Tuesday, March 15, 2005
Aunt Bernie was a very special lady to me. She was a wonderful Godmother, always remembering me every birthday and Christmas. She was the first Aunt that I can remember to have family reunions at her house. Being young, I remember having so much fun at them. Aunt Bernie always, as Brenda remembered, met John, Jeff, and me with open arms no matter if we were seeing her in Gloversville, Northville, Amsterdam, or Florida. She never failed to ask me about Jeff and Ken whenever she saw me which meant a lot to me because she always accepted Jeff and Ken as my own children. Occasionally she invited our family and even after I was married, John, Jeff, and I to dinner. She prepared a delicious dinner and had a beautiful table using her best china. She always made jello topped with whipped cream for dessert and put it in fancy dessert dishes. Many years she came to Northville on garage sale weekend to sell some of her things. It was always a fun day and she was always thrilled how much money she made. When I had her for dinner she always brought me a full grocery bag of fresh or frozen vegetables from her garden and pickles that she made. I remember once when my Mom and my Dad were on vacation she came up and helped me for an entire afternoon can pears for Mom. I feel blessed to have had so many enjoyable times together with Aunt Bernie. She made me feel special from a baby until I was 50, which will probably be more than half of my life.
Aunt Bernie was one of the hardest working people I know. She had selflessness and determination. When I was 17, I will never forget being in Boston the day the doctor shock his head and told us that she had a very short time to live due to her breast cancer. I remember during one of my Mom's and my visits with her a couple of months later she said to us that she was glad that she was the sister that had the cancer since all her other sisters had younger children and that Harol was already an adult and independent. She wanted her sisters to see their children grow up like she had and for her nieces and nephews to have a Mom growing up. I am so happy that she was one in a million who survived breast cancer in the 1970s and that Harol had her Mom for so many additional years. Recently my Mom told me, Aunt Bernie wanted to be a teacher. I truly wish she could have been a school teacher, she would have been an outstanding educator. She was a teacher in many ways to all of us, teaching us that family is precious and to enjoy them as much as we can.
I have many fond memories of Aunt Bernie that I will cherish forever. I was so blessed to have her as a wonderful Aunt and Godmother and I loved her very much.
Darlene M. Burr Holubetz, niece and Godchild
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