Diane, Clark, Barb, and family,
I was extremely saddened to hear of Aunt Hilda's passing. She was a great lady. We had a lot of fun during the time we spent together and when I talked to her on the phone.
Picking her and Uncle Henry up for the family picnics at Joe Indian were always a gab fest. I remember one time I drove down River Road instead of Rt56 and she told me to stop at some farm to get the corn for dinner that I'd forgotten, meanwhile chuckling and grinning when she tells me to stop. (I always had to pick up corn for these things). Well I stopped and the stand was nearly empty. The farmer comes out of the house asking me what I wanted? Corn, tomatoes, and cukes would be nice. Then he looks in my van and sees Hilda and asks me how I know her? We'll she's my grand Aunt Hilda. Is she related to Ida, he asks? Yes, they are sisters and Ida is my grandmother. Wait here he says. Next thing I know, he went out to the field and picked several dozen choice ears, has a bag full of tomatoes and cukes and tells me no charge! I looked at him and asked why? He says Ida was his lunch lady at the elemetary school and I think Lister was his school bus driver??? I put some cash in his can anyway, after he turned his back ,and as I get in the van Hilda turns to me and says "I know people" and smiles like the chesire cat. As I start driving away, I see off to the left Ida's house on the other side of the river. I get a real chuckle because she always asked to bring something to the picnic and I wouldn't stop as I already had the goods in the back. Well not that day and she got her way. That corn was really good by the way.
I also remember the last time I visited her at home on Morris Street. August 2007 I brought a crew of scouts up to camp to canoe the Raquette. I called Aunt Hilda to confirm I would be stopping by to see her before heading out. It was late in the evening, after dark when I pulled up and could see her thru the lit window sitting in her favorite chair. When she saw me pull up, she jumped up, grabbed her walker and shot across the living room to the front door like a sprinter. Even her care giver in the house at the time was shocked as I saw her jaw drop thru the window. When I got to the door, Aunt Hilda gave me her typical bear hug and was truly glad to see me. She always greeted me warmly and wanted to visit. I guess all those years of coming up from Rochester and having to visit everybody on the weekend engrained that behavior.
I'll save the beans and potato soup story with her and your dad for later.
We're going to miss Aunt Hilda. She's now home with all her siblings and Uncle Lister. I know Donna is living it up with her now. They are probably playing cards with Uncle Henry if I know them. God bless and take care.
