Today my uncle lost the love of his life; I received a call at 10:30 this morning telling me that my Aunt Agnes passed away. Uncle Joe and Aunt Agnes have known each virtually their whole lives because they grew up on neighboring farms in Northern Michigan. Aunt Agnes would have been 95 in March and Uncle Joe have been married for 73 years.
You want to talk about what true love is lets look at these two; they never dated anyone else; years ago when the doctors told Agnes she had asthma, Joe gave up his heavy smoking because he didn’t want her to suffer. The fact that Joe is going strong at almost 98 is a testament to the changes in his diet that Agnes instituted after his heart problems surfaced some 40 years ago. My uncle has retired from two different jobs and in recent years he has been the full time care giver for my aunt. She could get around, but lost most of her sight, battled and beat breast cancer, struggled with intestinal problems and became more and more limited in what she could do. She and Joe would finish each others thoughts, but often Agnes wouldn’t let Joe get a word in edgewise.
When they found out they couldn’t have children the just loved all of us nieces and nephews like we were theirs, it just didn’t matter. If anyone of us showed up at their house even as recently as this past summer, Agnes felt she had to cook you a meal.
These two were one, it was always Joe and Agnes and it will always be. Some day I know they
will meet up again in heaven and in the mean time God will be getting an ear full, her famous catch phrase (well maybe infamous and only to the family) “let me tell you” as she shares her opinion.
Love for a life time is not an accident and I am so blessed to have had such an example in my life.
You want to talk about what true love is lets look at these two; they never dated anyone else; years ago when the doctors told Agnes she had asthma, Joe gave up his heavy smoking because he didn’t want her to suffer. The fact that Joe is going strong at almost 98 is a testament to the changes in his diet that Agnes instituted after his heart problems surfaced some 40 years ago. My uncle has retired from two different jobs and in recent years he has been the full time care giver for my aunt. She could get around, but lost most of her sight, battled and beat breast cancer, struggled with intestinal problems and became more and more limited in what she could do. She and Joe would finish each others thoughts, but often Agnes wouldn’t let Joe get a word in edgewise.
When they found out they couldn’t have children the just loved all of us nieces and nephews like we were theirs, it just didn’t matter. If anyone of us showed up at their house even as recently as this past summer, Agnes felt she had to cook you a meal.
These two were one, it was always Joe and Agnes and it will always be. Some day I know they
will meet up again in heaven and in the mean time God will be getting an ear full, her famous catch phrase (well maybe infamous and only to the family) “let me tell you” as she shares her opinion.Love for a life time is not an accident and I am so blessed to have had such an example in my life.
Fowl Words
