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I received an email from my Dad last week. It was a link to my Aunt's (his sister) obituary. Normally this would be one of those times where y'all would offer condolences ... yadda, yadda,yadaa ... but this? It's different.
See? I never knew my Aunt Caroline. I met her once, when I was 9 or 10. I can't even remember what the event was. A wedding? More likely a funeral. I remember thinking how odd it was to learn that my father had a sister that I had never heard about. That was the first, and only time, I ever had any contact with her. Five minutes.
There was some sort of falling out between my Dad and his sister many years ago. I don't know the story. I'm not sure it matters.
What does matter is that when I read this obituary it brought no emotion. No sadness. No grief. No longing for a little more time. I felt no different than I do reading the anonymous obituaries in my local paper.
I should be grieving.
I should have known her.
The lesson? It isn't that my Dad should have handled things differently. No, the lesson is much more personal than that. I cannot help but see the parallels to Cam's complete lack of knowledge of his father's family - the Aunts, Uncles and half-siblings he's never met.
He should know them.
They should know him.
I owe him that.
She is survived by husband, Louie; son, Gary and wife, Kathy Page; son, David and wife, Roxsell Page; and son, Gordon Page. Also, one brother; one half-sister; cousin, Virginia Anderson; as well as numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Memorial Services will be held at Telford's Chapel of the Valley on Friday, February 11, 2011, at 10:30 a.m. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Cancer Care of NCW, P.O. Box 2044, Wenatchee, WA 98807-2044. Arrangements are by Telford's Chapel of the Valley, East Wenatchee.
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See? I never knew my Aunt Caroline. I met her once, when I was 9 or 10. I can't even remember what the event was. A wedding? More likely a funeral. I remember thinking how odd it was to learn that my father had a sister that I had never heard about. That was the first, and only time, I ever had any contact with her. Five minutes.
There was some sort of falling out between my Dad and his sister many years ago. I don't know the story. I'm not sure it matters.
What does matter is that when I read this obituary it brought no emotion. No sadness. No grief. No longing for a little more time. I felt no different than I do reading the anonymous obituaries in my local paper.
I should be grieving.
I should have known her.
The lesson? It isn't that my Dad should have handled things differently. No, the lesson is much more personal than that. I cannot help but see the parallels to Cam's complete lack of knowledge of his father's family - the Aunts, Uncles and half-siblings he's never met.
He should know them.
They should know him.
I owe him that.
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Caroline R. Leininger, 73, of Wenatchee, WA, passed into the arms of Jesus on Sunday, February 6, 2011, at Central Washington Hospital. She was born on Christmas Eve of 1937, in Wenatchee. Christmas was her favorite time of the year. Even with her failing health, she labored to decorate the tree to perfection. She spent most of her life in the Wenatchee area, graduating from Wenatchee High School with the class of 1955. She was a member of the National Honor Society and was an accomplished violinist with the orchestra. Caroline had a beautiful singing voice and performed at many weddings, churches and other gatherings. She studied under the voice teacher, Mrs. Christie, of Spokane. She married and had three sons, Gary, David and Gordon.
She married a second time in 1974, to Louie Leininger and they recently celebrated their 33rd Wedding Anniversary. After several years of marriage, she went back to school and studied art, instructed by Bob Graves of Wenatchee and later with Stephen Sei of Moses Lake. She did beautiful oil
paintings, watercolors and pottery. She leaves behind a legacy of beautiful art. Louie and Caroline resided in Moses Lake for 28 years. It was there she became known as Aunt Bee, due to her participation with a local radio station. She spent many hours discussing the Mariners and the Seahawks with Dave Heaverlo, host of the KWIQ sports show. They debated past, present and upcoming games, trades of players, and her opinions were passed along to many other fans.
She married a second time in 1974, to Louie Leininger and they recently celebrated their 33rd Wedding Anniversary. After several years of marriage, she went back to school and studied art, instructed by Bob Graves of Wenatchee and later with Stephen Sei of Moses Lake. She did beautiful oil
paintings, watercolors and pottery. She leaves behind a legacy of beautiful art. Louie and Caroline resided in Moses Lake for 28 years. It was there she became known as Aunt Bee, due to her participation with a local radio station. She spent many hours discussing the Mariners and the Seahawks with Dave Heaverlo, host of the KWIQ sports show. They debated past, present and upcoming games, trades of players, and her opinions were passed along to many other fans.She is survived by husband, Louie; son, Gary and wife, Kathy Page; son, David and wife, Roxsell Page; and son, Gordon Page. Also, one brother; one half-sister; cousin, Virginia Anderson; as well as numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Memorial Services will be held at Telford's Chapel of the Valley on Friday, February 11, 2011, at 10:30 a.m. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Cancer Care of NCW, P.O. Box 2044, Wenatchee, WA 98807-2044. Arrangements are by Telford's Chapel of the Valley, East Wenatchee.
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