In Loving memory...Aunt Agnes

      She was the person I had always known about. Her mother and my grandad were brother and sister. My Dad always talked about my Aunt Agnes, her brother my Uncle Walter and their mother my Great Aunt Ginny that went to live in America. She grew up with my Dad in England they were more like brother and sister than cousins.

     After her mother Aunt Ginny died the families in England and the USA lost contact with each other, it was my Grandmother and Aunt Ginny that were the ones that wrote to each other, I believe I still have one of the letters somewhere.

     Back in 1978 or 1979 I wrote to Aunt Agnes' last known address but the letter was returned. So I next wrote to the local newspaper office in the last known town that Aunt Agnes lived in, Mishawaka Indiana. I also sent photos of Aunt Agnes' children, the newspaper ran a story and the next thing I knew I received a letter from Aunt Agnes. I do still have those newspaper articles. Aunt Agnes and I wrote to each other for a year or so then I asked her how she felt about me visiting her. In 1980 I made my first visit to meet Aunt Agnes and her family. In 1981 she and her husband Bill made a trip to England for a reunion with the family she had left behind.

     In 1982 I made my second trip to visit Aunt Agnes and her family. It was on this trip that I mentioned that I would like to give living in the USA a try, right away Aunt Agnes and Bill told me I could live with them if that's what I decided to do. On this trip I also met Aunt Agnes' nephew Joe Cabanaw. I went back to England after my visit and tried to decide what to do, Joe and I wrote to each other and I made the decision to give life in America a try. I gave notice at my job and I gave my engagement ring back to the guy that gave it to me. Nine weeks after I arrived back in England I left again to go live in the USA.

     She opened up her home to me, she taught me about life in the USA, she treated me like one of her daughters. I was married from her home and she gave us our wedding reception. When we came to live in Minnesota she was the one we always stayed with on our visits back to Indiana.

     Yesterday...Friday 18th February we lost our dear Aunt Agnes...we have lots of wonderful memories to help us through this sad time...I am very privileged to have known this wonderful woman...