Great Aunt Mary

visiting Mary in Florida

My Great Aunt Mary passed away yesterday, Jan 24. She moved to Round Rock from New York (via Florida) to be closer to family, so we got to see her a lot over the past few years. She spent most of her last years in an assisted living center close to my parents' house. The girls have lots of memories of visiting her there. We'd usually show up and sneak in some favorite food for her--salty french fries or ice cream, and the girls would spread out one of her sheets and picnic on her floor while she sat in her big pink chair and visited with us.

Mary was the one who suggested the name Larkin to us--her mother was named Mary Larkin. Aunt Mary said that Larkin was the name that she had always wanted to use if she had had children.

Once Mary got transferred to the nursing home (maybe 6 months ago), we talked to the girls about how she was getting older and wasn't able to take care of herself as easily anymore. Larkin remembered that Gramma Ruth died in a nursing home and she asked if Auntie Mary was going to die too. We talked about how she might die but we weren't sure when, and that she had lived a great life and was fortunate to have lived so long. Willa was very confused by the situation, and every time we'd visit Mary in the nursing home Willa would say something along the lines of, "Auntie Mary! You're alive!!! I thought you died!!" or "Bye Aunt Mary! I'll miss you when you die!" Then Willa would look at our faces and could tell that we were mortified that she said something like that--and she'd turn bright red in embarrassment. But each time we'd visit, she'd say something similar again. Mary got a big kick out of it though and would just talk about "how cute that Willa is!"

Mary was the kind of person that never forgot your birthday, always enjoyed talking over a cup of Earl Grey tea, and had a memory as sharp as a stick. She was full of funny stories of all the "upstairs and downstairs Wigmores." She loved good food and when she lived in Florida she'd always want to take us all out for a "nice meal" each time she visited. She never knew any of the restaurants in Austin and always left the choosing up to my dad, but would say things like, "Make sure it's a good one!! I don't care how much it costs--I want it to be nice!" One time he chose a famous Texas BBQ place with the thought that the food would be good and it'd be something Texas-y. Turns out the place was BYOB (and Mary wanted a drink), cash only (Mary only had her credit card), and the seating was on picnic tables with plastic plates (gasp!). Mary just about had a heart attack then and there. She never let my dad live that one down!

Thanks for all the time you spent with us and the great memories, Aunt Mary. Willa was right-we do miss you!