Remembering

We spent Monday saying our final farewells to my Great Aunt Violet Goyette. What to say about my Aunt - hmmm, she was always a hoot!  I recall her always being nice to me as a kid and never really scolding me for any of the silly things that children do or get into.  I remember her crazy dog Baron - he was a schnauzer(sp) NUTS! this dog was nuts, he would take on anyone/anything regardless of the consequences.  Her 1967 Mustang  cool car for a cool lady.  Her smile  I will always remember her smile - full of love, caring, grace and honesty when Aunt Vi smiled it was genuine and she smiled a LOT!  Spinning in circles in her living room in Ottawa listening to the Archies sing "Sugar Sugar" over and over again until my cousin Edward could not stand it anymore - hollering from upstairs "enough, please no more".  The German Shepard one or two doors down tied to a large spike in the middle of the lawn barking and lunging at anyone walking by on the sidewalk.  Going to the neighbours down the street to play with their kids in the backyard on the swing - it was across the street and down 5 or 6 houses I recall a really shady backyard with lots of trees. 


Then Aunt Vi moved to Burlington and I remember the first time I went to see her she made us spaghetti and meatballs - I do not even like meatballs but Aunty Vi's were YUM!  Then as I got older I was able to visit her when I moved to Burlington and drink wine spritzers with her and learn about her as an adult.  We would watch movies together.  When I moved away from Burlington Aunt Vi offered her couch anytime I wanted to visit.  The last visit I had with Aunt Vi in her apartment was in 2008 when I was attending a conference in Hamilton.  We were able to catch up and have dinner and wine spritzers - it was that visit that I realized just how old Aunt Vi had become - she was still vibrant and energetic just not in the same ways I remembered her, her memory was not as sharp and she repeated things to me that we had already talked about earlier and the next day while I was on a boat in the Hamilton Harbour I pondered her life and the memories made.  I remember thinking on that rainy day how much time had passed and how lucky we all were that Aunt Vi had lived for so long.  She had seen nieces, nephews, great nieces, great nephews, great great nieces and nephews and the grandchildren and great ones too.  We had just lost my Dad that spring and Aunt Vi could not seem to remember that we had.  It was then that I knew the clock was ticking and ticking loudly for and amazing woman who has changed lives and impacted so many in such a positive way.  Aunt Vi will continue to impact all of us who loved her and held her in such high regard because that is how she lived and all of us who loved her would never want to let her down. 
Aunt Vi you will be missed and truly mourned by so many.  Know that you are loved, missed, treasured, respected, admired, held in high esteem with all those who had the joy and privilege of knowing you.  My Great Aunt Vi...I love you and miss you...you have always been there my entire life and getting used to you not being there has been a struggle but we will be okay, because you also had an inner strength you shared with all who loved you.


Your Great Niece
Lady of the Oak