When I was a kid it seemed like I had a million aunts and uncles. My father's mother Nana was one of ten children, five boys and five girls. The aunts were: Aunt Sadie, who lived to be 84. I have a note from her at age 80 when she was still working, watching three children. I had sent her a Christmas picture of the kids and she said she had red hair like Ria when she was a kid. Aunt Sadie always remembered our birthdays. A card carrying a dime would arrive right on time. She lived in Connecticut so we didn't see much of her, but you could always count on that card and that dime. Aunt Mae lived in Glenham, married to Mitt Moseman with three boys. She was a tiny woman with a gray bun, always wearing an apron, and most often sitting in front of the tv watching wrestling. Aunt Gert shared my twin sisters birthday, so every year she would come to their party, with TWO store bought cakes. Gert died young of cancer. Aunt Mina lived in California, so I don't remember even meeting her. I had even forgotten her name and that now Kathleen's granddaughter is named Mina, I find that interesting. The Uncles are less memorable, one died before I was even born. But I do remember stories about Uncle Sam and Uncle Teddy. These were just my father's aunts and uncles on his mother's side.

Nana had five children, Daddy, Joe who died young, Uncle Ed who died last year at 96 and two girls, Aunt El and Aunt Grace. Aunt El was my favorite aunt, made wonderful toll house cookies and gave beautiful gifts for all the holidays. Aunt Grace lived on Long Island, but later moved to Glenham so I got to know her better. She had her last two children, girls, late in life. At 41 years she had Margaret and at 45 she had Ellie. She was very cheerful, with a big smile and lived to be 84.

My Grandmother had a brother Joe, Great Uncle Joe that lived in the city. When we visited him and his wife Rose we were warned to be quiet because Uncle Joe had been gassed in the war, MUSTARD gas, which we thought was kind of funny. Her sister Mary lived in the city too, was custodian for an apartment building, lived in a basement apartment. I remember visiting and not seeing a handle to flush the toilet with. My mother showed me a string hanging from the ceiling that you pulled. Aunt Mary was a good cook. I remember her creamed potatoes with dill. Aunt Anna lived in New Jersey, married to Uncle Arnold. When they visited they would bring their dog, a little dachsund and Uncle Arnold would be told to go climb up Mount Beacon while the sisters talked. There was another sister Julia, but she lived in Arizona I believe so I only heard about her and saw pictures of her as a beautiful young woman.

Poppy had a sister Pauline that lived nearby, and Mrs. Pipi (we called her Mrs Peepa or Peepot) who lived in the city. There were two brothers, Uncle Steve and Uncle Cy but I can't remember them. Mrs. Peepa also was a good cook, and I remember eating golden rice at her house. How does it get this color? someone asked and the answer was goose fat. Delicious.

Bucky had two brothers, Uncle Joe who married Aunt Rose. Aunt Rose was from an Italian family, a good cook, and put up with Uncle Joe's antics, with just a shake of her head, and an "oh Joe". Uncle Eddie married Aunt Muriel. She was from Montreal and spoke French and wore makeup and fancy clothes. She drank wine and smoked cigarettes and called him Ed Dee and he called her Mur EE ALE. They lived in Vermont and then moved to Florida, where for the past fifteen years or so I would visit them on our Florida trips. Aunt Muriel wore a hearing aid and Uncle Eddie would hollar at her...."turn it down, Mur EE ALE. You're buzzing".

So that's my aunts and uncles. I probably forgot some, but my point is that at one time, and it doesn't seem that long ago, I had aunts and uncles a plenty. Yesterday my Uncle Ed died in Florida. This leaves me with one uncle, Uncle Joe who is 90 and lives in Beacon and Aunt Alice who was married to my father's brother and is almost 90.

My kids still call my sisters and brother with the title Aunt or Uncle and John O'Leary, my godson at age 50 still addresses me as Aunt Linda. Aunts and Uncles are so special, and play such a part in our lives, but few books are written about them (oh there's Auntie Mame) and they are kind of the unsung heros and heroines of our families. Playing the role of our father or mother's sisters and brothers, they help complete the family picture. Rest in peace Uncle Eddie.
Rest in peace all of you.