My great Aunt Miriam, 98, (my grandmother's sister) passed away this week. This morning was my first Zoom funeral. I saw cousins
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| Zoomeral attended by 25+ families |
I haven't seen in years, heard stories of her and my grandmother. I actually appreciated being on Zoom and not IRL. I put on lipstick, just for Aunt Miriam, because she would have expected it. Aunt Miriam lived close to my Dad and Lynn and when I was growing up, she power walked all the time. I saw her at least once or twice a week and she always had her blouse tucked in and lipstick on her lips. Often she would be saying, allright, allright and shaking her head with her perfect beauty parlor hair standard in her generation. Aunt Miriam helped start the Golden Agers at the JCC, which meet where I attended elementary school (Chattanooga Jewish Day School) on Wednesdays for as long as I could remember. I don't remember a time when the old ladies and a scattering of men weren't there. They met in the room across from the preschool rooms and most likely played Mah Jongg, Canasta, Bridge, who knows what? Some times there were speakers talking about aging or who knows what? One day in elementary school I asked Aunt Miriam what would happen when she's not longer walking around helping the golden agers and she IS a golden ager? Her response was quick, I'll join them! Of course she would!
I haven't seen Aunt Miriam in years, since she decided being home was where she wanted to be (as far as I know) and she didn't have visitors (to my knowledge other than immediate family). My guess is that she wanted to be remembered for her perfect hair, tucked in blouse, lipstick and power walk; not as someone who didn't go out, which is exactly the way I will remember her.
The birds took over any silence on this morning's Zoomeral led by Rabbi Tendler. Social distancing didn't allow for a large gathering, but if not, there would have been a huge community outpouring of memories and support for Doc, Eddie, Gwen, Jonathan, Jennifer and Charles. May her memory be for a blessing and bring comfort to those who mourn.
