Just to warn you…this is less of a photography post, and more of a writing post…..last week our family lost our Great Aunt Dodie, my Mom’s Aunt, and my Nanny’s dear sister. Usually when someone says their “great aunt” passed away, you think…oh some little old lady that no one was very close to. In this situation, it was much different, my Great Aunt Dodie was a Grandmother to me in more ways then I can count! The morning after I found out she had passed away, I wrote this for her…not because I wanted to read it at her funeral (not much of a public speaker) but because I wanted to write something for her that would do her justice, that would show how special she really was to us and to so many. She will be dearly missed in many ways, but we are so very happy and thankful that she is walking on the streets of gold with her saviour.
{flowers from her memorial, all the girls were given some to take home…Dodie loved pink, one of the many things we had in common}
In Memory….. Geraldine Alberta Thompson {1916-2010}
As a small girl, I remember going up the elevator to the almost very top of a tall apartment building to visit with my Great Aunt Dodie. My sister and I would spend the weekend there quite frequently, and we always looked forward to it. I remember that elevator door opening and looking to the right, and there she was standing at her door waiting for us with a big smile, and usually her apron on. We would run full speed into her arms and giver her a big hug and wave good bye to our Mom or Dad never looking back. Her house always smelled like delicious homemade food, because there was always something cooking at Dodie’s. Our weekends were usually spent playing with Dodie’s clothes and scarves, she always let us play dress up and dance around her apartment with music playing from a record. Dodie would read to us, let us do crafts, take us swimming at the pool, and there was always the essential McDonalds lunch and dollar store excursion. I think she secretly liked those McDonald’s lunch’s more then us! She would always give us exact change for two items at the dollar store, $2.30. I remember the time that Lisa and I decided we wanted to get something for Dodie at the dollar store instead of for ourselves, and she had that little teddy bear sitting in her room right up until the end. She appreciated the small things. I remember funny things about her apartment like that fact that she froze her milk bags, and always had 6.80 news playing while she cooked, her pink frilly shower curtain and pink soap in her guest bathroom, her bible sitting on her bed stand… What I remember most though is her patience with us kids. She always had that calm patience with us and never ever raised her voice. She had a way of teaching us and calming us with her words. Her many years of teaching must have helped her blossom in this gift. She even spent time tutoring me in math when I wad having lot’s of trouble with it in school. She was always invested in us, always willing to help us, and always wanting to keep us on the right track.
If we weren’t at Dodie’s apartment she was helping out at our house, Mom worked part time evenings so Dodie would come by at least one night a week to give us dinner and put us kids to bed until Mom or Dad got home. She was always so very loving, but always made sure we stuck to the rules, it was the principal in her! She always made sure we ate well, got our homework done and got to bed on time. Mom appreciated her help so much, I am sure she never thought twice that we were in the best possible care when Dodie was watching us. We would sit around and talk, Dodie always wanted me to get into figure skating, every time she saw me she tried to talk me out of Ballet and into skating, sadly it didn’t work, but she sure tried! She took us on a trip to Halifax when I was about 12 years old, and endured Lisa and I bickering in the backseat of the car during the whole entire Cabot trail, let’s just say she did turn her hearing aid off for a while on that trip. I so appreciated that trip, and look back on it, and the photos fondly. She wanted to show us where she grew up, and it was something I will always remember.
Dodie was an amazing example of modesty and beauty, her hair was always pinned up into a perfect french roll, even on a Saturday at home she would put on her tights and skirt, earrings and a little make up, she always looked top notch and put together, and she was put together inside too. She was an amazing example of an unwavering Follower of God, and she always encouraged us to do the same. Her love for God shined through her eyes to others, She kept it no secret who her Lord and Saviour was. “My Daily Bread” was always seen next to her bible on the bed stand and was passed to my Mom after she was finished going through it. Looking back I am so thankful for that wonderful example of a Godly woman in my life, she even encouraged me over and over to follow in the waters of baptism, because she knew it was what God wanted for me. She never wavered, never gave up, and never fell away, and there is much to be said for that in this day in age. Even when she found the man she loved, and he wasn’t a follower of Christ, she wouldn’t marry him, and stayed single for her entire lifetime, because she was obeying God and his commands. She will have many jewels on her crown, and her example will always live on in my heart, my siblings and cousin’s hearts and all the children she taught over her lifetime. Lastly I will remember her laugh, her infectious hollering laugh that she couldn’t stop once started. I can still see her now smiling and laughing. I will always strive to be as patient with my children as you were with us, Thank you Dodie for the influence you were and are in our lives, you will always live on in the many things you have taught us, and of course every time I eat a slice of cherry pie, or smell homemade macaroni and cheese bubbling in the oven I will ALWAYS think of you.
Much Love, Shelley
Matthew 11:25-30 Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.
John 14:27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you asthe world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.
***As a side note, some interesting things I was reminded of again at her memorial service….her first job was as a teacher in a one room school house in Nova Scotia (a real live Anne, or Christy!) She rented a place to teach the students from her school bible stories, she paid to rent it out of her own money because she wanted those kids to know the Word, and she wasn’t able to do it in public school. She sent many troubled teens to camp so they could hear the word of God! ***
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