Aunt Millie from Philly

Posted on | June 10, 2008 |

Me, Aunt Millie and Aunt Ann

It’s taken me a while to write this entry. This morning I received a call from my Aunt Ann that my Aunt Millie (”Millie from Philly”) passed away last night. Aunt Millie was over 85 years young and had lived a very full life. She traveled all over the world and soaked in life. In the past few years, Aunt Millie was plagued by pulmonary disease. She had survived breast cancer and colon cancer. She lived her life to the fullest and she made so many people happy. I was among them. She was truly a special lady.

In the past few months, Aunt Millie had been in pain, though she told only a few people. She hid it from me, though she did not hide that she was missing the quality of her life and that she was very tired. She could no longer leave the apartment alone and this forced her to be less social. For a very social person, this was a blow. We shared coping strategies for conserving energy and living with chronic illness.

I know she’s no longer suffering and that’s what I remind myself every time the waves of sadness come. I’ve allowed myself to smile remembering her in younger days when, over 20 years ago, I spent all vacations and holidays with her. Millie was a unique woman, with friends everywhere she went. It was a blessing to have her in my life. My grandmother knew what she was dong when she left us to her. The world is a better place for having Millie as a part of it and my life has been richer from having her in it.

You will be remembered and greatly missed, Aunt Millie.

Comments