How do you describe a living saint? How do you describe a woman so full of love for everyone? How do you explain that 95 years is not enough? Her name was Ethel although everyone called her Bird. She was my Mom’s oldest sister. Today she joined my Mom and Dad in Heaven. The world is a sadder place today with her passing.
Her name was Ethel Marie Hughes and she was born on November 26, 1926. She was the second of 10 children. She was an Indiana farm girl. She married the love of her life even though the family disapproved and she gave birth to four children, three boys and a girl. She was a Mom, and Grandma, and a Great-Grandma. She was my favorite relative. She was my beloved Aunt.
Aunt Bird had a very tough life. She had to work menial jobs to help make ends meet. She never complained. She retired from janitorial work at Duke University. All of her children lived in her neighborhood. Her house was never empty. Family and friends were always there. She loved it that way.
She was the first relative to see the wedding dress I made for my niece who is celebrating her sixth wedding anniversary today. I couldn’t drive it down to North Carolina for the wedding without letting my Aunt Bird see it. I made countless pictures for her. I gave her a copy of my Diabetic Cookbook when she discovered that she had developed diabetes. I made scrapbooks to show her my art and photography. One weekend I was really sick and couldn’t go up to see her so I made her a new scrapbook. I got this card a few days later. It said:
Dear Michele:
Thank you so much for the lovely scrap book. You are undoubtedly the very best photographer in the world. I’ve never seen more vivid pictures,
Love Aunt Bird
P.S. I missed seeing you. Please get well and come next time.
Aunt Bird was honored by her town for her tireless work in helping to feed the poor. She had little money herself but she was willing to cook for soup kitchens. When I saw her last she had said she had read the entire Bible though four times and was hoping to get through a fifth time. She took to heart the teachings of helping the poor. She took to heart to treat people the way you wanted to be treated. She loved her neighbors regardless of race, color, creed, national origin, sex or sexual orientation. She was one of the gentlest people in the world.
She was my Mom’s rock after Dad died. Aunt Bird had been through the death of her husband and helped Mom the way no one else was able to do. She helped me through the loss of Mom. I remember after the Memorial Mass for Mom as I set down next to her at lunch she said, “Please tell me Pixie was with her when she died.” She couldn’t bear the thought that her beloved baby sister died alone. Pixie was with her and I was able to reassure Aunt Bird.
The world has lost a bit of its sunshine today. It is a dimmer place. A woman so full of love no longer walks among us. The world is a better place for a woman who may not have made world news but she has touched the heart and soul of so many people. I’ll miss you Aunt Bird. Say hello to Mom and Dad for me.