Xmas 08 at Vernstrom's and Oglesby's

The passing of Denise Narhi

It is with great sadness that we report that Denise Narhi was struck by a vehicle near her home in Atlantic Mine, MI. and passed away on 30 August 2007. We had received Xmas greetings from her family last year and were curious as to why she was not in the photo. Now we know that the beloved mother of David, Brent, Keith, Allan and her beautiful long awaited daughter Annika, along with her steadfast husband, Roy are without her enduring presence, artistic talent and devotion that was Denise as a mother and wife.

We first met the Narhi's thru our climbing business but after doing many outings with them we came to consider all of them as part of our "on belay family." Denise and then later Roy traveled with us to Mexico, were at T. Falls, Blues Mounds, North Shore and the Needles over the years. We loved each time that they would show up with their wonderful sons and after each outing we always would talk about how very "cool" it was to know such a great family.

We were at Carlton Peak one day and she was pregnant with Annika, Roy was there and other's. I had a T/R rope set up on a difficult climb we were working on, and she mentioned to me that "I wish I could climb." Which pretty much meant from her, I want to climb to. So I dropped a rope on something I have heard church groups refer to as "stairway to heaven or glow." I call it class 3 or the shortcut to the top, but I wasn't with child. The last move was a little reachy so after a while I bouldered up a bit and offered a little encouragement in the form of a little push on the rear to help elevate her and Annika along, and she topped out. That was typical. Her going the extra effort, even though I would say that climbing was not her game, but trying was.

At the Falls or BM we would say just show up we will take of it then. But you know once in a while when we had all we could handle and we would see Roy and Denise and family coming right us it looked more like a "bakers dozen" and we just looked at each other and smiled, no problem. And of course we wondered if there was anything hidden in that cooler?

We were some of the last "civilized campers" at Chemuyil, and our friend Nora, the liberated masseuse" introduced "the girls" to yoga on the beach and later hosted the exercises while nude. I was told there were photos to prove this, but I never really saw the evidence. I thought I heard more about no dancing, no drinking, early to bed early to rise, etc. about Denise. But angels can be nude. And as a post-script to that...we were back the next year camping there with Roy and Denise and friends and layed claim to be the last group ripped off of everything at that now closed site. I think for me I can claim that on three or four on the Mayan Rivera.

I always felt, as did Mona, that her and Roy's boys were just like our son Chase. You could come up and give them a great hug and get it right back, anytime. I know that every time they were with us or any group that we had, everyone just loved them all. I consider them as one of the great families that comprise the "stories" and will never forget her and the love she had for her husband and children. We are so sorry that we didn't know of her passing but that will never change the admiration that we will always carry when thinking of her.

Thanx for all the cheer Denise, and those "pasties" when cash was low and we were hungry.

http://www.petersonfuneralservices.com/

Thanksgiving orphans gather for another year.