I am so sorry for your loss, Jill. And I am glad that you had your Aunt Audrey as a "second mom" all your life. She sounds like a delight and a wonderful connection to Warroad and your family history. Thank you for sharing her with us. May her memory always be a blessing.
Thank you. She certainly taught me a lot about how to make things grow and how to pay attention to the natural world around me. And her love of flowers is my inheritance.
Oh, I understand how it is to see your mother in her sister. I have one of those (sadly with dementia as my mom had). Sending love and so glad you had ten years with her beyond your mother’s passing. Lovely memories recorded here.
Heart-warming and full of love. My mom didn't get along with either of her siblings, so it makes me happy to read this and wonder what might have been. I always thought of a sister (I didn't have one) as a precious gift, but my mom saw her sister as a competitor. I loved reading this post and learning more about the heart of your family. I'm sorry Aunt Audrey moved on to other worlds, but I'm glad you were there at the end and got to see her one last time. (Death still hurts.)
I'm glad I got to spend time with her this month. We talked about the one room school house she attended. We talked about when my grandmother became a widow, and when she became one too. She visited me and Sam on a road trip with Mom and Dad in 2000. She said he reminded her of her nephew, my cousin, Krist. She also told me more about my grandfather who died when I was still too young to really know him. Yes, death still hurts.
That photograph is so evocative. I just showed it to someone who collects and writes about art photography for major museums. He thought it was wonderful. You wrote such a lovely tribute - how lucky you all were to have such a loving family.
Thanks, Elizabeth. I am glad to hear the photograph evokes such a strong response in others. It captivates my imagination to think about these two sisters before there was a me.
Thanks, Kayci. She made each of us feel cared for and capable. Life presents challenges and she taught me to "make do." That "make do" spirit is inner strength.
What a sweet tribute to your Aunt Audrey. Your memories brought back many of my own: Thumbing through the pages of the Sears and Roebuck Catalogs, shopping for patterns to make school clothes and my reliance on bay sitting money. Thank you for allowing me to take this journey with you and your Aunt.
Thanks for reading and recognizing your own memories in those I shared with my aunt and mother. We learned valuable lessons from earning baby sitting money and from learning its value by sewing clothes instead of store-bought.
Thank you for sharing your Aunt Audrey with us. Pretty great lady, Mom, Second Mom, Sister, Wife, seamstress , teacher's aide, neighbor, friend. My sympathy to you and Audrey's family.
Jill, thank you for sharing with us your memories of your Aunt Audrey. I just know you meant a lot to her, too. As you identified her as a second mother, I rather suspect she embraced you like a daughter, although being a beloved niece is a good position to be in as well. Her influence will continue to emerge in your own life.
Thanks Margaret. I drove home across northern Minnesota and Wisconsin all day today and had a lot of time to think more about her many influences on me.
Wow, l am a bit envious of your mom's and your sister's relationship - how wonderful for them! And what a lovely relationship she seemed to have with you and everyone else in her life. Her life is painted beautifully here, and I'm so sorry for this loss, Jill! l was completely drawn into this account of your memories of her. I especially love the gardening descriptions and the "lunch" before bed with her and your uncle. She was clearly an important part of your childhood, and I'm glad you got to spend time with her after your mother's death. How close in age were she and your mom? Again, my condolences - sending love.
This is a beautiful tribute to a woman who obviously meant a great deal to you. It’s funny how much your words remind me of the woman who was like my second Mom. I’ll spend the day thinking of Aunt Sue and what she meant to me and my family.
Oh, Jill, that was such a lovely recollection and tribute to your aunt. I'm a little envious that you had your aunt after your mom died. My last aunt died 10 days before my mom, so when Mom died, there were no sisters left. And I sure do miss Mom and her sisters. They were so close. Your essay made me reach into my memory bank for some of the good times. I needed that today. Thank you.
Thanks for reading and I am glad it prompted you to remember some of the sweeter times with your mother and her sisters. It was a special time for me and my sister to be together there again where our mother grew up and to support our cousins in their grief.
I am so sorry for your loss, Jill. And I am glad that you had your Aunt Audrey as a "second mom" all your life. She sounds like a delight and a wonderful connection to Warroad and your family history. Thank you for sharing her with us. May her memory always be a blessing.
Thank you. She certainly taught me a lot about how to make things grow and how to pay attention to the natural world around me. And her love of flowers is my inheritance.
And what a lovely inheritance that is!
Oh, I understand how it is to see your mother in her sister. I have one of those (sadly with dementia as my mom had). Sending love and so glad you had ten years with her beyond your mother’s passing. Lovely memories recorded here.
Still beautiful as I read it again. Happy Birthday, Audrey!!
Heart-warming and full of love. My mom didn't get along with either of her siblings, so it makes me happy to read this and wonder what might have been. I always thought of a sister (I didn't have one) as a precious gift, but my mom saw her sister as a competitor. I loved reading this post and learning more about the heart of your family. I'm sorry Aunt Audrey moved on to other worlds, but I'm glad you were there at the end and got to see her one last time. (Death still hurts.)
I'm glad I got to spend time with her this month. We talked about the one room school house she attended. We talked about when my grandmother became a widow, and when she became one too. She visited me and Sam on a road trip with Mom and Dad in 2000. She said he reminded her of her nephew, my cousin, Krist. She also told me more about my grandfather who died when I was still too young to really know him. Yes, death still hurts.
That photograph is so evocative. I just showed it to someone who collects and writes about art photography for major museums. He thought it was wonderful. You wrote such a lovely tribute - how lucky you all were to have such a loving family.
Thanks, Elizabeth. I am glad to hear the photograph evokes such a strong response in others. It captivates my imagination to think about these two sisters before there was a me.
A lovely remembrance of a woman who meant so much to you in your youth and adulthood. Thanks for sharing a little bit of her.
Thanks, Kayci. She made each of us feel cared for and capable. Life presents challenges and she taught me to "make do." That "make do" spirit is inner strength.
What a sweet tribute to your Aunt Audrey. Your memories brought back many of my own: Thumbing through the pages of the Sears and Roebuck Catalogs, shopping for patterns to make school clothes and my reliance on bay sitting money. Thank you for allowing me to take this journey with you and your Aunt.
Thanks for reading and recognizing your own memories in those I shared with my aunt and mother. We learned valuable lessons from earning baby sitting money and from learning its value by sewing clothes instead of store-bought.
Thank you for sharing your Aunt Audrey with us. Pretty great lady, Mom, Second Mom, Sister, Wife, seamstress , teacher's aide, neighbor, friend. My sympathy to you and Audrey's family.
Thank you Mary. She had many talents.
Jill, thank you for sharing with us your memories of your Aunt Audrey. I just know you meant a lot to her, too. As you identified her as a second mother, I rather suspect she embraced you like a daughter, although being a beloved niece is a good position to be in as well. Her influence will continue to emerge in your own life.
Thanks Margaret. I drove home across northern Minnesota and Wisconsin all day today and had a lot of time to think more about her many influences on me.
There will be lots of people thinking about you after reading this piece. And that includes me.
Thank you, George. I’m glad to have spent time with her this month.
So many great details to remind us of growing up in the 1960s and ‘70s. Thanks and in sympathy ❤️🩹
Thanks Heidi. Lots of fond memories.
Wow, l am a bit envious of your mom's and your sister's relationship - how wonderful for them! And what a lovely relationship she seemed to have with you and everyone else in her life. Her life is painted beautifully here, and I'm so sorry for this loss, Jill! l was completely drawn into this account of your memories of her. I especially love the gardening descriptions and the "lunch" before bed with her and your uncle. She was clearly an important part of your childhood, and I'm glad you got to spend time with her after your mother's death. How close in age were she and your mom? Again, my condolences - sending love.
Audrey was six years older than Mom and an inch or two taller. Thanks for your condolences.
This is a beautiful tribute to a woman who obviously meant a great deal to you. It’s funny how much your words remind me of the woman who was like my second Mom. I’ll spend the day thinking of Aunt Sue and what she meant to me and my family.
I’m glad this reminded you of your Aunt Sue. Thanks.
Wonderful tribute to a loving and wonderful aunt.
Thank you, Naomi
What a beautiful eulogy to your aunt.
Thank you. I visited her home earlier this month to see cousins and it isn’t the same without her.
I can imagine - my condolences. You are keeping her memory alive in a heartfelt way.
Oh, Jill, that was such a lovely recollection and tribute to your aunt. I'm a little envious that you had your aunt after your mom died. My last aunt died 10 days before my mom, so when Mom died, there were no sisters left. And I sure do miss Mom and her sisters. They were so close. Your essay made me reach into my memory bank for some of the good times. I needed that today. Thank you.
Thanks for reading and I am glad it prompted you to remember some of the sweeter times with your mother and her sisters. It was a special time for me and my sister to be together there again where our mother grew up and to support our cousins in their grief.