In many cultures it is said that you die twice. First, when your body leaves this earthly plane. Second, when there is no one left that loves you to utter your name on their lips.
On this day of the dead, many cultures have ceremonies to remember and honor their ancestors, visits to graveyards to gather and clean the headstone, altars with pictures setup in the home with candles to let the spirits know that they are loved. On this day of the dead, we actually celebrate the life of those that have passed.
“Show me the manner in which a nation or a community cares for its dead and I will measure with mathematical exactness the tender sympathies of its people, their respect for the laws of the land and their loyalty to high ideals.”
~ William E. Gladstone
On this day, I would like to honor, my aunt, Doreen Froehlich, who passed away last month after a tragic auto accident and prolonged ICU stay.
I remember her with a funny story.
My “Aunt Doreen” grew up with my grandmother who was thirteen years older. The relationship was often closer to mother-daughter. In fact, Aunt Doreen was closer in age to my mother. She grew up very close to my mother and her siblings.
Whenever we gathered on summer vacation, my uncle would tell the story of when my grandmother sent Aunt Doreen into the store to get some orange juice. “And make sure that is is fresh!” said my grandmother.
Aunt Doreen comes back with the orange juice. My grandmother sees that the date is expired. “I told you to make sure it was fresh.”
“But it says FRESH right here on the bottle,” argued by Aunt Doreen. It wasn’t her fault.
Aunt Doreen always smiled when that story was told. After several decades, her nephew, my uncle, was still telling that story. She had since collected much more life experience. Yes, she took it in stride, being the center of the joke. She liked the moral of not believing everything you read. She would just smile… and eventually, give it right back with an embarrassing story about my uncle. (More on that one later.)
At her memorial service, her daughter told us her full inspiring life story in the context of the history of the times… An immigrant from Jamaica to the United States, finding a loving husband, becoming a young widow, single mother of two kids, and how she kept a positive attitude and created a beautiful life for her children and grandchildren. This was a beautiful tribute to her life, especially since she was a retired history teacher.
Aunt Doreen, I remember you and carry your love and wisdom (and a few funny stories) into the future with me. Blessings.