She’s not my auntie but she’s so well loved by my nephews and other children that she’s better known as Auntie Pat. Perhaps she’s as friendly as Postman Pat.
Auntie Pat is my cousin and her age is closer to my mother so they hang out like friends. I’m very grateful to Auntie Pat cause when my Dad passed away, she was the one who made sure my mother was occupied with activities. She even provided my mother with her first pub experience at Esplanade. They went on trips together, ate together, hung out together, lamented together, laughed together… she was a great companion.
Her funeral wake was visited by throngs of people every day; her primary school friends, old church mates from FCBC, ex-colleagues from the bank… so many, so many people. What’s amazing is that I bumped into an old friend from church who knew Auntie Pat as a donor for her charity project that helps children with special needs. Her connections and relationships with people were many, far too many to count.
There were memorial services every night as groups of people wanted to share and celebrate the life that Auntie Pat has lived. She worked hard, she gave generously, she laughed hard, she ate heartily and enjoyed good food – she was like a rock and mountain to many people… to the down and out, to strangers, to family, to anyone who crossed paths with her.
It was a celebration of life, a life well-lived, a life that ended too soon.
Till this day, I will often tell my mom, “Wouldn’t it be nice if Auntie Pat was still around?” She would bring my mom all over the world… and she would definitely have lots of fun with my kids.
Hello Auntie Pat, how are you doing?