Dear Aunt Jane,
I thought I would write to you here, with a quick note to thank you, for being such a wonderful role model and teacher to me, in my life. For as long as I can remember, you were the first to listen, you never judged, and you always pitched in to help with anything I needed, and always jumped in to help me with the kids. Your visits to see me in Maryland, N. Virginia, San Francisco, and so many times in Skaneateles, were a welcome relief from so much change.
Thank you for teaching me so much growing up. You gladly let me help (pester you) making eggplant parmigian, or cleaning those awful smelt, or stuffing artichokes, all in your basement kitchen. You helped me to learn the "real" way to make sauce (I never did actually put the carrots in the sauce though, but I understood what you meant).
And when I may have come very close to getting into trouble with some misdirected friends growing up, possibly very close to your house on Vardon, I knew I could knock on your door for a refuge if I needed it. That was enough, just to know you were there.
You were a voice of reason and calm for me, over many decades. When Uncle Vince would get on his soap box about his latest conviction on a sundry of topics, you were always steadfast. Somehow you'd always stayed in balance, as you'd say, "Oh Vince" and then simply roll your eyes then laugh at his "enthusiasm." That was the only thing that kept him in check.
Paige and I were driving through Beverly Hills on Saturday, when we got the call about you. How perfect was that! We were exactly where you had loved to go for so many years to stay with your nephew, when we heard you were now on your way to be with Uncle Vince.
You will never be forgotten Aunt Jane, and it was my honor to be your niece and have you in my life for so many years.
Barbara
