The Craftiest Workshop

Our family lost another loved one this past weekend. My Aunt Betty was my mom’s brother’s wife. My first aunt to pass away.

Betty and Joe lived in Montreal and then Guelph during my lifetime but they met and married in Chile.

They had five children, all boys that were much older than me. I recall a time when we were living in Orleans ON and I had just had my first child. My Aunt and Uncle drove from Montreal with three of their grandchildren to visit us in our 1000sqft townhouse. I remember Aunt Betty commenting that it was good that I had had a strong baby boy as my firstborn.

Our family travelled by train to Montreal a few times when I was growing up. Betty and Joe also came to Kamsack to visit. It is hard to get to know family well when they live across the country.

After we were married, I was fortunate to have visits with my Aunt and Uncle at my cousin’s family gatherings at Thanksgiving and sometimes Easter. We were always invited when we lived in Barrie, Trenton and Ottawa. My Uncle would tease and ask my kids difficult life questions; only Thomas was able to hold his own against him. My Aunt would be sitting quietly close by laughing at something that was said a gentle hand on his arm. They would speak tenderly to each other in Spanish. Their love for each other was always apparent.

My Uncle Joe and my cousins doted on my Aunt Betty; always protective and loving towards her. I never heard her raise her voice; more often it was the sound of her laugh rising above the din that you would hear. She didn’t seem to let things bother her and always seemed relaxed.

My last visit with my aunt was in 2014. We travelled together to Saskatchewan from Ontario for my parent’s 50th anniversary. It was wonderful to hear stories about my cousins that I had not heard before. Spending time with her was easy and the conversation flowed. It is hard to believe that seven years have passed since then.

She had a stroke just under two weeks before she passed away. The extended family and friends gathered via messenger sharing pictures and stories which Betty was able to see and have read to her. She passed away quietly early on Oct. 9 at the age of 89.

She lived a long and beautiful life and now she has joined Joe in heaven.

There are some who bring a light so great to the world that even after they have gone the light remains.