Nov. 22, 1916 – Dec. 28, 2008

My mother moved from Tovey to Chicago and met my dad during WWII, after her address was posted on a bulletin board at Fort Grant and he decided to write to her. It took a couple of years of correspondence and visits, but they married. They resided in North Aurora more than 50 years. She worked as the grade school secretary, much to my dismay during my years there! Her friendships with teachers and church folk lasted for decades, and when my parents moved to Rochester a few years ago, the goodbyes were tearful but the support plentiful.

She set about making new friends and making her presence known in this small community as she attended library and church functions, as well as meeting a few new doctors, teasing them continually. Even late in life, she was a “hoot” and, though physically easy to keep up with, she was often way ahead of others mentally.

Her final few months were spent at a Taylorville nursing home where she was a delight. Her photo was taken there, holding one of our foster puppies. Her cat lives on with us. She enjoyed visits from our pets and fosters regularly.

What made her special to us, me and my husband, is that she was the last of our parents to leave this earth. She didn’t always understand or agree with us; she challenged us to learn about late-life issues “on the job.” Her faith was unshakeable. She was tough on the outside, but a softie. She wasn’t much for praise, often employing the “you can do better” strategy. But it turns out she told plenty of people she was proud of us and she left it to them to tell us what she’d said. Who knew?

Kate Johnson Hein Rochester