January 2025
Dear Mom,
It is a new year—2025!!! You left so long ago, but writing to you for eight years taught me that you are always with me. For that, I am very grateful!
I was so saddened to hear of the death of your dear sister, my beloved Aunt Helen. She was a second mother to me for the last thirty-one years and I am deeply thankful for her constant presence in my life.
You, Aunt Helen and your oldest sister Aunt Betty were always close and connected in many ways. After Dad died at age sixty-two, I think it was your sisterhood that kept you alive for the next fourteen years. You wrote and talked weekly. Then Aunt Betty died in 1991. Although you never let on to me, Charlie once told me that you were devastated by that news. Then one morning, when he came to breakfast, you seemed back to your cheerful self. He asked why. You said that Aunt Betty had come to you in a dream to tell you that she was fine. Knowing that must have been a relief to you.
Even though you and Aunt Helen were very close, both of you had depended on your older sister since your father died when you were only sixteen and Helen just seven. Aunt Betty was your second mother, and you only lived one year without her. I understand. Once I had a spontaneous vision. I saw you in your darkened hospital room. Suddenly Aunt Betty appeared in a golden glow, took your hand, and off you went together. It was beautiful. I also had a vision recently of your coming to take Aunt Helen. I am sure Aunt Betty was there too. You three were always a team.
Aunt Helen came to Cleveland immediately upon hearing of your death. It was such a comfort to have her there. She came for the baptism of our two children and later for a surprise birthday party I arranged when Fred turned sixty. She celebrated all of our birthdays. For many years, we would drive eight hours to get to her house in NY, spend the night, then drive five more hours to Cleveland. And of course, we did that in reverse going home, so we had many opportunities to visit. Aunt Helen worked as a teacher but she was also a dedicated home maker. Her house was always tidy, she prepared delicious meals and had little bouquets of flowers around the house. She was also an incredible artist.
I am very much like you, Mom, in many ways—outgoing, optimistic, energized and I love to laugh. But I feel like I modeled my life after my Aunt Helen—family first, orderliness, nature always in my home, and creativity. I have such fun memories of all the doll clothes that Aunt Helen made for me, and then Sara. She always sewed by hand gorgeous baby quilts for every child born in our family. That was a lot of quilts, considering all her grandchildren, great grandchildren and nieces and nephews. Aunt Helen was truly a blessing in our lives.
Just as I have missed you, I will miss Aunt Helen as well. I know she was ready, just as you were, and I am grateful that you both went quickly and painlessly when your time was right for you. Please give Aunt Helen a big hug for me. I am glad you are together again.
Love, Helen
