MY TRIBUTE TO MY DEAR FRIEND PENNY

As I sat in a session in the Bogotá, Colombian Temple yesterday and during the past three days working with the missionaries in the CCM, my mind constantly kept going back to Penny. I have laughed and cried as I have thought about my experiences with her over all these past years and my deep love her for. I cried myself to sleep and then woke up in the wee hours of the morning and repeated the same thing over again. Then my heart was comforted when I thought of how wonderful it must have been for a mother and daughter to once again hold each other in their arms in that joyous reunion of pure love. That would have been a glorious sight to have witnessed.

I have reflected on how much I truly love Penny and how much I will miss her. I wish that I could have told her all of these things when I talked to her on the phone on Tuesday but I was so overcome with emotion of knowing that would be the last time that I would speak to her that I just couldn't tell her all of the feelings that were in my heart but I think that she already knew them. What a choice person she was and what a profound influence she has had on my life over these many years. I have truly been blessed because during one's life it is unusual to have a friend like Penny enter it and bless it by just being her radiant self.

I can't think about Penny without seeing her electric smile and hearing her laughs and giggles. I will miss that but I have stored those sounds in my memory bank and so there they will live forever. She had the ability to always make a person feel important and make them feel that they were her best friend. I never had a doubt but that she loved me. She was always willing to listen when I needed to talk and always had great insight into the problems that were concerning me. She accepted me for whom I was and didn't judge me when I was having a bad day. She was a sister to me in every sense of the word…a sister as much or sometimes more than my biological sisters. I truly treasure my sweet, cherished memories of Penny….or as she was referred to in our family…."SISTUR CHAIRWEE".

Together Penny and I have shared laughter, appreciated the beauties of this world, enjoyed peaceful-quiet moments, shed tears, worried and stressed over our families, had many discussions about the Gospel, felt the Spirit testify to us and have known that our Heavenly Father loved each of us and watched over us and our families. We have shared thoughts and feelings of the rich blessings that we had because of the men that we married…their love for us and our families and for the priesthood that they hold. We have been fortunate to have had husbands that were servants of the Lord and because of that they have blessed our lives and the lives of our children. We both love the Gospel with all of our hearts and were willing to serve in whatever position we were called to. In this life we have indeed been blessed women and because of the Gospel we have been rich women!

Steve, yours and Penny's marriage is a love story, an eternal love story. She adored you and you her. Your attention to her in these past months has been absolutely wonderful and endearing. Penny loved her children deeply and fiercely and was so happy that they married wonderful mates. She loves her sons-in-laws and her daughters-in-laws. I didn't think that she was ever going to live to see her grandchildren but she was fortunate to get to know 10 darling grandchildren. Their lives will be rich when they are told stories of their Grandma Penny.

Penny had great compassion for people and was always doing something to brighten another's day. The scripture, "When you are in the service of your fellowmen, you are in the service of me" certainly applied to her. She had a great desire to keep the commandments and do what her Heavenly Father had asked of her even when it was difficult for her. I also know that she was very appreciative of the love and service that was rendered to her and her family in her times of need.

There was a story that Penny loved of when her family first moved into the Cambrian Park Ward. She and Steve were at a Ward Party and Penny was getting some refreshments. Karl Pearson walked up behind Penny and put his arms around her from the back and told her how fun it was to see her and how much he loved her. She stiffened at his embrace because she didn't know who he was and then when she turned around he was equally shocked because he didn't know who she was. He apologized profusely and told her that he had thought she was Sis. Shurtleff. That story always made her laugh when she would retell it but as she got to know Bro. Pearson, she also loved him dearly, just as I did.

The times our family camped with the Cherry, Smiley and Anderson Families at Yosemite and at the beach are some of our family's most cherished memories. Listening to our children tell of the fun escapades that they had done during the day, the bike rides, watching the boys kayak down the river or the kids climb the rocks, sitting around the campfires at night, swinging in the hammocks, going on hikes or walks, crawling into the boys tent and being overcome with the smell of stinky shoes, playing games, watching John, Michael, Kent and Jason play soccer, taking rides in the car and then having to push the Suburban back to the campsite or quietly discussing the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Those were the times that memories were made of!

One time we were going to make scones for everyone for breakfast but we needed a place for the dough to thaw and rise overnight. Penny offered that we could leave the dough in their trailer during the night. Well, the next morning when they woke up there was dough everywhere as it had been so warm in the trailer during the night that the dough had expanded in grand proportions. That morning we all experienced some tasty scones!

One day Penny came over to my house. I called to her to come in as I was talking on the phone. She entered the kitchen and right then water started pouring, like a running garden hose, out of the ceiling chandelier above the kitchen table that was located right underneath the kid's bathtub. I just started squealing and was frantically looking for a towel or something in which to catch the water. Penny didn't waste anytime as she was a woman of action. She just grabbed the Chocolate Sheet Cake that was sitting on the counter and put it under the running water. Have you ever seen walls with soggy, splashed chocolate cake on them? I said, "Penny, WHY did you pick my chocolate cake of all things? She just looked at me in shock and then we both just burst into laughter. She then helped me clean up the soggy mess.

In Hong Kong, Penny, Tracy (her sister) and I were in the gift shop of the Hard Rock Café at 10 o'clock at night. I was just standing in the back of the room waiting for them when a Sumo Wrestler from Japan walked in with his body guard. He saw me standing by the wall and kind of smiled at me and made a grunting. He then had his body guard take a picture of him but the body guard kept having him move over a little and then a little more. It was apparent to me that they wanted me to be in the picture because I was a large woman. Finally I said, "Would you like me to be in the picture?" They were thrilled by my offer. As the body guard was snapping photos Penny walked up. I said, "You need to come and join us". I wish that you could have seen the pure delight on that Sumo Wrestler's face with a woman of ample proportion on each side of him. We made his day and he made ours!

In China we were in a restaurant and I ordered my meal. After I was through Penny chastised me because I had ordered a Coke to drink. She said, "I can't believe that you would order a Coke when your husband is the Stake President." I told her that when I was in a foreign country that I didn't know if I could trust their water, I always ordered a Coke". She said, "Well, I am going to order bottled water". Our drinks came and she tasted her water and said, "This tastes awful. Taste it!" I said, "Over my dead body!" She drank a little more and with disgust said that it tasted like dish water so she didn't drink any more. Well, for the next week her poor body paid dearly for that bottle of water.

On one of our trips to Europe the Cherry's offered to keep Kent for us so he and John could play together. At dinner one night Kent told Penny that he didn't like the green beans that she was serving. She said, "Kent, at our house we always try a little of everything." He said, "But Sistur Chairwee, my mommy doesn't make me eat green beans because I don't like green beans." Penny said, "Well Kent, we want you to just try a few of them. It is a rule in our family that you eat a little of everything." Again he pleaded his case but Penny persisted. She told me that he then took a couple of chews, gagged and then threw up his green beans all over their table. After the shock, Steve said, "Well, I guess dinner is over. Get in the car kids. We are going to McDonalds." A cheer of glee erupted from the children at the table. Don't you just think that it is a miracle that you still remained friends with us after this?

One story that I really loved to hear Penny tell was when she had gone to San Francisco for a few nights with Steve for a School Board Seminar. She said that she was really feeling fancy and special that she got to stay in such a nice hotel…I think it was the Fairmont. She said the next morning when Steve was in meetings she decided that she was going to go out walking and be a part of the San Francisco scene. So, she put on makeup, combed her hair, put on new panty hose, got dressed in a new outfit and then put on her coat to go outside. She said that she looked really good was feeling quite special. When she was walking across the lobby of the hotel she could feel that her new pantyhose were slipping down. So, she put her right hand in her coat pocket so that she could hold on to them while she went back to the elevator to go up to her room. She kindly smiled at everyone in the elevator but by the time that she got to her floor she exited the elevator taking little, tiny Chinese steps down the hallway to her door as she was fearful that her pantyhose were going to completely fall down. When she got to the door of her room she realized that the room key was in her right pocket, the pocket where she was desperately holding on to her panty hose. Well, what was a woman to do but let go of them and get her key to open the door. When she did…shazammmm her pantyhose went to her ankles. A maid, down the hall, witnessed the whole thing and burst into laughter. She came down to the Penny's room and she and Penny sat on the bed and laughed and laughed. Penny could not tell this story with laughing so hard that tears would roll down her cheeks.

And how can any of us think about Penny without thinking of her love for music. She used her talents as the Choir Director for the Ward Choir. She used her talents for the children at Noddin Elementary School and they will forever remember her as she touched their lives through her positive, encouraging personality and music. She loved to sing with her children and they with her. She would cry with pure joy when she would hear Kristi or Traci sing. Her beautiful Alto voice was a great addition to the Santa Clara Chorale. Oh, how we had fun at those rehearsals, much to the Director's chagrin, and then cherished the experiences of singing the Classics in concert. How fun it was to watch Penny's face when Michael came to the Chorale Christmas rehearsal with his RED hair. Instead of being embarrassed she just laughed with the rest of us because everyone loved Michael's fresh approach to life. And she was proud of John because he worked on the production crew for the Chorale and had the reputation of being a trusted, hard worker.

It was within the four walls of the Cherry Home that a great work was accomplished. Each child has married in the Temple. Kristi, John and Michael served missions. All of your children have graduated from College. Because of loving, nurturing parents they have flourished. Penny was a very special wife, mother and friend. She was a radiant individual, a daughter of God and she took her job of mother very seriously. Pres. Hinckley said that "It is in the home that your children learn the truth, that they learn the Gospel, that integrity is cultivated, that self-discipline is instilled and that love is nurtured". Steve and Penny, you were able to accomplish this in your home. How fortunate your children have been as your home was a little bit of Heaven on Earth. Blessed were they that resided within your four walls.

I love all of you Cherrys and always felt that you were part of my family. I will miss your mother dearly but she has left me and you with choice, choice remembrances.

So, Penny my dear friend, may God bless you…..until we meet again.

ALMA DON

Thoughts from Bob & Pat Jensen

We were trying to listen to Penny's services but our speakers are so bad that we could hardly hear what was being said. (That gives us good reason to finally go out and buy some new ones.)

It must have been Tracy giving the eulogy. Didn't hear it all but the first part gave the perfect description of sweet Penny. So, don't know what to add to it. Our own personal comments would be just the same. We can't remember when Penny wasn't smiling, loving, and welcoming. We always felt special around her. She had that quality to make people feel comfortable.

We appreciate the life she lived and the way she lived it. She was a great example to us all. We're just so sorry that her past few years, months, and days were not all that wonderful healthwise. She deserved better in our eyes. But Heavenly Father knew what she could bear...yet another example to us.

We will always remember Penny Cherry as a bright spot in our lives.

Bob and Pat Jensen

Thoughts from Joe & Julie Lindsey

As personalities go, Penny was extremely outgoing and talented. It was just fun to be around her. There is a group of "older" couples in the ward who periodically get together for a game night; typically dominoes. We were playing Mexican Train on one of those nights. Penny was there on her scooter and having a grand time. Everyone but Penny was there to play. She was there to have fun and tell stories. She kiddingly told us we needed to lighten up. She proceeded to tell us stories about her adventures on her scooter... like when she inadvertently bounced it down the stairs while she was on it at Stanford Hospital. We kept having to remind here when it was her turn. She would laugh at her not being able to concentrate and then tell more stories. Who knows or cares who really won the game that night. The best part was that Penny was having a wonderful time and enjoying life in spite of her situation. Her love for life brightened an otherwise droll night.

We love you, Penny. Prepare a place for us all to come see you again.

Joe & Julie Lindsey

Penny's Memorial Service

Here is the audio recording of Penny's memorial service. It was a beautiful service and went very well. Emotions were strong but those who spoke were able to make it through their remarks very well. There were so many wonderful stories that were shared. We loved the funny stories and took comfort in the many fond memories of her kind and loving nature. She will be missed greatly. The service also helped us to recognize that she is happy and comfortable and that the Lord is mindful of her and us. Thanks to the Savior we will be together again and our bodies will be made perfect through the glorious resurrection. What a wonderful blessing of peace and comfort the Gospel brings. Especially during this time of sadness we are all so grateful for the peace that the Spirit brings.

http://www.divshare.com/download/7535909-9db

Great loss for all

Hello All,

Evening comes and our thoughts are to the Cherry family. It doesn't seem possible that Penny is no longer with us. We just are so used to all of our brothers and sisters in our Ward and while it is expected that as we all get older, we will go one by one, it is quite another matter when one of us who is still young and is called home.

The following picture is how we remember Penny and we want Steve and the family to know that our hearts go out to them at this difficult time.



Even though Penny had to use that scooter, she still had fun as can be seen at a Ward Picnic. This wasn't just a static picture. Penny drove them all around the park on her scooter. She and the scooter defied the law of gravity, even with 5 on board! Nobody wanted to get off after a long ride!

When those of us older than Penny think this through, we don't know how it is possible that we can live as long as we do. We just kind of think all will do the same. This is a reminder of how frail this life is and how careful we need to be to cherish the time we all have together here as members of the Church.

May the great faith of the Cherry family help them through the rest of this life and may we all look forward to seeing Penny when we meet again in our eternal homes.

Bill and Elisabeth Thomas and Family

A letter from Tracy Felt (Penny's sister)

Dear Family,

I called the Cherry home and had a chance to speak with Sue, Penny's dear friend and next-door neighbor. She told me the most amazing story about Penny's "pizza party" last night. I had to share as many of the details with you as I can remember, because they are every whit exemplary of Penny's loving nature and joyful spirit.

Yesterday Penny was feeling a bit better and asked Tracy to call as many as possible and invite them to join her in her hospital room that evening for a pizza party. Penny listed what she would most like to have, so Sue purchased 5 pizzas (sausage/ pepperoni/ mushroom pizza and tomato & basil pizza), ice cream, and pumpkin pie. They even had balloons! Sue brought plates, cups and "Happy Birthday" napkins, because they wanted to think of it as celebrating a "new birth." When Sue arrived with the pizzas, Penny asked, "Did you bring any dominoes?" (It's probably just as well that Sue hadn't, because the last thing Nikki & I did with Penny before driving off to Costa Mesa was play "Spinner" dominoes with her, Kristi and Christy. Penny finished with a perfect score of "0" -- So how do you top that?)

The room was crowded with at least 20 family members, grandkids and friends. Mike & Natalie flew in, Tracy was there with her babies, Kristi & Jason drove up with their children, and Steve's sisters Donna, Kathy, and Becky came. Sue & Jerry and their daughter Alicia were there, as well as Sue's parents. There were lots of phone calls made. The hospital set up a "poly com" line for Penny so that she could speak to family and friends on a speaker phone. They even called Ecuador and talked briefly with their good friends Lynn & Almadon Shurtleff.

Penny asked for some Primary songs, so Kristi & Tracy sang and Penny joined in, singing "I Am a Child of God." Then in honor of Mom/Grammy, they all sang "I Love You, a Bushel and a Peck," and then Steve started singing "You Are My Sunshine" with nearly everyone joining in. Allie & Ben put on a little performance for their Grandma, singing a couple of songs, including a cute Halloween number. Penny spoke with each visitor directly, sharing her feelings of love for them, and--as you can imagine--she had lots of hugs and kisses for all the babies. Everyone shared fun stories and memories, and Penny even related one of her "most embarrassing moments" from high school (involving a Sponsors inspection and a famous slip on the ice in front of a chemistry class window).

What could be more genuinely "Penny" than to have such a delightful gathering of family and friends filled with songs, laughter, smiles, ice cream, and expressions of love all around!

After speaking with Sue, I spent a little while visiting with Kristi and she related some very precious stories of this morning spent with just parents and siblings together. I can't begin to relate them all here, but there are a few I'm sure you would like to know. Penny would frequently doze off, and before coming to, she would giggle. The immediate family members who were able to be there gathered around her bed for a family prayer, and as soon as it was said, Penny began to giggle, opened her eyes and exclaimed, "Now that's an image I don't want to share!" and everyone broke into laughter. What was the image? Well, that remains to be discovered in the next life...

Penny told her husband and her children, "I feel so at peace, so happy." She told Steve, "I don't think I could ever love you enough" and "I'm so glad I share your name." Then as her strength was fading, and she was dozing off, she opened her eyes, and one of the last things she uttered was, "It's Wonderful!"

Like you, I honor this amazing woman who has shown us how to exit this life with joy, dignity, and grace, and has helped us to understand that the transition into the next world can be filled with calm delight.

Much love,
Tracy