On Memorial Day I received a text message from my mother’s cousin saying that his mother was in the ICU and asked us to pray for her. At the age of 92 I knew this was not good news. I was upset all day and decided not to tell my mom until we had more information. That night my Great Aunt (my maternal grandmother’s little sister) passed away. Hubby and my dad took care of the children and puppies while my mother and I traveled to Northern Wisconsin to pay our respects and attend the funeral. At such late notice we ended up taking red eye type flights and I was so grateful that airports have wheelchairs for my mom. My mom's cousins could not have been kinder to us and it was so sad to say good bye to a place I have been going my entire life. We were truly saddened by her passing but inspired to live the way she lived. Aunt Hope read to her preschool class she volunteered with and spent hours volunteering at the Richard I. Bong Center before going into the hospital. She was able to see her entire family on Sunday in the hospital and passed away the next day. Her memorial service was truly a celebration of her life and was exactly the way I want my funeral to be. I would also like to make it to my 90s if I can be as independent and such a huge contributor to the community like she was. I also hope I can have an adorable great grandchild like she did too. I absolutely loved being able to hold my second cousin’s little boy and meet my cousin G’s wife for the first time. My mother has a great family and even though I would have liked to visit under different circumstances it was still wonderful to see them.
Hope was the last of her generation in our family (being the youngest of four siblings) and we grieved the loss of her big sister all over again. I am still blessed to this day by having the grandparents that I did and I was glad to visit the church they were married in, the court house where my grandmother was the first social worker and visit the small cemetery where they are buried and bring flowers along. God willing I won’t be a total let down for them and can pass some of those blessings on to my children and their children as well. Love you, S. Family!
P.S. I wrote this soon after coming home from Wisconsin but have been very behind on updating the blog. Blame the puppies! I have to say I miss receiving her letters in the mail. She was my very best pen pal. My children and I are so sad we won't get to go visit her again -- at one point we were all planning on driving up to see her and stop at Nauvoo, IL along the way this summer but I had a feeling that I shouldn't plan out that trip after I started to do so. I miss her backyard and am grateful some of the masks that were given to her by my grandparents and hung in her living room are now hanging in my basement. I wish her family the very best as they go through this difficult time. Yes, she was 92 but her sudden passing reminds me to tell your family you love them and take time out from cleaning the house to do something more meaningful.
P.S. I wrote this soon after coming home from Wisconsin but have been very behind on updating the blog. Blame the puppies! I have to say I miss receiving her letters in the mail. She was my very best pen pal. My children and I are so sad we won't get to go visit her again -- at one point we were all planning on driving up to see her and stop at Nauvoo, IL along the way this summer but I had a feeling that I shouldn't plan out that trip after I started to do so. I miss her backyard and am grateful some of the masks that were given to her by my grandparents and hung in her living room are now hanging in my basement. I wish her family the very best as they go through this difficult time. Yes, she was 92 but her sudden passing reminds me to tell your family you love them and take time out from cleaning the house to do something more meaningful.
Comments