Aunt Linnette -- In Memoriam

Mom (Linnette)

My first conscious awareness of my “Aunt” Linnette goes back to the 1940’s. I was a child of seven years old with a desperately sick mother and younger siblings. My daily routines included feeding, bathing, medicating and pottying my mom, and also my youngest sister, then getting out to school on time.

I remember “Aunt” Linnette coming by our abode to lend her support. She was kind and unassuming. She came knowing that my mom never liked any kind of company at all. Mom was basically an introvert. “Aunt” Linnette’s soft and loving ways brought an aura of warmth to our home that was different from any I had previously known. She had the patience I missed in my demanding routines. She had a kind and loving touch. She would hold your hand, smooth your hair, or give a needed hug. Her eyes looked softly and directly at your soul and knew your need. She was an oasis for me. She took the severity out of the day’s chores and put in some wonder, like learning to knit (she taught my mom) and we had wonderful things to wear, although we were poor. “Aunt” Linnette also had fun kids to play with. There was Ronnie (I was in love with him at 7 years old). There was Barry and Leon and Daryel and baby Dierdra. When they came to visit, I got a chance to roam with Ronnie and play with Daryel’s wonderful hair. It was a wonderful break for me. I never, ever heard a harsh word from “Aunt” Linnette. I did not know until I was 12 that my “Aunt” Linnette was not truly my aunt at all. I was appalled until I figured out that now I could marry Ronnie. That made it all better.

Life, however, had different plans for us all, and we went our separate ways. Linnette and I wrote each other occasionally while she was in Florida, in Queens in the summers, and in upstate New York. Ironically, we lost contact when she was at my relative’s home in the Bronx. Aunt Linnette is now, and will forever remain, in my heart, my mind and my memories as one of the most profound experiences of my childhood. Throughout many bad experiences, I relished the knowledge that there were people like her somewhere out there. I just had to find them and do better. I did. God bless Linnette and her devoted daughter. Give them peace and give her rest.

Love, Sandra.