Friday, December 29, 2023
Hello Anne, Bruce and families. My sincere condolences to all of you.
It's been awhile.. 2017, since Mike and I were on your island. It's been way too long. Imelda welcomed us to her apartment on our visit and we had a lovely lunch together and spoke of all of you. She was so very proud of her children, spouses and grandchildren. She said she spoke with so many of you on a daily basis and that her and Hope usually called one another at least twice a day. What an amazing family you all are. I know how much she meant to you as how can one not love a mother, mother-in-law and grandma who spent her life pleasing others. She lives in my heart too as she also made time for letters our way and never forgot a birthday card or Christmas news. She loved her animals too and always assigned them a place on cards. She was a beautiful person inside and out. I recall our trip as youths in 1967 to visit the island. We spent most of the time staying with Aunt Grace, Your family lived up the hill in a white sided house so we saw you quite a bit too and played together. I have a memory of sitting beside a puddle one morning making mud pies with yourself and John and getting thoroughly mucked up from head to toe but she took this in stride. I believe Bruce was just a baby that year but I recall her always on the move, always in a dress, and with her dark curls flying as she hurried along with the chores of the day. Her smile and laughter lit up the room and that image of a young mother will always be with me. I am grateful for having her in my life. She will be missed and mourned and prayed for and remembered.
Take good care of each other.
With love, Cousin Heather and Mike
