Thursday, July 27, 2023
Charlotte aka: Aunt Shy was mine and my sisters' favorite aunt. Thats saying something given the size of our family. Aunt Shy would come to our home every June for our birthdays. She always had a gift for each of us that meant so much to us. It was always a gesture that reminded you of her by just looking at it. Aunt Shy was kind and talked to us every time she saw us just by acknowledging that we were there. It was always easy to be overlooked within a HUGE family. We always remembered Aunt Shy and her perfect make-up put on effortlessly, her beautifully painted nails, her hair that was colored/set regularly, always dressed to go to town even if she was just at home. She was the definition of : A Lady.
My Dad, Jim, her brother, would always make time to stop by regularly to say hi to his sister whom he felt was the Matriarch of the family. Dad adored Aunt Shy and he treated her with the utmost respect just because that's what she deserved. We also thinks its because he knew she would have coffee and the most wonderful homemade treasure to go along with it!!
We spent our Thanksgivings and Easters at Aunt Shy's house. The house was always immaculate. Aunt Shy took pride in her home! She always looked so calm and at ease upon our arrival for the Holidays, when most of us are frantic and frazzled from preparing such a feast and dealing with family. Not Aunt Shy, she was a Lady and handled herself with grace and ease. We looked up to her!!! The best smells and food in the State of Iowa we were just sure of it!! The art of entertaining, decorating, home made cooking/baking, and self respect and grace had the bar set high.
This is a challenge to all of us to try to live up to such a beautiful selfless human being! RIP Aunt Shy!
