Remembering My Sweet Aunt Mary

Kathryn, Aunt Mary, Me, and my Mom



My Aunt Mary - for those of you that knew her, you know that there just aren't words to describe how wonderful she was. For those of you who didn't know her - you really missed out! Aunt Mary is my mom's sister and has always had a way of making each person feel extremely special and important. Even though she lived in Texas, over the past few years she has been amazing at planning vacations and bringing her family not only all over the country, but specifically here to Utah to visit us. Because of these visits, Mike and the kids have been able to form a bond with my side of the family and enjoy an amazing part of my heritage. I love that she has brought different grandkids with her each time, so that when we do have those way-too-infrequent-visits with my extended family, they already know each other and absolutely love hanging out together. This is all because of my Aunt Mary. She was all about family, and refused to let miles separate us.


When Aunt Mary had a stroke last month, it shocked and saddened everyone that knew and loved her. We all knew that she didn't want a traditional funeral. In fact, just last summer she sat and had a talk with several of us explaining that when she died, she did NOT want a funeral at all - but she wanted everyone she loved to get together and have a PARTY... in her words, "I mean, not necessarily balloons and everything celebrating that I finally died (hahaha), but I want everyone just to be together." So that's what we did. My uncle rented a beach house on an island in Galveston and we all gathered together there. It was the biggest slumber party I've ever been to! And guess what? It was the first time that the entire family was together (minus my Mike, and my sister's husband Doug, and our kids). It was really awesome and wonderful, since I don't see all of my cousins near enough. We talked and caught up, we laughed, we cried, we walked the beach, went through old pictures, and enjoyed childhood memories - and we even let the kids get their hands dirty making my mom's famous enchiladas. And the beach house? It had Aunt Mary's name written all over it - it couldn't have been more perfect! The dolphins were out in full force, which was especially healing for us, since the dolphin was Aunt Mary's very favorite animal. Overall, a beautiful and wonderful weekend remembering Aunt Mary and enjoying the very short time we had together. Once again, thank you, Aunt Mary for such a great time!

Texas

I've been pretty slow on the take, but here - finally, are some of my pictures from when I went to Texas for Grandmama's funeral a few weeks ago. One of the best things about going back was being able to see everyone... when it comes to family, it doesn't matter how long it's been, once you are near each other it seems like you were never apart. My highlights:

*Seeing family... visiting, remembering, crying and laughing together.

*Getting lost in 'the bad part of town' in the middle of the night (twice - in 2 different towns!), and more importantly, finding our way to where we were going. I'll never forget the conversation with my Aunt Mary, "Was that what I think it was?".... "Yep, drive faster!"... and calling my sister who was in the car behind us, who said to me, "Was that what I think it was?"

*The wichita mountains... every second of our day trip.

*Buffalo and long horns so close I could have reached out the window and touched them - but their look said, "nuh-uh, lady".

*Prairie dogs that I thought were awesome, but wouldn't let me near.

*That flat-lands sunset... oh, it's beautiful!

*Visiting the cemetary, remembering my Aunt Jan, and one of my greatest heroes, my Grandpapa; saying good-bye to Grandmama, and knowing that I'll see them all again.

My Grandmama

Patsy Emerson Koethe Seitz

She passed away early in the morning on Saturday, October 18th while she was sleeping peacefully. Some of my favorite things about my Grandmama:

*  She could tell the best stories, with great detail... I loved hearing her tell me about 'the good ole days', because she could tell me what made them so good. It was so fun to listen to stories about my mom, aunts and uncle when they were little, and imagining her and my Grandpapa when they were younger and learning through their own life experiences.

*  She had an amazing memory - I know that I was born on a Saturday because she told me over and over throughout my life. She could tell you what day of the week any one of her children, grandchildren, or great-grandchildren were born.

*  She was a Christian and had an amazing love for God and the Bible. She had her funeral arrangements done before she died, complete with her favorite songs and scriptures, and it ended with the pastor telling us that she had written a note in the margin next to the scripture John 3:16. Her note said, "It all comes down to this." John 3:16 reads: "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life."

*  Family heritage was very important to Grandmama, a love for which I must have inherited from her. She lived very near where she was born, in a tiny little town... Henrietta, Texas... which is rich with our ancestry. My Grandpapa's very handsome service photo is even there in the Clay County Museum. Grandmama had 4 birth children, and fostered 2 more; 12 grandchildren; and 33 great-grandchildren. Grandmama was also my last living grandparent, which makes me very sad every time I think about it.

*  I've found so much peace in imagining the intense joy at her reunion with my Grandpapa (truly the love of her life!), my Aunt Jan (her youngest daughter), and my Grannie (her mother whom she cared for throughout my youth, showing amazing patience and love).

*  She traveled all over the country, and could tell you how to get from point A to point B, what routes to take, and what routes not to take. Although she traveled so much, she never, ever flew in an airplane. They terrified her. That always made me smile.

*  I'm her namesake, a very important fact that I was reminded of every time I spoke to her... without fail.... and I never tired of hearing it. I always felt so special because I was named after her. She was Patsy, and I'm Patricia.... I can't remember a time that she EVER called me 'Tricia' or 'Trish'... she ALWAYS called me Patricia, keeping that namesake element in there.

*  She knew how to love unconditionally. She let us know when she thought what we were doing was wrong, but nothing could ever change her love for any one of us.

*  It was very important to her that when she died, even though there would be 'a time to mourn'... that we don't mope, but celebrate her life and find joy in our memories of her. Many of us took that opportunity and went up to the Wichita Mountains in Oklahoma after the funeral was over. That was one of her favorite places in the world, and it was such a wonderful experience, filled with memories of when we went there with her and my Aunt Jan, who passed away 2 1/2 years ago. I took lots of pictures and will post them soon.