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Last week, a great aunt of mine passed away. Her name, Auntie Lena, a treasure of our family.  It was actually one of the happiest memorial services’ I have ever attended.  Everyone was shaking hands, laughing, telling stories, taking pictures and the music and message during the service was very unlifting. The occasional tear was shed, but really a celebration of her life and the life to come was the true focus. 

Auntie Lena was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease ten years ago and since then had been living in different instituitions in Edmonton up until her death. Having known her mostly with the disease, the service was a great chance to learn that she volunteered in the prisons, with church, out in the community, worked at the local Co-op, lived in Drayton Valley; things I never knew about her.

During the tribute to her, her two son in laws stood up and spoke about her life, and how happy they were that they got to know what she liked so that in her dying years, when she couldn’t tell them, she could still be happy because they knew which radio station to turn on, which clothes were her favourite, etc…

And of course, Uncle Paul, her husband was there and he looked better than I had seen him in years.  I myself am marrying a man who stuck by me in times of illness. And I know that if something like that ever happened to my husband, I would never leave his side either. …You see, I think what attracts me to people is there spirit and life force, that is always constant. In regards to Ken, it’s really not what he can do for me but that his very being, his spirit, his soul is what draws me to him. And no matter what can happen to him, on this earth until he passes on, that will always be with him and I will always want to be by him because of this.

Alzheimer’s does run in families, so,I just thought I would let you know a few things about myself in case one day my memory is not quite so good. ..

Chocolate mousse is my favourite dessert, I really enjoy my meals and home cooking is the best. I like to get dressed up and go out to functions like dances, even if I am just watching.  I ‘ll listen to almost any type of music in my car as long as it is played really loud and I can sing along. I like having Sunday afternoons for family time and feel this is the best day to make soup for supper.   I do not like raisons or tuna and I like my hair off my neck sometimes, and sometimes flowing over my back.   Enough to think about yet?

They the one son in law ended the service with a a reading from proverbs…( a few words different in their version)

” A capable wife who can find? She is far more precious than jewels. The heart of her husband trusts in her, and he will have no lack of gain. She does him good and not harm, all the days of her life.  She seeks wool and flax and works with willing hands. She is like the ships of the merchant, she brings her food from far away. She rises while it is still night and provides food for her household and tasks for her servant-girls. She considers a field and buys it; with the fruit of her hands she plants a vineyard.  She girds herself with strength and makes her arms strong. She perceives that her merchandise is profitable. Her lamp does not go out at night. She puts her hands to the distaff and her hands hold the spindle. She opens her hand to the poor, and reaches out her hand to the needy. She is not afraid for her household when it snows, for all her household are clothed in crimson. ”

“She opens her mouth with wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue. She looks well to the ways of her household, and does not eat the bread of idleness.  Her children rise up and call her happy; her husband too, and her praises her: ‘Many women have done excellently, but you surpass them all.’ Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.” (proverbs 31: 10-21,26-31.)

I hope that one day, I will earn the honour of being described this way.

 Grace