My cousin Anna died this afternoon of cancer.

My mother married quite late while her brother married early, so Anna and I were a generation apart; her first two children were slightly older than me. Some of my earliest memories are of Anna bustling around her kitchen. Her mother and father (my Aunty Petrina and Uncle Tommy) lived next door and the former was not well. Anna raised four children as well as helping her mother every day.

When I was quite small Anna's husband Anthony hurt his back at work and became permanently disabled. He worked at what jobs he could do, but to supplement their income Anna began selling Avon products. She became known as the saleslady you could depend on. She always filled her customers' orders promptly. She delivered all or most of her orders rather than requiring, as some reps did, the customers to come pick them up. If you went to the house at any time of the day or evening, Anna might be out delivering Avon, or she was at home, working on her accounts or orders. But no matter how busy she was, her children never wanted for attention or love, and neither did her mother as long as she lived.

At holidays Anna's kitchen was a happy, boisterous place. Her table always groaned with food and her home was welcoming. She had a loving helpmate in Anthony, who cared for the children and helped her with the Avon, and who was always a merry, joking soul. They complemented each other and adored each other.

Over the years Anna had many health problems, but she never gave up doing her work and caring for her family. For a long time she had severe psoriasis, the skin on her arms angry and red and sore. When she was first diagnosed with cancer, she put her chin up and persevered, despite sickness from chemotherapy. She never turned away her children, or their children, as long as she was well enough to help them.

When my mother needed a ride to the doctor, or help with the shopping, or just some company, Anna—and her family—were always there. Mom and Anna ended up going to the same cancer specialist and would arrange their appointments on the same day. Afterwards they would treat themselves with ice cream at the Newport Creamery close to the doctor's office, a sweet moment in a hard day.

There are so many artificial benchmarks of being "great" in today's society. A person is supposedly "great" if they make large amounts of money, or sing or act or dance better than others, or achieve some goal in sports or sex. They are all insignificant. Anna was not famous. She didn't have a hit television series or win American Idol or stand for public office. But she was still a great lady.

A great lady passed today.

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. . . . . noted and logged by Linda at 9:49:00 PM

Comments:

I am sorry to hear about your cousin. I know she was one of those people you have to have in your life. I know you and the rest of your family will miss her greatly.

# posted by  Anonymous : 10:54:00 PM

 

I'm sorry to hear it, Linda. How old was your cousin?

# posted by  Tina : 10:27:00 AM

 

Anna was in her 70s.

# posted by  Linda : 12:56:00 PM

 

Linda, I'm very sorry to hear that your aunt has passed away. From your description of this great lady, it seems she was one of those people who enriched the lives of everyone she knew.

I'm sorry for your loss.

# posted by  Anonymous : 9:00:00 PM

 

Sorry to hear about your loss, Linda. You and your family are in our thoughts.

-- Robert (a reader)

# posted by  Anonymous : 9:55:00 AM

 

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