Sunday, February 12, 2012

Whit's Funeral

Whit's funeral was the following weekend. I took work off on friday and headed down to St. George. I got to the viewing and it was so good to see some of my old roommates. They decorated the church so beautifully. They did a huge display about Whitni's life. The guitar we played for hours, the red shoes she always wore, pictures of her with her family and friends. It was amazing. They also had a few of whit's favorite sweets to take. I got to talk to all of her family members. It was a closed casket but they had the most beautiful picture of whit in her wedding dress right next to her casket. Katie, Kara and I went out and got some frozen yogurt after. It was fun to share memories of whit and to catch up. I went over to Whit's friends house after and played games with them. Whit had amazing friends and they were nice to take me in the last few weeks. I stayed at Andee's house that night.

The funeral was beautiful. Whitni planned her own funeral. Such a Whitni thing to do. She was the best planner that I knew. It was amazing and turned out exactly how she would have wanted it. I had been so sick thinking about this song I was about to sing all week long. How was I going to make it through it? The lyrics were perfect! Anyone that knew Whitni was changed FOR GOOD! When her mom told me that Whit wanted me to sing this at her funeral, I was so torn. How do you sing this song at your best friends funeral. After talking to my bishop about it, he reminded me how lucky I was to know her and asked me if I would have rather only known her for a few years or to have never known her at all. Of course, the later. He reminded me what a privilege this was and that she wanted me to do it and I realized that I could do it and I would do because it was what Whit wanted! I think it went well. I held it together as much as I could. Jared, his parents, and whit's family all spoke and shared memories. There were lots of laughs shared and lots of tears. Whitni wanted the last word at her funeral so they taped her testimony and shared a slideshow during her testimony. Her mom read it because whini got really sick really fast. This is when I burst into tears. What an amazing life! What an amazing friend! What an amazing testimony of Christ! Whitni I miss you SO much and I will love you forever! Til we meet again.....






Whitni's Obituary


Whitni Nisson Reese
June 11, 1981 - September 4, 2011


After her battle with cancer, Whitni Nisson Reese passed away on September 4, 2011. Whitni was born June 11, 1981, in St. George, Utah, to Bruce and Laurie Christensen Nisson. She was the only daughter among 5 brothers.

Whitni enjoyed her childhood growing up in Washington, Utah. She attended Washington Elementary, Pine View Middle School and graduated from Pine View High School. Whitni excelled academically and musically during those years. It was also during this time when she started to establish a group of friends who remain close even to this day. She also gained a strong testimony of the gospel of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Whitni went on to graduate from Dixie State College and attend massage therapy school, becoming a nationally certified Massage Therapist. She then served in the Zurich, Switzerland Mission where she learned to speak the German language fluently. Upon her return, she delayed her schooling to assist her brother, Blake, in his rehabilitation after a serious accident. This experience helped to direct her interests toward physical therapy and she pursued this career at BYU. However, she became more interested in nutrition and as a result attended Utah State University to complete her B.S. Degree, graduating Summa Cum Laude, in Food and Nutrition, becoming a Certified Registered Dietitian.

Shortly after graduation, Whitni married Jared R. Reese on May 16, 2009, in the St. George LDS Temple. Jared’s employment took them to Roswell, NM, where Whitni became employed at Eastern New Mexico Medical Center as a Registered Dietician. During this time Whitni enriched the lives of many by serving as a Ward Missionary and early morning Seminary Teacher for her church.

Whitni loved to learn, travel and serve in the Church. She had a great appreciation of the Gospel, life, family, friends, music, nutrition and science.

Whitni is survived by her spouse, Jared R. Reese of Roswell, NM; father, and mother, Bruce B. and Laurie Nisson; brothers, Neils Nisson (Holly), Nickolas Nisson, Kael Nisson, Blake Nisson (Missionary in Washington D.C. North) and Breyden “Gump” Nisson, all of Washington, UT.

Funeral services will be held on Saturday, September 10, 2011, at 11:00 a.m. at the Washington Stake Center, 446 Mangum Rd., Washington, UT. Whitni elected not to have a viewing, but an open house will be held on Friday, September 9, 2011, from 6:00-8:00 p.m. at the same location. Interment will take place in the Washington City Cemetery.

The family requests in lieu of flowers that monetary remembrances be made at any Mountain America Credit Union under Whitni Nisson Reese.

Whitni and family wish to thank Dr. Derrick Haslem and staff, Dr. Edgard Badine and staff, and Southern Utah Hospice for their special care and concern during her illness.

Because I knew you, I have been changed FOR GOOD!



"It well may be
That we will never meet again
In this lifetime
So let me say before we part
So much of me 
Is made of what I learned from you
You'll be with me
Like a handprint on my heart
And now whatever way our stories end
I know you have re-written mine
By being my friend..."



This was the part of the song, "For good" that I got to sing at Whit's funeral. What a heart-wrencher, right?  I love it though because it puts into words exactly how I feel. Well I remember the first couple of weeks of September like it was yesterday. I got a phone call from our friend Kate, around the first of September telling me that Whit wasn't going to make much longer. My worst fears came true. How was I going to get through this? Was I going to make it down to say goodbye to her? Was I strong enough to see her? It was memorial day weekend, the weekend that we were all supposed to be at the Gorge together, crazy huh. I drove down saturday morning and it was the longest drive of my life. I got to Whits parents house in Washington, Ut, and I went in to see Whit. I don't think anyone or anything could have prepared me. I can't even express the heartache I felt seeing her in the lazy boy. Her mom and her friend trying to help her be as comfortable as possible. They let me have some time with her and Jared. She couldn't talk and her eyes were closed but we all knew that Whitni could hear us. I sat there by her side trying to be strong and fighting back tears. No one wants to see their best friend suffer like that. 


Since I was down there, Whit's mom decided it was a great time to practice the song for the funeral. Whit's mom's friend was singing with me, we started practicing in the living room and I got to my part. It well may be that we will never meet again..... I lost it. It didn't help that I don't like to sing in front of people but the fact that Whit was in the other room made it that much more difficult. We practiced a few times and then planned to practice the next day with our accompanist. Kate was nice enough to let me stay with her over the weekend. Sunday, Kate, Jared, Jared's parents, and I went to church. After I got to spend more time with Whit and her family and friends. I got to witness the sweetest thing. Whit's little twin nephews came over and Holly brought them in to see Whit and Whit put a smile on her face and she mumbled something. It was the sweetest thing and the last time I saw a smile on Whit's face. I felt the spirit so strong in that room. I know it was cause the vail was so thin and I loved that they had hilary weeks music playing all weekend long. 


That night we went over to start working on whit's casket. Jared came over and spent some time with us and then we got a phone call that she wasn't going to make it much longer. I am so glad that Jared was able to make it back to be there. We got a call and they invited us over to the house. It was nice to share tears and hugs with whits family. Whitni looked so peaceful and beautiful. I was so hard to kiss her goodbye but she was in a better place now. 
Words cannot express the love I have for Whit. I always told her she was my Ultimate Best Friend. She always had great wisdom for me, we never fought, we were so similar but in many ways so different. She was my sister. She made me a better person.  It is rare when you find a friendship like that. It is such a hard thing for me to lose a friendship like that. I am so grateful that I Heavenly Father crossed our paths even though it was cut short. I am so grateful that I had Whit in my life. Because I knew her I was changed for good.  She continued to teach me through out her cancer. Not once was she mad at God. She was a huge strength to me and she will continue to do be with the memories that I will cherish forever. 


Monday, I went to Jill's parents house and we worked on the casket. It turned out so beautiful and it was so nice to be around people who were feeling the same way I was. I am so grateful that I was able to share this weekend with Whit's family and friends. 




"I thought the rockies would be rockier than this...."

My last vacation of the summer was a trip with my family to see Mike and Katie. We drove and it was kind of a long drive but it was fun to spend time with my family. We stayed in a little mountain town to break up the drive. One thing that I loved right off the bat is that they had elk crossing signs. Awesome right! I have never seen one before and I loved it. The mountains were beautiful. Katie lives just a few minutes outside of denver and so it was great to stay with them. We went and saw the Red Rock Amphitheater. I totally want to go see a concert there sometime. It was so pretty and it has a great view of Denver city. We also went to the Buffalo Bill museum and grave. It was a great look out point into the mountains and city. We went to a baseball game, which was so much fun. We ate in a little city called Golden. This is a cute little town and home of the coors brewery. One of my favorite things was that we went down to Colorado Springs. We went to a place called Garden of the Gods. It was awesome. It is a city park with red rock formations everywhere. It was fun to walk around even though it was super hot. We tried to go to the north pole but it was closed. sad day I know! We went to my cousins Kimra's house on sunday for dinner. My cousin Troy and his family also came down to see us. It was so great to see them and their families. A few of my favorite cousins. It was a fun trip. I am so glad that we fit it in before school started. 
At the Ball park



Garden of the Gods, Colorado Springs



red rock amphitheater


Having fun with my camera at a small lake by katies house



Park in Golden, CO



Up at the Buffalo Bill museum