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today the glitterbomber is... |
2003-03-24 last night, i found out that my great-aunt, kate, died. it was a bit of a shock to me, but i'm not too terribly surprised, since she was in her 90s. i wasn't especially close to her, but it's still sad. she was a loving, generous woman. i remember going to her cool, old house once or twice when i was young. it seemed enormous to me, and there were interesting little rooms and weird niches in the walls. another aunt-type person, zia, lived there with aunt kate and her husband, my uncle otto (whose full name is octavio, which i find hilarious). zia was a tiny, old italian lady who spoke little english and wore housedresses. she died when i was ten or so. aunt kate always brought tons of food to any family gathering. (we're italian. we have to live up to that stereotype.) every year, she sent me birthday and christmas cards with ten dollars tucked inside and a note to give "love to mom and dad." aunt kate's mind had started to deteriorate from alzheimers when she got older, but she went downhill faster after uncle otto died five or six years ago. when her hygeine and nutrition became questionable and her safety became an issue, her children made the decision to sell her house and move her into a retirement home. i think she was pretty out of it the last few years, and even though i don't think she would have known me, i regret not going to visit her. her cards stopped coming, and that's when i knew she wasn't doing so well. i continued to write to her, though. the viewing is tonight, and the funeral is tomorrow morning. i think i'll do okay through it. i am, however, looking forward to seeing my mom's side of the family, since i don't get to see them much anymore. what's the quote about only getting together for weddings and funerals? |
