Today as Lady Hiva and I were out doing errands we found out
that my Aunt Donna had passed away. Her death came as a bit of a shock to me.
Yes, she was battling lung cancer, but she had gone through the surgery and was
mending. She truly was a wonderful, caring woman. She gave all she had to
anyone who needed it and expected nothing in return. She will be missed.
As we returned to my Grandparent’s house to the
all-to-familiar packing and planning to get everyone from around the Country
together for a funeral I had time to sit and think about Aunt Donna and how she
was such an integrated person in the entire family. She was never one to be the
fore front of attention, but touch all our lives and hearts just the same. Many
have referred to her as an Angel on Earth. I would agree to that.
Aunt Donna was always part of our lives growing up. Everyone
in the family could share multiple stories about her witty and spunky humor,
her carefree adventurous nature, her compassionate love for family and her zest
for life.
I want to share some of mine.
Aunt Donna is my maternal Grandmother’s twin sister. The two
complimented each other well. Where Aunt Donna was bursting with adventure and
always making mischief, Gramy is more reserved. Some of my earliest memories of
the two of them were watching them sing a Cabare tune “Just me and my shadow!”
while dancing down the sidewalk of Salt Lake City. I loved to listen in
fascination as they told stories about growing up together and the shenanigans
they would get themselves into.
Outside Aunt Vyonne’s house (the younger sister) there is a
large tree. When we were younger we always wanted to climb the tree. I
distinctly remember a conversation with Aunt Donna that could very well be a
theme to live by. I told Aunt Donna I wanted to climb the tree with the bigger
kids. But I needed her help to make it to the first branch. She responded, “If
you aren’t determined enough to find a way up the tree yourself then you don’t
belong there in the first place.” Those are words to live by.
As I said before, Aunt Donna was always the first to offer
help to anyone in the family—no matter the personal cost for her. If it was
money, time, or any other need she would drop anything and run to the rescue.
She had no children of her own, but anyone in the family could tell you she
loved us all. She never missed a special event, a graduation, a baptism, or a
wedding if she could possibly be there. In fact, when Lady Hiva and I were married
we thought, through a miscommunication, that we were not going to have a cake.
While we were in the Temple Aunt Donna and Gramy went out and found a bakery
and bought a beautiful wedding cake so we would have one. She never asked nor
expected a “thank you” or anything else in return. That is just how she was—giving.
Do you remember those 3-D paintings that were big in the
early 90’s that were geometrical patterns but if you focused just right images
would pop off the page? I loved them! And Aunt Donna would sit for hours with
me looking at them. It became “our thing to do together.”
When I cut my fingers off and was life-flighted to Salt Lake
Aunt Donna and Aunt Vyonne were there at the hospital waiting for us to arrive.
Aunt Donna knew I would need something familiar to distract myself and came equipped
with several new books of 3-D pictures we could look at together.
One of my favorite things about Aunt Donna was every time
she said goodbye—in person or on the phone—she always said , in her cheerful
sing-song tones, “I luva, luva, luva you!” We were always so happy to repeat
her trademark phrase back to her. With those words we knew that in her unique
way, she loved us all.
So today, Earth lost one of its most compassionate angels
and Heaven gained someone to keep them all on their toes. We will all miss her,
but are THANKFUL for her life, her goodness, and her example to us all. I know
I will miss her. I also know that because families can be together forever, I
will one day be able to give her a hug and smile as we race to say, “I luva,
luva, luva you” first.
Aunt Donna, thank you for being part of my life. For showing
me it is OK to be yourself and enjoy life. And, until we meet again, “ I LUVA,
LUVA, LUVA YOU!”
Luva luva luva you was one of eight goodnight saying we needed from our mother before turning out the lights. I was just looking around google to see where we picked it up. Uh oh Spaghettios was another.😁
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