Well That's misleading. She is actually only 4'11" tall but she was my big sister because she was the oldest, then my brother and then me.
She was born in London in 1946 just after the war. In 1948 the family moved to Chicago to follow my father's family that emigrated to the US. She was a normal 50s and early 60s teenager. The bobby socks and the high beehive hair doos. Married her high school sweet heart after he returned from military service. Brian was her first born just a year after. The along came two girls. She had the typical Chicago family. A nice house in the city with the proverbial basement bar where family and friends gathered to drink and watch the game on TV. Then her husband had the heart attack before he was 50 and all changed. He changed. He left her, didn't take care of himself and spent all their savings and pension. He died shortly thereafter leaving her alone and in debt. The kids had all moved out. Brian the eldest was soon to be married. Dawn, well she was a party girl but joined the Air National Guard. Kelly was going to college.
Now alone she decided to follow our parents out to Ventura, California. My brother had come here during his hitch in the Air Force and stayed. My parents retired here. I followed to Northern California so we were all here within reach. She rebuilt her life with work and friends. Daughter Kelly also moved close by soon after also. We were a family.
Brian stayed in Chicago, married and works hard to provide for his wife and two boys.
Dawn, continued in the Air Guard and the Air Force and is now a Lieutenant Colonel with a husband also in the USAF and they have two boys.
Kelly is a single working mom that works hard and has three boys.
Yes my sister has 7 grandchildren, all boys.
She died yesterday. The cancer got her. She was 66.
Brian and Kelly were by her side.
I loved her so.
My big sister.
She was born in London in 1946 just after the war. In 1948 the family moved to Chicago to follow my father's family that emigrated to the US. She was a normal 50s and early 60s teenager. The bobby socks and the high beehive hair doos. Married her high school sweet heart after he returned from military service. Brian was her first born just a year after. The along came two girls. She had the typical Chicago family. A nice house in the city with the proverbial basement bar where family and friends gathered to drink and watch the game on TV. Then her husband had the heart attack before he was 50 and all changed. He changed. He left her, didn't take care of himself and spent all their savings and pension. He died shortly thereafter leaving her alone and in debt. The kids had all moved out. Brian the eldest was soon to be married. Dawn, well she was a party girl but joined the Air National Guard. Kelly was going to college.
Now alone she decided to follow our parents out to Ventura, California. My brother had come here during his hitch in the Air Force and stayed. My parents retired here. I followed to Northern California so we were all here within reach. She rebuilt her life with work and friends. Daughter Kelly also moved close by soon after also. We were a family.
Brian stayed in Chicago, married and works hard to provide for his wife and two boys.
Dawn, continued in the Air Guard and the Air Force and is now a Lieutenant Colonel with a husband also in the USAF and they have two boys.
Kelly is a single working mom that works hard and has three boys.
Yes my sister has 7 grandchildren, all boys.
She died yesterday. The cancer got her. She was 66.
Brian and Kelly were by her side.
I loved her so.
My big sister.
