08/08/2019
One of the toughest posts to make, so forgive me if I ramble and it’s too long. Last week Aunt Jean was placed in hospice care. I couldn’t bring myself to share this, not even with my mother. I think it was like a bad dream and I felt like i could ignore it and the reality wouldn’t happen. Unfortunately, for my heart, God’s plan was to call her home to heaven late last night. I know she is so happy and no longer in pain. You see, she was more than just a great aunt to me. When my paternal grandmother passed away when I was almost 4, Jean stepped in for her sister and was always there for me. She taught me how to make her mommy’s cookies and sweet tea. I got to make Christmas candy with her and learned that the mistakes were mine to keep(so it didn’t take long for me to fill my jar)! I got to pickle corn, make pickles and bake gingerbread with her through the years. In fact, when I moved away to college, I always got my candy for Christmas, somehow this tradition continued for 51 yrs of my life.
When my dad passed away, I think it is the saddest I had ever seen her. I only realized after the fact that we buried him on her birthday😢.
This amazing lady, always had time to bake me a cake for my birthday, fix my dad a meal, tape his favorite show or UK game. Her and my uncle were the neighbors you dream about. They attended graduations, weddings and mostly funerals the last couple of decades.
Aunt Jean would call to check on me and she always told me she felt like I was her child and she wanted me to make sure and do what made me happy. She was there for me when the days were so rough that I didn’t think I could make it...she was the positive in all the negative, she was the comfort in all the pain and she was Godly when the demons were striking.
For those that worked at DT, you have probably seen Dale’s truck at their house on Indian Creek or seen Arnold at Bob’s beside the garage or Jean getting her hair done at Diane’s.
Aunt Jean gave me a pair of my grandmothers white gloves on my wedding day, she gave me the onyx necklace and the pearls my dad had given his mother. I treasure both of them still. In fact, she told me stories about my grandmother. She made sure I knew the good things along the way. I remember the grapes and strawberries I got to eat straight from the vine! I have lost the woman in my life that was the last part of my dad that I had. Tonight she is with Arnold, Dale and John in a much better place.
You will always live in my heart and I am the one who is blessed for having you love me like your own.
PS, I will strive to be a better person because of you. I love you, thanks for holding my hand and loving me unconditionally.
Till we meet again.
