This is our dear Great Aunt Irma. In Sept we were able to spend her 107th Birthday with her.
Two years ago her only direct relative moved her across the state away from all of her daily friends and great and great great and great great great nieces and nephews who saw her several times a week.
We were only able to visit every few months which broke our hearts as well as hers. Her direct relative did not show up for her birthday and hadn't been seen since the previous year when he did attend her 106th birthday. Sadly he lives 20 mins from her.
Aunt Irma loved us all as we loved her. She especially cherished her great great and great great great nieces and nephews and when at home always wanted to 'have a tea party'.
Our youngest grand daughter and great great great aunt Irma had birthdays exactly 100 yrs apart.
Amazing when you think about it.
Shortly before Christmas Sweet beautiful Irma went home to the Lord and all of her beautiful sisters and one brother. She leaves behind an awesome legacy. Her favorite line was "Come sit down and I will tell you a yarn."
She regaled us with stories of growing up in a large family on a farm, having 3 children, 2 tragically died at young ages, raising 32 foster children with her husband of 54 years.
One foster daughter is still living and calls her Mama.
Irma witnessed so many wonderful and tragic events in her life time. She never flew in a plane but rode in a horse and buggy. She was simple and humble and lived her life accordingly.
Her one vanity was to wear high heel 'pumps' from a young age. She wore them to work, to church, on picnics, climbing a ladder, roofing the barn, hoeing in her garden. She never wore flat shoes until recent years and her feet were badly misshapen.
Irma was a talented artist and loved oil painting. She taught art students for years and finally had to quit 5 years ago at the age of 102 when her eye sight was failing and she had a difficult time getting up and down her steep basement stairs to her painting area.
The last visit with her, our youngest daughter recorded her telling stories and had sent them to us just days before Irma died. We have yet to listen to them. Our hearts are heavy but we know she would not want us to weep and grieve. She lived a beautiful giving, honest life and deserved to go to her final rest.
