Come Join Our Crusade

On June 25, 2010, my family gathered together to participate in the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life in support of my mom who had been battling metastatic breast cancer.

At the beginning of the event, the cancer survivors lead out the participants in the first lap around the track. My mom courageously walked the full lap around the track with the support of her father and a new found friend, Dov, even though she was frail and ready to surrender her battle with cancer.

With each step she showed more courage. Half way through the lap she removed her hat to show her shaved head. Many of the participants watched with teary eyes as her example gave us all hope.

On April 5, 2011 my mom returned home to our Heavenly Father. It has become common to say that she has lost her battle with cancer but I disagree with this statement. My mom courageously battled with cancer for seven years and continued fighting so that we could have more time with her. Her battle with cancer is not surrendered until those of us who knew and loved her choose to forget her memory. Her battle continues as each of us carries her memory in our battle against cancer.

I hope that there will come a day that none of us will have to face the hardships of cancer. I hope we will not have to stand by and watch those we love suffer the debilitating effects that it causes. I look forward to one more day without the fears of cancer threatening our lives.

I invite you to come join our crusade and continue Kathie’s battle with cancer by donating to our Relay for Life team. Your contribution will help save lives by helping people get well during their battles with cancer, finding cures by funding research, and fighting back by rallying people worldwide to join the fight. Please follow the link and make your donation to the American Cancer Society through our relay team.

http://main.acsevents.org/site/TR/RelayForLife/RFLFY11GW?team_id=824774&pg=team&fr_id=34055

We also invite you to join us on Friday June 24 at 6:00 pm until June 25 at 12:00 pm at Murray High School. The event will be full of fun activities and entertainment. You may find more information at http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=149818208405515

Our Tribute to Our Sweet Mother

Kathie Darlene Woolley Caldwell 1951 - 2011

Kathie Darlene Woolley Caldwell returned to the presence of her loving Heavenly Father on Tuesday, April 5, 2011 after a courageous seven year battle with metastatic breast cancer.

Kathie was born on October 1, 1951 in Salt Lake City to Grant and Clarice Woolley. She graduated from Ben Lomond High in 1970. She attended LDS Business College obtaining her Associate's in 1972. She married her eternal companion Raymond D. Caldwell in the Salt Lake LDS Temple on April 12, 1978. Raymond and Kathie lived in Sandy berfore residing in South Weber. They were blessed with six children Jason, Mark, Amy, Jenny, Matthew and Heather.

A faithful member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, Kathie loved her Savior with all her heart and served in many capacitites. She was comforted by the blessings of the gospel and the knowledge of eternal families.

Kathie had an incredible sense of humor and an ongoing desire to always have fun. She was extremely creative and this was portrayed throughout her life. Some of her greatest traits were patience, compassion, and selflessness. She was an example of courage and she was an incredible mother and grandmother. Some of her favorite roles to play were neighborhood mom, activities coordinator, and party planner. We will miss her innocence, graciousness, and charity.

She was a gifted musician and an outstanding piano teacher who combined her talent, education, and love for teaching for 42 years in her studio Kathie's Toccata Keys. She was a member of the UMTA, MTNA, and the National Federation of Music where she provided countless hours of service in many leadership roles. Her piano business was her passion and she had an amazing love for each of her students.

Surviving are her husband, Raymond; her children, Jason (Rachael), Mark (Kim), Amy (Brad) Beecher, Jenny, Matthew (Stephanie); parents, W. Grant and Clarice Wooley; mother-in-law, Verna Caldwell; siblings, Carol (Glenn), Rick (Doris), Dan (Undrea), Renee (Bruce); seven beautiful grandchildren who were her pride and joy Emilie, Chase, Clara, Kaden, Nicholas, Landon, and Macie; and many in-laws, aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephes.

Preceded in death by her daughter, Heather in 1990; brother, Desmond; father-in-law, Don Caldwell; and both grandparents.

We would like to express our love and appreciation to Dr. Saundra Buys and the staff at Huntsman Cancer Hospital for their knowledgeable, tender, and loving care. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the "Kathie Caldwell Memorial Fund" at any Wells Fargo.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, April 11th at the South Weber Utah Stake Center, 7989 South 2250 East. Family and friends may attend her viewing on Sunday, April 10th from 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. or on Monday from 9:45 - 10:45 a.m. at the Stake Center. Interment will be in the Larkin Sunset Gardens Cemetery. For more of her story visit. http://www.kathiecaldwell.blogspot.com/

Funeral Arrangements

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 am on Monday, April 11th at the South Weber Utah Stake Center, 7989 South 2250 East. Family and friends may attend her viewing on Sunday, April 10th from 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. or on Monday from 9:45 - 10:45 a.m. at the Stake Center. Interment will be in the Larkin Sunset Gardens Cemetery.

In Lieu of Flowers

Throughout our lives our family has been the beneficiaries of many others' service. When Heather was near passing away there were those who helped with Christmas and paying the bills. With any other struggle there were always those who were ready to support. In between those times my mom was constantly teaching the importance of giving to others. She selflessly served when the opportunity was provided. My mom was always one who liked to keep things simple. She wouldn't like there to be lots of flowers because she would rather see something done to help someone else. For this purpose we have established a donation account in the name of "The Kathie Caldwell Memorial Fund." In lieu of flowers please make a contribution to this account at any Wells Fargo. Thank you for acknowledging her wishes.

Remeber Who You Are

Today at 7:38 a.m., our amazing Mother returned to her Savior. She was surrounded by her children, sister, and husband. We will miss her dearly, but are so grateful that she is no longer suffering from her illnesses. The words that she comforted me with when my sister died keep running through my mind. She taught us about the plan of salvation and gave us the knowledge that we would need to continue on with our journeys.

Last night was so hard for her; however, I feel so much peace this morning. She lived a beautiful life and was an amazing example to so many around her. She is an amazing mother! I am so grateful for her example of patience. Patience was one of her greatest strengths. She has endured her journey well.

Please understand that today we would like to just be with family and celebrate our amazing mother. We appreciate all of the unending compassion we have been given over the last 21 months.

This is how we want to remember our mother. Always ready to have fun. These pictures are from the summer of 2009.

Our entire lives as we walked out the door, mom would shout, "Remember Who You Are." Today we will remember who we have become because of her unending love and example in our lives.

Bring Her Home

The last two nights have left me singing the words from "Bring Him Home" from Les Miserables in my head. "God on High, Hear my prayer, In my need, You have always been there, (She) is young, (She's) afraid, Let (her) rest, Heaven blessed, Bring (her) home, Bring (her) home, Bring (her) home" I am not sure what my mom is holding out for but I think we are all ready for her to return home and obtain the rest that she desperately needs. -Matthew

A Precious Moment

This picture was taken Sunday night

This is my sweet niece, Emilie. She is the oldest grandchild. She just turned 7 at the beginning of the year. Her and my mom have always been special friends. My heart was breaking for her as I saw her struggling to know how to react to everything on Sunday. I was about the same age when my little sister, Heather, passed away. I couldn't stop feeling the pain I felt when I was her age. My sister and I had told her that it was okay to just sit and hold her hand, but she seemed hesitant throughout the day. But near the end of the night she found a moment to be alone with her and hold her hand. She asked us to take a picture. I know this would have made my mom really happy.