Crystal Zevon

Barbara Craven Brelsford, 83, of Sun City, passed away on September 11, 2007. She was born on March 19, 1924 in Summerfield, KS. She is survived by her husband Clifford, two daughters Crystal Zevon and Caren von Gontard, grandchildren Ariel Zevon and Paul von Gontard and great-grandsons Max and Gus Zevon-Powell. Barbara and Clifford were married on June 1, 1948 and had known one another since they were in 4th grade. Her life was one of devoted and selfless service to her family and to humanity. She graduated from Kansas State University with a degree in Home Economics and a B.S. in Nursing from the University of Kansas. In 1956, she and her family moved from Kansas to Aspen, Colorado where they lived until Cliff and Barbara retired fulltime in Sun City in 1978. Barbara used her nursing skills to teach, to heal and to help others in their passage to a better place through more than two decades of dedicated service through hospice. Barbara’s last words typified her life. “Keep smiling,” she said. We carry her smile with us always.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to Eve’s Place, PO Box 8331, Surprise, AZ. 85374 (www.safetyatevesplace.org) or to Chapter CC PEO, Pgm. for Continuing Education, c/o Shirley Dail, 10238 White Mountain Rd., Sun City, AZ. 85351.

Services will be held at Sun City Christian Church DOC, 9745 W. Palmeras Ave., Sun City – 623-972-6179 - on Saturday, October 6, 2007 at 2:00 p.m.

(I can’t figure out how to get the picture in… )

Filed by Crystal at 7:00 pm under Uncategorized
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On Sept. 11th at 9:37 p.m. my mother passed away.  I was alone with her when she took her last breath and after a valiant struggle to overcome her surgery, she just didn’t make it.  They found cancer, spread far and wide, when they opened her abdomen so it was only a matter of time, but we had hoped that she would survive the surgery and come home long enough to see her family, especially her great grandsons, Max and Gus.  But, it wasn’t to be.  Ariel did get to see her before she lost consciousness, and she told us all she loved us.  Her last words, said to me, were to “Keep smiling”.  Not a bad last message… and we’re trying.

I want to thank those of you who have sent me messages.  It does help!

Filed by Crystal at 11:14 pm under Uncategorized
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If there’s anyone still out there reading this much neglected blog, I wanted to let you know that I still plan to get back here eventually.  When I got back to Vermont, I was trying to help Ariel and Ben get caught up with things at LACE, and of course, put in some good time with Max and Gus.  I have also been working on a proposal for a new book (and got thrown a few unexpected curve balls, so I’m having to go back to square one) and trying to hone in on my movie script.  As life happens, my mom went into the hospital a few days ago, and day before yesterday I got a call that she was going into emergency surgery.  I flew to Arizona immediately and she had her surgery yesterday.  The news isn’t good.  She has cancer and it has spread to where it is inoperable.  We’ll get more news today, but I believe I’ll be spending most of my time in Arizona doing hospice care for my mom over then coming months.  The news is sad, and losing my mother who loved me through so many trials and tribulations is not going to be easy… but, she is 83 years old and had a good life.  Being able to be here for her and for my dad is, indeed, a gift and I want to be here to honor them and all they’ve given me.  So, I hope anyone still checking this website will be patient with me.  I should have time to actually work on this site while I’m here and it will probably be a good refuge for me!  Thanks, Crystal

Filed by Crystal at 6:43 am under Uncategorized
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