This is a picture of my incredible Aunt Sheila and my Dad. Sheila passed away last week totally unexpectedly and I will miss her so much. She had amazing music ability and I am sure she has already set up a new choir and is arranging music as we speak with Grandma by her side.
Growing up, having the Cope’s come visit was always a special treat. Sheila would bring energy with her. No matter what we were doing and where she was, she brought life and laughter in to it. Of course there are all the fun stories she told us about our Dad growing up. But it was more than just the stories. I think from those I learned more than the fact that my Dad was a pest growing up, but how much they loved each other in that family. There wasn’t a lot of outward showing of emotion, but there was always a sense of love and companionship in every story. It was good to know that brothers can be your friends, even when they melt and deface your favorite doll.
When I was sealed to my husband, Sheila was there. She came over from Colorado to be part of my wedding which was a big deal to begin with and I was so glad to see her there. During the ceremony Sheila got up and fixed my dress so it lay with the back spread and pretty while I was kneeling on the alter. The sealer called her “my little bridesmaid”. She wanted to make sure I was as beautiful as I could be for that special moment. It was such a loving and unexpected thing for her to do - it is one of my most powerful memories of that day.
I got the opportunity a couple months ago to take Sheila and a couple of the judges she was working with to see Seattle and the view from the building I work. Her time was very limited outside the performances she was judging, but she made the time to see me and see where I worked. It was great to connect with her and spend some time just chatting and catching up. Now, I am even more grateful that I had that chance and that my kids got to spend a few minutes with her as well.
I will miss my bridesmaid and really can’t believe that I won’t see her again in this life. I am grateful that Sheila was part of my life and that I have great memories of her. Most of all I am grateful that we are an eternal family and that even though she is gone now, it is not for forever.
Growing up, having the Cope’s come visit was always a special treat. Sheila would bring energy with her. No matter what we were doing and where she was, she brought life and laughter in to it. Of course there are all the fun stories she told us about our Dad growing up. But it was more than just the stories. I think from those I learned more than the fact that my Dad was a pest growing up, but how much they loved each other in that family. There wasn’t a lot of outward showing of emotion, but there was always a sense of love and companionship in every story. It was good to know that brothers can be your friends, even when they melt and deface your favorite doll.
When I was sealed to my husband, Sheila was there. She came over from Colorado to be part of my wedding which was a big deal to begin with and I was so glad to see her there. During the ceremony Sheila got up and fixed my dress so it lay with the back spread and pretty while I was kneeling on the alter. The sealer called her “my little bridesmaid”. She wanted to make sure I was as beautiful as I could be for that special moment. It was such a loving and unexpected thing for her to do - it is one of my most powerful memories of that day.
I got the opportunity a couple months ago to take Sheila and a couple of the judges she was working with to see Seattle and the view from the building I work. Her time was very limited outside the performances she was judging, but she made the time to see me and see where I worked. It was great to connect with her and spend some time just chatting and catching up. Now, I am even more grateful that I had that chance and that my kids got to spend a few minutes with her as well.
I will miss my bridesmaid and really can’t believe that I won’t see her again in this life. I am grateful that Sheila was part of my life and that I have great memories of her. Most of all I am grateful that we are an eternal family and that even though she is gone now, it is not for forever.
