers, support, and love.

With love,

The Dillenbecks

There has been so much going on and we have made so many posts  that Tom and I wanted to give a review and update.

Marilyn had severe abdominal pain that started on Friday, July 24th.  At the hospital they discovered that one of the medications she was on caused a perforation, or hole, in the lining of her small intestines.  The hole was leaking and causing infection.  They stopped all harsh medication and treated her with antibiotics.  While the hole was healing she was not allowed to eat in order to let her intestines rest.  After a few days it had healed enough and she started on a clear liquid diet.  Last Friday, July 31st, she was allowed to come home.  She remains on a very restricted diet.

Her physical care now requires more than we are able to do without help, so she has begun to receive hospice care. Saturday morning we started communications with hospice care and Sunday August 2nd they came to the house and began their services.  She is now set up in a hospital bed in the home and with the help of the staff we have been able to better control her pain and keep her more comfortable.  We have been very pleased with the care and comfort we’ve been receiving from them.   She is not taking measures or harsh medications to treat the cancer.  At this point our focus and goal is to keep her comfortable and control her pain.

Tom will be staying at the house tonight and tomorrow the kids are I will be staying there as well.  It is easier for us to care for her if we are living there.  Now that she is settled at home Marilyn would love to have visitors.  The best time to come is in the afternoon.  If you would like to come just give us a call first, Tom, Gary or I (Julie) will be there.

We appreciate so much all the love and support we have been receiving from friends and family and want to thank you all!!  We feel so blessed to have so many people caring about Marilyn.

Love,

The Dillenbecks

Marilyn is home!!!  We missed updating yesterday because we were at the house with them helping Marilyn get settled in.  We’re so sorry we missed, especially for the family far away.

She is so glad to be out of the hospital and enjoying the comforts of home again.  She slept well and didn’t have a staff of people waking her up all night.  Hooray!  Her diet is still really limited for the next 2 weeks to allow her stomach time to rest and to continue healing but she is enjoying a variety of very soft food.

Thank you all for your comments, love and prayers.  We have felt so blessed through the last week knowing so many people care and were praying for her.  We will be with her again tomorrow afternoon and we will post again tomorrow evening.  Thanks again for all your love!!

Love,

The Dillenbecks

Marilyn is continuing to feel better, and look better.  She went on a good walk early in the morning, and had a breakfast of Cream of Wheat and yogurt.  She is hoping to go home tomorrow, but we’re still not sure.  The food she has been eating has been tasting good, and everything seems to be working as it should, so that is very good news.

We continue to share the comments with her, and she is very grateful.  Thanks for your concern and prayers.

The Dillenbecks