My Aunt Veloy

My Aunt Veloy passed away last night at 9:00 p.m. MST.  She was 91.  I knew this was coming because of her age and because of her recent health issues.  But despite prior knowledge that her death was close, a hole opened inside my heart when I got the actual news.  Why is that when we know we'll see them again?  I think Charlotte put it best recently when she said, "Yea, we know we'll see them again, but it's just so loooong until that time."  We miss them.  Somehow knowing they're still here where we can pick up a phone and call them makes it okay and when that ability is gone, we feel it.

I love my Aunt Veloy.  She's been an important part of my life.  We used to stay with her every time we went to Utah to see one of my siblings in college.  But more than that, something just clicked with me in college and I realized I had this great lady a short drive away.  So I visited her often during that time.  And I learned from her.  Her life path wasn't typical for her time (really, not even typical for now).  She didn't marry until she was 35 and then proceeded to have five children.  Before she married, she graduated from college, worked, and served a mission.  She married someone younger than she was and who made less money than she did at the time.  She told me once, "I just told Wayne - I can live on whatever you make and we'll make it work."  And they did.  She was always an example of the believers.  She was practical, but compassionate.  I always felt like she had my back, believed in me, and loved me.

I am surprised at how sad I feel because this is what she wanted.  Her husband, my Uncle Wayne, died on Sunday.  Aunt Veloy has been struggling with congestive heart failure for a while, but I think she was holding on until Wayne was released (he had Alzheimer's).  Once she knew he was okay, she let go.  I feel for my cousins who lost both parents in one week.  I feel for my Dad who lost his sister.  The sister who was the only one in his family who didn't worry when my Dad married my Mom.  See, my Mom's family wasn't active in the church and you know how people worry about things like that.  But Aunt Veloy believed in my Mom and told her younger brother "Be nice to Charlotte, Mark - be nice to Charlotte."  Obviously my Dad listened because they've been married for 59 years.  I feel for my Mom because she loves my Aunt Veloy like a sister.  She has spoken to her on the phone every couple of days for the last couple of years - what a loss for my Mom.  I feel for my Dad because just like his mother, my Aunt Veloy died at Christmas.  My grandma, Ella (whom I'm named after), was taken to the hospital on Christmas Eve and never returned home.  I guess Veloy just wanted to see her mother about the same time of year.

"Who can find a virtuous woman?  for her price is far above rubies . . . Strength and honor are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come . . . Her children arise up and call her blessed; and her husband also, and he praiseth her . . . Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates."  Proverbs 31: 10, 25, 28, & 31