Thursday, May 23, 2024
Good morning, I’m honored that Phyllis has asked me to share some memories of my Aunt Margaret. As I chatted with family members over the last few days about what to say this morning, I heard the same themes again and again; that Margaret was a force of nature, a dynamo, and a rock of strength. In a word, she was the was the matriarch of this sprawling, boisterous and often tumultuous family. She embodied the idea of servant leadership, showing us the way forward by her example. When little more than a girl, she began caring for the great aunts that had taken her family in when they first arrived from Kentucky. As she grew, she took on responsibility for her siblings (including her baby brother, my dad) and looked after her parents, aunts and uncles. However, even with all these other demands on her time, she embraced motherhood as her most important vocation. Later, she became a fiercely devoted grandmother, literally fighting so that she could be present in her grandchildren’s lives. Then, in the twilight of her life, she had the rare good fortune to know and enjoy her great-grandchildren. Looking back across nearly a century, Margaret’s life is the thread that weaves together six generations of our family (take that in for a moment, six generations...).
Of course, as we all know, Margaret also endured more than her fair share of tragedy -- she lost loved ones far too soon and there were others she tried her best to help but couldn’t reach. Other women might have broken under the strain of these misfortunes, but Margaret was incredibly strong, keeping her sorrows to herself while sharing her joys with so many. Despite the loss, despite the pain, she carried on with steely determination, always looking forward. She did what she believed was right, even when that wasn’t the easy path. Jesus tells us that a true disciple must deny themselves, take up their cross and follow him. Margaret carried her cross without complaint and never gave up. Now, after a long, long life, she will follow him home. We can say goodbye without sadness, knowing she is in a better place and being glad to have had her in our lives. May her memory be a blessing.
