A tribute today to an unforgettable woman who made me laugh just being in her mere  presence.  My Aunt Frances was so full of energy, always on the go.  She kept busy and had a passion for food and cooking.  She was an immigrant  from Italy and the best kind of Italian you can imagine.  Kind.  Loving.  Joyous.  A conversationalist.  Loved life.

Frances passed away last weekend and I didn’t expect her death to hit me as hard as it has….maybe because this one hits close to home.   Maybe because this current pandemic makes it virtually impossible to properly mourn those we have lost.  Maybe because my cousin Mike (her son) is working in the States right now and is unable to attend his own mother’s funeral  (just like Mike’s wife Connie could not attend her mother’s funeral when she passed away this winter and the borders were closed).  Mike and Connie have both lost their moms in just a few months of each other.   Maybe because my mom was close to Frances.  And maybe seeing her mourn reminds me of the fragility of this life.  How we are here seemingly for a moment…and then, in a blink, it seems, life passes on.   Maybe…

Whatever the reason.  Life is beautiful…like this photo above taken not too long ago at my cousin  Joey’s wedding.   And although Frances had a hard go of it this past year (since the passing of her husband), this is how I will remember her.  A woman who barely came up to my shoulder.  A woman who whenever you saw her was always offering food..and would continue doing so until you left her presence.

Farewell Frances.  I will miss you.