Friday, August 29, 2008; my Aunt Bernice passed away quite unexpectedly ...
On August 22, my Aunt tripped over her dog's rope and broke her tibia at the insertion into the knee. We were all laughing because this is so not like her to be clumsy. She went into a rehab/hospice facility since she wasn't able to get around on her own while waiting for the orthopedic surgeon to make a decision on how on to put her back together. She actually was a deacon at this facitility, so it was a good place to be because she was surrounded by friends. But she was fiercely independent so to be in the facility did not always sit well with her even though she needed help. On Friday, August 29, surrounded by friends and her housemate Jeannie, Aunt Bern suffered a massive heart attacked caused by a blood clot. They tried to revive her, but did not have success ...
My Aunt lived a very full life. And a very accomplished life. She was 71. She graduated from Trenton State Teachers College in 1958 and became a high school teacher (phys ed) and a coach. In college she played field hockey and traveled around the world representing USA. But as a child she wanted to be a nun and her parents talked her out of it. So later in life, she actually took her vow of poverty and moved into a convent in Idaho and gave it a try. At her age and level of independence, it was difficult for her to make the proper adjustments. But with her new learning she still followed her calling and helped in hospitals and churches back in her hometown.
My aunt lived in CA while i was growing up and most recently in OR. When i was a child, she was so exotic to me, not only because of her deep tan and no husband, but because of her attitude and she lived in (far away from NJ) CA! When she would come home to visit, my brother (Ricky) and i would follow her around everywhere because we didn't want her to do anything fun without us. We would even spy on her if she would go somewhere without us. The summers that Aunt Bern came home were always the best! swimming / diving, fishing / clamming / crabbing, blueberry picking, whatever - it was all good.
I owe some much of who I am to my Aunt Bern - funny things like introducing me to the best ice cream sandwich in the world - a Which Which; and collecting piggy banks. She got me my very first professional (read expensive) haircut with a "famous" stylist. This was her present to me as i went into my senior year of high school. She always encouraged me to be active and supported in me in whatever i took on - whether it was cheering or when i did not make the cheering squad and went on to field hockey and running. Even as i got older and started triathlon, she would coach me over phone on swim technique.
She never got to see me race, but i remember the first time she was going to come to 1/2 Vineman (2003) and i told her exactly what a 1/2 Ironman is. She wanted to know 2 things - what she needed to do support me and was it a three day race? After my first Ironman (2006) i sent her my race report and a finish line photo, she told everyone what i had done and showed them my picture - like i had won ... She never failed to tell me how proud of me she was, even if i "failed" in what i took on; she was proud of me for trying. So, I will continue to pursue "new adventures" because i know she will continue to support me as long as i try.
My Aunt lived a very full life. And a very accomplished life. She was 71. She graduated from Trenton State Teachers College in 1958 and became a high school teacher (phys ed) and a coach. In college she played field hockey and traveled around the world representing USA. But as a child she wanted to be a nun and her parents talked her out of it. So later in life, she actually took her vow of poverty and moved into a convent in Idaho and gave it a try. At her age and level of independence, it was difficult for her to make the proper adjustments. But with her new learning she still followed her calling and helped in hospitals and churches back in her hometown.
My aunt lived in CA while i was growing up and most recently in OR. When i was a child, she was so exotic to me, not only because of her deep tan and no husband, but because of her attitude and she lived in (far away from NJ) CA! When she would come home to visit, my brother (Ricky) and i would follow her around everywhere because we didn't want her to do anything fun without us. We would even spy on her if she would go somewhere without us. The summers that Aunt Bern came home were always the best! swimming / diving, fishing / clamming / crabbing, blueberry picking, whatever - it was all good.
I owe some much of who I am to my Aunt Bern - funny things like introducing me to the best ice cream sandwich in the world - a Which Which; and collecting piggy banks. She got me my very first professional (read expensive) haircut with a "famous" stylist. This was her present to me as i went into my senior year of high school. She always encouraged me to be active and supported in me in whatever i took on - whether it was cheering or when i did not make the cheering squad and went on to field hockey and running. Even as i got older and started triathlon, she would coach me over phone on swim technique.
She never got to see me race, but i remember the first time she was going to come to 1/2 Vineman (2003) and i told her exactly what a 1/2 Ironman is. She wanted to know 2 things - what she needed to do support me and was it a three day race? After my first Ironman (2006) i sent her my race report and a finish line photo, she told everyone what i had done and showed them my picture - like i had won ... She never failed to tell me how proud of me she was, even if i "failed" in what i took on; she was proud of me for trying. So, I will continue to pursue "new adventures" because i know she will continue to support me as long as i try.