It is certainly the end of an era as my Mom passed away on Christmas morning to join my Dad. Although my Mom had Alzheimer’s Disease and we felt her slip farther from us as each year passed, we were fortunate to have some wonderful moments of clarity in her final days.

As my sisters and I went through old photos, we saw a life which was adventurous and diverse. I knew my Mom for 40 years and saw many changes, new interests and friends. But Mom was already 40 when I was born; she lived a whole lifetime beforehand. As children we see our parents only as Mothers & Fathers; as adults we reflect on the whole person. She was a great woman.

She married my Dad and set off to build a wonderful summer resort. She was smart and she was lighthearted and she was really brave for embarking on this new life. She had so many important relationships with many people. Some were just a sliver of time – but each relationship was a component in the whole. As Tennyson said, “I am a part of all that I have met”. And it is true.

My cousin Marilyn articulated how she touched people:

Aunt Jane’s warmth was evident especially in her welcomes and farewells. She loved to have people arrive, and always greeted us with a smile and a warm hug. And when you left, after the hugs and kisses, she would send you off with the “Austrian wave”- waving until you were out of sight. So for me, these are the three aspects of Aunt Jane’s character that have been revealed and endure – her presence, her warmth and her generosity. – Marilyn Curtis

And for those of you who knew her, the lighthearted honeymooner, the proficient innkeeper, the meticulous boss, the warm friend; she is all of these people to me now, though I miss her most as Mom.