My husband is one of eight kids. That’s a fair amount of brothers- and sisters-in-law to get to know and get used to. Now add to that the fact that my husband’s mom is one of nine kids and you can understand that in this family, there are relatives galore.
The sheer volume of family members was a wee bit intimidating to a newly-engaged 19-year-old who grew up in a small family. That’d be me. I have a fairly clear memory of teenaged me, madly in love with Chad and glad to be meeting his extended family, yet trying to remain invisible in the corner of a very crowded and loud room, wondering how in the world I would ever, ever remember the names of all his cousins. It was a good day when I could actually recite his brothers’ and sisters’ names in chronological order. Heck, there were more people at his family’s gatherings than there were in my entire church!
But for that shy and nervous girl, wondering if she would survive immersion into this boisterous crowd, there was a lifeline. There was a relative who made me feel accepted in a so-glad-you’re-here kind of way, who wasn’t content to let me hide in the corner but rather made sure that everyone knew my name too, who always made sure I had a place to sit and someone to chat with.
That was Aunt Hazel.
There was never any need for pretense with Aunt Hazel. You didn’t have to impress her. You didn’t have to be overly polite and say “I’m fine, thanks” when you really could go for a glass of water. And you didn’t have to worry about whether you knew all the right things to say. She knew just how to pull me, the consummate introvert, into a conversation, and how to make me feel right at home in a situation that would normally have me feeling quite out of my element. She liked to tell stories (and I admit I’ve always enjoyed hearing about Chad’s childhood trouble-making adventures), she laughed easily, and there wasn’t a single person around her who doubted that she loved them.
Aunt Hazel passed away last Thursday, far too young, far too soon. C. summed things up as we were leaving the funeral to make our 5-hour trip home yesterday: “I just can’t imagine this family without Aunt Hazel.” Although he’s only 8 and hadn’t had the opportunity to get to know Aunt Hazel well, he knew — along with the rest of us — that with Hazel gone, we are left with an aching hole in our hearts. In many ways, she was, to me, the anchor of family get-togethers. And she will be — and already is — deeply missed.
We are so thankful to know that Aunt Hazel was a child of God. (If you’d like to know more about what that means, please click here.) She had given her life to the Lord, trusted Him for her life and eternity, and so we know that now she’s with Him. There is a true and meaningful joy in that knowledge. I’ve learned in the years since my father died that as time passes, we don’t necessarily miss our loved ones any less, but we’re gradually able to feel more of that joy and less of the pain that at first is so raw.
Tonight as I sit here in my quiet house, I remember that wonderful, kind, loving, laughing, welcoming woman, and I miss her already. We love you, Aunt Hazel.
That is very sweet. It’s wonderful that she was such a wonderful woman. It will be interesting to see who takes up her mantle.
My prayers have been with your family and my sympathy goes out to all of you.
On a lighter note, my dad’s parents were each one of 10 children, so we had all of these great aunts and uncles and we didn’t ever remember who was on Mammaw’s side and who was on Pappaw’s side.
She sounds like a fantastic woman. How lucky you were to have loved her!
I am so sorry for your whole family. What a treasure Aunt Hazel sounds like.
With sympathy and prayers,
Julie
What a beautiful tribute to an obviously amazing woman. I am thinking a lot right now about how the women in my family have given me an incredible heritage, passed down even in the small things of day to day life. I want my daughters (and sons) to carry those things passed down from my Mimi, mother and aunts. I want to affect them and others like these women affect(ed) me. I am sorry for your loss, but it sounds like you have much to be thankful for.
Blessings,
~TaunaLen
I’m so sorry about Aunt Hazel. It’s never easy to lose someone you love, but you did her proud with your description. She sounds wonderful!
Oh, the pull of being joyful and sorrowful all at the same time. I have often wondered why it is that christians can have strong faith, but then so deeply grieve the loss of a loved one. Amazing how God created us.
My prayers are with you and all of the family in this time. You ahve written a wonderful tribute to Aunt Hazel! As she sits with God, I am sure she will continue in her ways…the ways God created in her.
Blessings to you all.
What a beautiful posting! Prayers for your family at this time of loss.
I’m so sorry Katrina…..I’m thankful that you will see her again.
Laura
You are so sweet to remember Hazel this way, and to capture the memories for all the clan. Love and prayer to both you and Chad.
So sorry for your family’s loss. Thankful that she is at home in heaven! Hazel left a great heritage for those who come behind. “Let it be said of us…”
What a beautiful post! I am so sorry for the loss your family is experiencing. She sounds like an absolute gem!
Hazel sounds like a wonderful woman. I’m sorry for your loss.
Oh, Katrina. I’m so sorry for your loss but I rejoice with you that she’s with the Father now! (((hugs)))
I’m so sorry for your loss. We can definitely see through your post that she was a wonderful woman who greatly affected many lives. ((Hugs and prayers for your family.))
I’m so sorry for your loss. She sounds like an amazing woman. I also had an aunt (a great-aunt) like that in my family and when we lost her when I was 12, I never thought our family would be the same. The great thing, however, is that even though she’s been gone since 1990, there has yet to be a family gathering where stories of her impact on our lives aren’t shared. She may be gone in presence, but she most definitely lives on forever in our hearts and in our memories. I’m sure it will always be the same for your Aunt Hazel.
Every family should have an Aunt Hazel. I’m glad she was there to love, support and encourage you.
That was a beautiful tribute, Katrina…but it left me wondering…who sees YOU as their Aunt Hazel? I’ll bet it’s true…since you obviously learned much from her…
Aunt Hazel sounds like a fantastically wonderful woman. I’m sure you whole family will miss her, but you have the blessed assurance that you will see her again someday.
I’m praying for your family as you go through this sad time of earthly loss.
Every family needs an Aunt Hazel. Thank you for allowing us to know a little about her.
Katrina,
I was hoping you would write something about Aunt Hazel. How good for me to hear she had a special place in your heart too. She was so down to earth and put me at ease the first time I met her at Grammy Kocher’s. I too was overwhelmed at the large family…although they came in groups of 2′s, 3′s and 4′s to visit Grammy and Pappy.
Thank you again for the sweet tribute.
Oh, Katrina, my condolences on such a big loss.
Aw, I’m so sorry to hear about “Aunt Hazel”, Katrina. But, also glad to know she’s with Jesus.
She sounds a lot like my Grandpa was (and he went on to Heaven in 2000). Grandpa welcomed my then-fiance into our family without any condemnation or judgement, despite the fact that my sweety wasn’t a believer. He really left a lasting impression with my now-husband, and we’re ever-grateful for that.
((HUGS))
<>< Mizbooks
Katrina,
Thank you for remembering Hazel. It is wonderful how God allows you to throw together words and have them fall together in such a wonderful way that everyone can know a piece of our aunt.
I miss her dearly as I watch patiently to see who will be our children’s Aunt Hazel.
Garr
What a wonderful legacy your Aunt Hazel has. I’d love to be an Aunt Hazel. I think I can see my daughter-in-law through your eyes as she deals with our extended family gatherings. I’m one of 8 also. Blessings on all of you and may God comfort you in your loss.
Your Aunt Hazel was truely a special person, she had a peronality that could light up a room with her presence. She was always there to save me from monsters in the dark as a child and kept me from gting the spankings I deserved as a kid. I just wished I had been a better brother to her and been there when she need help the most. I know she is with Gram and Pop in heaven and watching over all of us that she loved and loved her . Bless you all !
Uncle Dan