Heavens sweetest Flower

. Early 1940's

1970's

. Loving Emilia- Nov 2008

. With Bella and Andrew, about 2 years ago

Today heaven received a piece of my heart. My Aunt Emily, the Aunt who was my second mother, the Aunt who my little Em is named after passed away. How incredibly difficult it is to write this, but it is something I need to do. She never wanted recognition or attention, she was happy to be in the background. But today she must be recognized. Today I have to let as many people as possible know what an exceptional human being she was.

She was born with many health problems, polio being just one. She suffered daily, but no one would ever know, I never heard her complain. Everything she did, she did perfectly. The way she dressed, spoke,she was so organized and tidy, even her handwriting was beautiful. I remember trying to be just like her when I was a little girl. I wanted to dress like her , I would try to copy her handwriting , even clean my room and pretend I was her.

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Emily didn't cook, cleaning was her specialty, but when my grandmother died, someone had to take over the cooking, especially Sunday dinner, well guess who stepped up to the plate and blew us all away. Just add one more thing to the list of things Auntie could do, but wanted no credit for. She would say,"I just followed Mama's recipe".

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When I was about 10 or 11, Auntie took me to New York, it was the best time I ever had .We went with a friend of hers and her grand daughter.We stayed at St. Moritz Hotel( that's how I remember the name, I'm not 100% sure it's right, any true New Yorker feel free to correct me), we rode a horse and carriage through Central Park, saw a Broadway play, I Remember Mama, went to the crown of the Statue of Liberty and the top of the Empire State Building. One funny memory I have of the trip is , when we checked into our rooms, Noelle, her friends grand daughter came in our room to tell us that she had a view of central park( I think) any way a really good view. So as soon as she left my Aunt and I looked at each other and instantly went over to our window to see what spectacular view we had. I will never forget how we just looked at each other in disbelief as we opened the blinds to reveal the lovely brick wall in front of us. I am laughing and crying now as I think back to it.

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She was the one who I would "run away" to when I was mad at my mother. She never got mad at me, she always listened as I new she would.We could communicate with just a look at times when words could not be used.

Her greatest pleasure in life were my children. I am so thankful she got to love and hold all of them.

I adored her, she was "movie star" beautiful. I could just stare at her all day. I thought she was the most beautiful person in the world. In spite of all her beauty and goodness, she was never truly happy, she had a difficult life, I could say a sad life. As I talked to my mother today,who was her sister we both acknowledged that this was finally the happiest day of Aunties life. Today she began an eternity without pain, without sadness, without worry. The unkind words that hurt her through out her life will never touch her again. Yes, sadly my sweet Aunt experienced much unkindness from people who "loved her".

She spent the last few years of her life in a nursing home. How my heart broke that day. My mom called this morning to tell me we should get up there. About one half hour later she called back to tell me Auntie was gone. At first I was upset. I wanted to say good bye, but after thinking about it, she did it in her own way. She slipped away quietly without any one knowing. She hated people looking at her . I had to smile at that.

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If I had to pick something to describe her it would be a flower. Something small and inconspicuous, but with the fragrance of a field of roses.

I am sad beyond words, but the sadness is for myself , I will miss her terribly.But what joy I have knowing that, that beautiful flower I love so much is in the arms of Jesus and so happy, so very very happy.