Rest in Peace, Aunt Phyllis

Sylvie's great aunt Phyllis - Grammy Haley's older sister and my aunt - passed away suddenly and unexpectedly yesterday morning.  Sylvie does not understand, of course, why this beautiful early spring weekend is tinged with sadness, why the phone is ringing so much, or why her parents and grandparents are suddenly so emphatic about their love for her.  She cannot yet begin to grasp how such a sudden passing, of someone too young to go, makes everyone who loved that person ponder and appreciate how quickly everything can change.

Sylvie only met her great aunt on small handful of occasions, a fact for which her dad feels both guilty and responsible.  One of many lessons: often there isn't as much "later" as we expect to have for things like getting together with extended family.

My Aunt Phyllis was a big hearted, generous woman with an enormous personality.  She loved her husband, Keith, her three kids, her nine grandchildren, her sisters and all of my cousins boundlessly.  She was also a huge UConn basketball fan, who no doubt hurried through the check-in process up in heaven so she could catch last night's game.

She could be counted on for a frank and honest opinion on anything, solicited or not, expressed freely.  She also could be counted on, period.  I love her and will miss her.

Rest in Peace, Aunt Phyllis.