Good Bye Aunt Bernice

aunt Bernice with Jamie in September 2002

aunt Bernice (far left) & Gram (in red) in November 2006

I've known for quite a while that my great aunt Bernice is not doing well. I heard from my cousin on Monday that she was not doing well and was not surprised to receive the call, today, that she had passed. Aunt Bernice is my grandmother's sister and she lived in Arkansas so I didn't see her very often. I last saw my aunt in November 2006 when she came to NM for my grandmother's 90th birthday party.

When I think of aunt Bernice, I remember a bunch of us sitting around my grandmother's kitchen table listening to family stories. And aunt Bernice could TELL a story! It didn't matter that we'd heard the same story a hundred times, she still would have us laughing so hard that we were crying!! At one of these family story telling events, my cousin had the wherewithal to set up a video camera and let it roll. I would love to watch that video right now and remember my aunts laughter and joyful perspective of life.

Aunt Bernice died today, at the age of 88, from complications of Alzheimer's Disease. I'm sad that she's gone, although I know that her last years were not very pleasant and that she is now in a much better place. Rest in Peace my dear aunt Bernice...travel well.