A Beloved Aunt has passed

It is with a heavy heart we say a final good-bye to my mother's older sister, she passed away peacefully in her sleep on Thursday July 5.  She had long suffered from heart issues, now she is not suffering any more.  My aunt was the most gentle, strong, loving person I had ever had the pleasure of knowing plus the privilege of calling her "aunt" was a true blessing. Over the years I learned a lot from her gentle nature, strong sense of family unity, caring personality things I will forever carry with me, being forever grateful for having her in my life.  A mother of 3, grandmother of many and great-grandmother as well, she had a long life, good life that deserves to be celebrated.  We will mourn her passing and cherish the wonderful memories she has left behind a person who will be missed terribly leaving a huge void in her absence all the while filling us with love and kindness at the same time. 

Today is the first visitation I am not looking forward to it she was like a second mother to me and a third grandmother to my children.  In the true Italian tradition whenever we went to visit the first question was always "did you eat?" and trust me if you were a tiny bit hungry guaranteed you would be over full by the time you left!  And could she cook!!   I don't think there is a chef around who could hold a candle to the spaghetti sauce she used to cook on an old wood cook stove at their place in Oro-Medonte, I can still smell and taste it to this day! 

My dear Zia Lillina I will miss you, I love you very much.